how to stop drinking

 How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

The fact that you've come to this page means you've decided to cut the alcohol. This is the good news. The bad thing is that it is not an easy task and, it must be admitted, even rather painful. Then there is a wonderful news, namely that medical technology, in collaboration with the communities, and with effective psychological counseling can really facilitate the process. If you know you take excessive amounts of alcohol, know that sobriety brings many benefits. For example: it prevents strokes, helps to lose weight, keeps away the hangover, and reduces the likelihood of liver disease, as well as improving overall health. If you want to stop drinking alcohol, this guide will provide you with useful tips and strategies to get back on the path of sobriety.
Part 1 of 4:
Start QuittingEdit

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    Talk to your doctor. If you choose not to do so, keep in mind that alcohol abstinence can be potentially lethal. If you begin to experience withdrawal symptoms (panic attacks, anxiety attacks, tremors, tachycardia) you should seek medical help immediately. Your condition could worsen and lead you to the lethal delirium tremens if you do not cure.
        Do not think of having to stop alone. You are carrying a big burden, but there are many people (including doctors and professionals) who want to help you. It is often easier to leave alcohol with the help of a doctor than to try to do it point-blank.
        There are several doctors who treat alcohol withdrawal by prescribing benzodiazepines to alleviate their symptoms. Benzodiazepines, which include alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam, are psychoactive drugs used to calm anxiety and to quell panic. They are relatively healthy and rarely fatal in case of overdose.
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    Change your attitude about quitting! Remember, you do not have to abandon a good friend who has always helped you. You are finally freeing yourself of a dangerous enemy. Change your behavior to make the separation from alcohol less painful. The best part of you wants to achieve the intended result, the most selfish part of you is against change.
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    Try to choose an important date to stop. Be ambitious, but reasonable. If you drink a lot, you should first reduce the daily amounts to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal (in this case it is to make the decision together with the doctor).
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    Get rid of all the bottles, cans, etc. And do not feel obliged to offer your guests beer, wine or cocktails. There is nothing wrong with offering tea, lemonade, a coke or similar drinks.
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    Accept your feelings. Cry if you have to. Laugh when you can. Eat when you are hungry. Sleep when you sleep. At the beginning you will have strange feelings, but face them. You will surely have lost the habit of feeling your feelings and then you will have to learn to meet again.
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    Avoid attending people or risk finding yourself in situations where you may be drinking. It is possible that you should abandon the old drinking buddies and the places you used to go to for drinks. That said, you may nevertheless find that the friends with whom you used to drink only drank two glasses of wine against your five.
        Do not do anything that you do not feel ready to do. If the last time you were at the beach you drank a lot, do not go there this year. If every time you go to dinner with a friend drink a lot, for once he declines the invitation. Protecting your sobriety is the most important thing right now. Take care of yourself! Do not worry about others for now.
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Part 2 of 4: Strategies to Stay SoberEdit 

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 1     Start by reducing the amount of alcohol you consume. Rome was not built in a day. And you probably will not be able to completely change your habits in a week. It's perfectly normal. Small victories lead to big ones. Initially, try to simply reduce the amount of alcohol. Trying to stop drinking out of the blue can be the recipe for a physical and emotional disaster.   

   Remember the negative effects of excessive alcohol: vomiting, paralyzing headaches, etc. It evokes the memories and the pain experienced: it is an important step in the will to change your habits.    

  If you could reduce your alcohol intake to just one glass every day, it would be a success. No progress is too small at this point. The important thing is not to interrupt the process, and not stop at a single glass. Continue to further reduce consumption and, weekly, reduce the total number of drinks. If you want to be ambitious, try each week to halve the amount of alcohol you give yourself.  

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    2     Eat before drinking. This will reduce your desire to drink. It will also be more difficult to get drunk. In any case, do not take advantage of this "trick", you would only deceive yourself.     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 9

  3     Drink a lot of water. Water will keep you hydrated, make you feel better, and help free your body of toxins. Men should drink 3 liters of water a day, and women 2.2 liters.     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 10

    4     Review your recipes that use alcohol. In this way you will not be able to justify the presence of alcohol in your home. Replace them with soft drinks or remove them completely.     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 11

    5     Do not force your purpose to stop on others. Many do not drink in a dangerous way. They are not alcoholics and therefore can not understand the problem you have with alcohol. Therefore, when you decide to stop drinking, simply learn to say "No thanks, I'll take a Coca Cola Light - I'm trying to lose weight". It will not take long for your friends to understand your true purpose and they will think you are trying to improve your life.     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 12
    6     If you usually drink at the same time, for example after work or when you get home, change your routine and enter other activities at that time, such as visiting your parents or a friend. A small change of scenery will help you break the cycle of addiction.

      Buy an agenda and plan activities when you normally drink. Idleness is the father of vices, is not it? By planning activities with other people, it will be more difficult to get drunk. Writing the activities on your agenda will make you more inclined to respect the commitments made and to complete them. 
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Do not be discouraged. Many people find excuses like "I drink so much, that probably will not make a difference" or "I've tried so many times to stop, that now I understand that I can not do it". Some will feel hopeless and defeated after discovering they are suffering from Cirrhosis or other similar illnesses. Stop drinking can make your life longer regardless of your condition. How far it can extend varies from person to person; the body of each of us is different and some are more resistant than others.  
    You should think that if you've been willing to try quitting many times in the past, you have the ability to do it again. There is no age limit and it is never too late to stop drinking. Succeeding in your intent will repay you all the efforts and will give great hope to other people.     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 14

  8Do not let the guilt consume you - some will feel stupid and guilty for not trying to stop before. Do not blame someone, not even yourself. Alcohol is responsible. He tempted you and made you believe he was a great friend. Instead it was your worst enemy. Your health is the most important thing, and you will not be able to help anyone when you're dead. Therefore, you will have to manage to overthrow the tyranny of alcohol and start from scratch, like a nation after a revolution.
        Feeling guilty is only part of the equation. If you stay sober just because of guilt, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. You should remain sober because you love yourself, and because your happiness and the people around you are important to you. Your family and friends care about your well-being and want the best for you. Try to make a good impact on the world. As mentioned, the sense of guilt is only a half reason to stop drinking.
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Part 3 of 4:
Strategies to Stay SoberEdit

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    Buy a wallet and every time you think about buying a bottle or a drink, put in the money you would have spent. You will be surprised. Remaining sober will give you tangible and real benefits and a wallet of sobriety will help you to touch them with your hand.
        Use this money to reduce stress in a healthier way: massage, spa or yoga classes. If these things are not for you, make a healthy and fun gift like a music CD or a piece of furniture. Or buy an item for a friend.
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    Buy an inexpensive little gem like a ring or a bracelet, make a henna tattoo on your hand, or give a special nail polish to remind you that these hands will no longer touch the alcohol.
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    Take B-group vitamin supplements every day during your first alcohol-free week. Alcohol affects the body's ability to absorb them (especially thiamine). A too small intake of these vitamins can lead to serious cognitive problems (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome).
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    Write a list of ways to "do" all the things you did by drinking, without using alcohol. A list of ways to celebrate. A list of ways to make a romantic dinner. A list of ways to relax. A list of ways to be sociable. There are many people who live fulfilling lives without using alcohol as a support; convince each fiber of your body that it is a reachable and simplified result.
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    You are about to give up, try to see what would happen if I lost control. Do you really want to transform yourself into that person again? Do not give in to the idea of ​​not being able to change. Being an alcoholic forever does not mean not being able to be a happy person, sober and able to manage his addiction. This is your goal.
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    Savor the feeling of going to sleep without "collapse" just to wake up at three in the morning with a dry throat and the head that seems to explode. Realize how pleasant it can be to remember the people you met the night before, and think back to the pleasure they had in your company. Realize how good it is to love oneself for who you really are, rather than punish yourself for what you have become.
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    First of all, remind yourself of the reasons you decided to stop drinking. Appreciate your reasons. Our actions are not always supported by reasons - you probably did not have them in times of difficulty - but when the reasons are there, our behavior acquires meaning and principles. It is a good thing. What are your reasons for staying sober?
        "I do not want to be late for work because I suffer from hangovers"
        "I do not want to embarrass my son in front of his friends anymore"
        "I do not want to be rude about my partner anymore because I drank too much."



 I do not want to lose my driving license anymore " 
     "I do not want to make myself ridiculous with drunken phone calls to my friends and relatives"      

"I do not want to hide bottles like a smuggler anymore" 

     "I do not want to pretend to remember what happened the night before"
       "I do not want to ruin my marriage"   
   "I do not want to ask myself how it would feel good again"     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 22

    8     Do not avoid all the situations in which you would normally ban. Face it instead with the right attitude and remember that you can have fun without drinking. On the other hand, if you know the temptation will be great, do not put yourself in a difficult situation where you could fail. Be aware of your limits - no one is infallible.
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9     Memorize a prayer, a poem or a piece to be repeated when you are about to lose control; trying to remember it could help you stay in you.  
    Here are some quotes that will inspire you and help you calm your thoughts:       
   "Health is the greatest gift, fulfillment the greatest wealth, fidelity the best relationship." - Buddha        
  "To believe in power is already halfway." - Theodore Roosevelt    

      "I think laughing is the best way to burn calories, I believe in kissing, kissing a lot, I believe in being strong when everything seems to go wrong I think the cheerful girls are the nicest I think tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. " - Audrey Hepburn     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 24  
10     Reward yourself for every day you've managed not to drink. Initially, the difference will be bigger than expected. Wrap up your gifts (or not, the decision is up to you) and hand them to a friend or family you trust to keep them for you. After completing a period of sobriety (one hour, one day or one week) redeem your gifts. Share the joy with your friend or your family member.
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  11     Learn to meditate. Meditate regularly, especially in the morning, and at the end of each session, swears not to drink alcohol. Remember how you felt while meditating when you want to drink. He might be able to distract you. 

     Start doing yoga! It will help you manage stress and calm your mind. Better still, yoga can be practiced in a group, giving you the opportunity to feed on the energy of others. Embrace the positive energy that comes from it. 
 advertisement Part 4 of 4: Ask for HelpEdit     Image titled Quit Drinking Alcohol Step 26  

1     Ask for support. It could be the most complex part on your path to healing, but telling your family and / or your partner what you are going through, and what you want to achieve is an important step. ' Whether you like it or not, there are few people who achieve sobriety in solitude, and even fewer those who manage to keep it. Do not feel inadequate in sharing what you are facing with the people you love. 

     Set guidelines for what you want your family and friends to accept. If you feel ready, as

k them to get away from alcohol in case they see you drinking it. Let them help you by taking the better part of you, getting closer to sobriety.
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    2     Consider whether to join a group like anonymous or similar alcoholics. Do not feel guilty or defeated if such a group is not for you. It is not a suitable therapy for everything. Many people manage to stop drinking without the support of these groups. Most of those who stopped drinking and managed to get ahead in life, did it through an effort and a commitment to stop drinking forever and not look back.   
   When you have decided which direction to follow, anonymous alcoholics can be extremely effective in your attempt to stay sober, towards the lifestyle you want to achieve. One study showed that patients attending recovery groups have an abstinence rate of 81%, compared with a rate of 26% for people who do not attend any recovery group. The difference exceeds 50%.



 Importance of the consistency factor. The greater the frequency of recovery programs, which teach total abstinence from alcohol, the lower the possibility of a relapse. Abstinence programs become almost a routine from which members are dependent, naturally dealing with a sustainable and positive addiction to life.
        Abstinence programs include the mentoring of a tutor. A tutor is someone, preferably not a friend, whom you can count on when needed. If necessary, a tutor should be able to tell you that you are making a mistake, without using any means. People who are addicted to a tutor find it much easier to stay sober than those who are not.
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    See how sobriety changes your life right under your eyes. After 90 days of sobriety your appearance will be changed and your body will have started to recover. You will feel like a new person, happier and with more energy, as well as having probably lost weight. In practice you will be a completely different person.
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    Do not be afraid to tell about your experiences. Whenever you feel weak, tempted, or pessimistic, looking for someone you trust - swallowing and talking at once is very complex. Count on them. Whether it's your tutor, a friend or your mom. Learn to open your heart by revealing your feelings regardless of who you are facing. Do what you can to overcome them rather than suffocate them or fight with them.
        When you're ready, share your experiences with the people who need it. Perhaps you could speak in a high school, telling about your addiction and its consequences. Perhaps you could write a heartfelt message and then publish it on the web. Whatever road you decide to undertake, try to return the help received previously to the world. Even if you can contribute to the recovery of one person, you will have done enough.
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    Admit it to yourself, and always remember that there is nothing more important in your life than to stop drinking. Your life depends on this. All the people you love share this belief and you deserve to succeed.
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    Remember that in the long run, giving up less pleasure (getting drunk) for greater (better health, better relationships or a clear conscience) is the easiest path to take. In the end, it will be worth it!
    INFORMATI - do not hesitate to see how alcohol may have had an impact on your body. You will be amazed at the damage you can suffer, years before experiencing its symptoms. In almost ALL cases, the damages are irreversible. The most you can get is to stop the progression of the damage. Change your diet, check your weight, seek the help of a doctor, and above all, SMET TO DRINK COMPLETELY. You will feel stronger, healthier, smarter, happier and above all you will be able to enjoy MUCH more life. There are many diseases and complications related to an unhealthy liver. Take the time to inform yourself and read articles and studies. Reading them even once can give you a great motivation to stay sober. The longer you drink the more damage will be serious. Fear can be a great boost and you should use it to your advantage to understand how stupid you were to start drinking.
    You will understand why alcohol dominates your life only when you DO NOT allow it to do so.
    Keep some chocolate at your fingertips. When a drinker tries to quit he will often want chocolate. It releases endorphins and will help you reduce the desire for alcohol.
    Think about what and who is most important to you. Imagine how alcohol would damage it.
    Do not get into the habit of trying to lose a habit.















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A chronic alcoholic who suddenly stops can face major health risks. Suddenly ceasing to take many inhibitors of the central nervous system can lead to a disorder called "delirium tremens". After a few days of symptoms such as anxiety and tremors, you may experience tonic-clonic seizures and epilepsy. It could be lethal. If you are a chronic alcoholic, before you stop drinking, ask your doctor for help. It may provide you with a program and medications (eg, Benzodiazepine) to help you manage the symptoms of abstinence.

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