If you find that you’re becoming increasingly concerned about your alcohol intake, you may be wondering what the best way to stop drinking is. Alcohol dependency can come in different levels, but if left unchecked, it can become a difficult habit to break and lead to a full-blown addiction.
When looking for a way to triumph over an alcohol addiction, it’s best to have a plan in place to safely and effectively deal with the issue’s roots. In this article, we’ll look at the effects alcohol can have on your health, what you can expect from a detox, how to identify your triggers, and what steps you should consider to mitigate these triggers.
The Effects Alcohol Has on Your Health
Understanding what alcohol can do to your health is critical in setting a plan in place to stop drinking. The more you drink, the more likely you are to experience symptoms such as the following:
- Disrupted sleep and insomnia
- Digestive issues
- Cognitive issues
- Increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Mood swings
Prolonged use can lead to more severe issues, such as irreversible damage to organs like your kidneys, brain, nervous system, heart, liver, and pancreas. If left untreated, alcohol addiction can lead to severe illness and death.
Know What to Expect During Detox
Before you begin the process of overcoming alcohol addiction, you should be familiar with the potential detox symptoms. These effects can make detox difficult and lead to a relapse, but knowing what to expect can make all the difference.
When the body begins to remove alcohol from your system, you may experience symptoms like:
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Shakes
- Sweating
A healthcare professional can help you devise a plan to address these detox symptoms. In fact, it’s advised that you have a proper support system in place rather than attempt to deal with the effects on your own.
Identify Your Triggers
People will often begin drinking excessively for a reason. Causes range from using alcohol to calm nerves before stressful events to using it to numb emotional pain; on other occasions, an individual may binge drink during social situations or when relaxing at home.
Whatever the case, identifying the reason for your consumption is crucial in finding the best way to stop drinking. According to therapist Cyndi Turner, knowing the reasons behind your alcohol use can help you explore alternative ways to address issues more productively.
Some of the most common alcohol triggers include:
- Relationship stress
- Social events
- Difficulties at work
- Trauma
- Insomnia
- Locations that invoke the urge to drink
- Feelings of boredom, loneliness, anxiety, and anger
Triggers vary depending on the person, and there are hundreds of other factors that can cause a relapse. If you’re having a difficult time identifying your triggers, talk to those closest to you and see if they can help narrow them down.
Be Open About Your Experience
You won’t be able to overcome your addiction if you’re not honest about your situation. Additionally, it takes more than just opening up to yourself; you need to be open to talking about your situation with family, close friends, and professionals who can help you move forward with your life.
You never know; opening up about your alcohol dependency could help others feel more comfortable about their issues. In this case, you can work together to build a strong and motivating support system — it’s always more encouraging when you have someone you can relate to.
Know what to say in situations that could cause a relapse: being open about your issues also means being able to say no to situations that could potentially lead to a relapse. This includes turning down offers to go out to places where alcohol will be served or turning down drinks if you’re thrust into that situation.
Remember, you don’t have to give a reason why you don’t want to drink; you shouldn’t feel pressured or judged into a situation that will harm you and your progress.
Change Your Environment
This doesn’t just pertain to avoiding places like bars; you may need to reinvent your environment at home to prevent triggers.
Getting rid of all the alcohol in your home is one place to start. Having it around makes the temptation worse, which could harm your progress. If you live with other people who drink, ask them to keep the alcohol out of sight, and if possible, drink when you’re not around.
Find a New Favorite Drink
If you’re having a hard time with cravings, try and find a new non-alcoholic drink that you can have instead. While plain water is the healthiest option, it might not kick the cravings.
If you get creative, you can come up with an enjoyable drink by doing the following:
- Infusing plain or sparkling water with herbs and chopped fruits.
- Mixing juice or lemonade with sparkling water.
- Add spices to your tea or hot chocolate.
Rethink Your Routine
You’ll find it beneficial to switch up your routine; this is perhaps the best way to stop drinking. By changing what you do on a regular basis, you can begin to break old habits and patterns.
Prioritize Self Care
Taking care of your mental and physical health throughout the recovery process can help you stay on track. It’s important to find hobbies that make you happy, adopt a healthier diet, and practice mindfulness so that you can begin healing your body.
Get the Support You Need at Ardu Recovery Center
Finding the best way to stop drinking can be difficult, but you can overcome your alcohol addiction with the right support. If you’re ready to take the next steps to recovery, contact us at Ardu Recovery Center. Our Provo, Utah facilities offer effective rehab programs that can help you get back on your feet.
Call us at 801-872-8480 or fill out our consultation form to get in touch with a specialist today.
