In addition to feeling less anxious and having better digestion, you may notice bigger changes a few months into sobriety. For instance, your doctor might find that your heart and liver are in better shape, or your skin may have a certain new glow. No matter your situation, Dr. Das emphasizes the power of enlisting help as you embark on a life sans booze.

Don’t cut down your drinking

You may be worried that quitting comes with bad physical symptoms such as trembling hands, nausea, sweating and other effects. However, these are extremely uncommon and any site that mentions them will say that too in the small print. As long as you use a drug-free method that also ensures that you understand the psychological aspects of alcohol addiction – these tips will help you. Take our free, 5-minute alcohol misuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with alcohol misuse.

Change your environment

Choosing a drink with less alcohol content can help people taper. You might select a light beer instead of a harder liquor, like whiskey. To curb habitual drinking, alternating between alcohol and water is useful. A treatment center will attempt to verify your health insurance benefits and/or necessary authorizations on your behalf. Please note, this is only a quote of benefits and/or authorization. We cannot guarantee payment or verification eligibility as conveyed by your health insurance provider will be accurate and complete.

• For some people, it can be helpful to wear something like a bracelet to always have a reminder on hand when you need it.
• We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders.
• Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation.
• If you feel like your relationship with alcohol needs an overhaul, you’ve got plenty of company.
• Of course not, in fact – most people who stop drinking with Allen Carr’s Easyway do so without any unpleasantness at all.

It can also be problematic if the people in your immediate social circle continue to drink or if they don’t support your plans to quit. If you’ve been unable to quit on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center. Alcoholism treatment allows you to detox in a safe environment. It teaches you healthy ways to cope with stress and techniques for overcoming the underlying causes of alcohol addiction. Framing sobriety as a temporary challenge versus a permanent lifestyle change can make it easier to stay sober for the long haul. Belinda Gordon-Battle is a licensed clinical therapist and life consultant based in Miami while providing therapeutic services across the globe.

Choosing an Alcohol Rehab Treatment Program

Still, the first part of the stay will involve a period of medically supervised detoxification. If you’re simply looking to speak to someone on the phone or chat online for more advice on your own or someone else’s drinking, get in touch with Drinkchat or Drinkline. An easy way to keep track of how you’re doing and keep your motivation up is to give yourself short-term goals. Perhaps you could aim firstly for an alcohol-free week, then an alcohol-free month, for example. Similarly, try to identify the times when you would usually drink and fill the gap with something else.

Alcohol Counselling: How Does It Help?

• Others need medical supervision in order to withdraw from alcohol safely and comfortably.
• Stopping drinking can help improve both the length and the quality of your sleep, which is crucial to good mental and physical health.
• Developing the discipline to pace yourself is one of the best ways to cut down on drinking alcohol.
• Find activities that are mentally and emotionally nourishing and bring you joy, and identify ways to connect socially with friends, says Witkiewitz.
• Exploring, in writing, what you find difficult and when you most want to drink can help you notice patterns that offer more insight into your alcohol use.

People who only drink occasionally probably won’t notice any physical or psychological symptoms. People who have a severe reaction to quitting alcohol should seek emergency treatment. You should plan to taper for between three and seven days depending on how much you’re used to drinking. Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety.

Quitting Alcohol Guide: How to Stop Drinking

Inpatient treatment – and thus taking time out from their daily life – can be beneficial for those who want to become sober, especially those who have tried other approaches that didn’t work for them. After the intervention, the recommended treatment option is inpatient care, in which treatment is provided in a residential setting. These in-house treatment centers typically require patients to live at the facility for a fixed period, typically between 30 and 90 days.

PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. If your brain ever starts playing tricks on you by thinking “Just one drink” or a “glass of wine”, remember there is no such thing. Yet these symptoms are “irritability, poor concentration, feeling shaky, feeling tired, difficulty sleeping or sober house bad dreams”. One of the most renowned and respected experts on alcohol is here to give you the latest research and science of how alcohol impacts your life. All videos and content are the exclusive property of Piedmont Healthcare and may not be used by any third parties for any other purposes. Receive helpful health tips, health news, recipes and more right to your inbox.

If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside. When they suddenly quit drinking, the brain continues its hyperactivity, but alcohol no longer suppresses the effects. This can cause seizures and delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal marked by tremors and hallucinations.

How do I ignore alcohol cravings?

You may also consider joining an online support group to help you feel less alone. It might also be worth checking out a 12-step program in your area, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, to see if it feels like something that might be useful for you. Quitting entirely on your own is possible, but your chances of success are much higher if you have assistance and an evidence-based plan. Researchers have found that alcohol disrupts normal immune system function, weakening the body’s ability to fight off infections. Because alcohol is a sedative, it may help you to initially fall https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ asleep at night.