4 Helpful Tips on How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

Did you know that more than 3 million people a year die as a result of harmful use of alcohol worldwide? This represents 1 in 20 deaths, which is a very alarming number. If you’re reading this article it means you want to quit drinking. That’s wonderful news! You still have time to turn your life around and not become one of these numbers.

There might be a number of reasons why you want to quit alcohol. Maybe you’re tired of blacking out and waking up hungover. Maybe you don’t want to keep disappointing your friends and family. Maybe alcohol abuse is taking a toll on your health and you don’t want to get ill. Whatever the reason, we’re here to help. Today, we would like to share with you 4 tips on how to stop drinking alcohol.

Tell People About Your Intentions

Tell your family, friends, and the people close to you that you’re trying to quit and explain why. This way, they will understand the sudden changes in your behavior (like not wanting to go to the bar after work). And, luckily, they will encourage you and motivate you to keep working on such an important change of lifestyle. Also, having someone to talk to is important during recovery. There will be many hard times, and having someone you can lean on and who can offer you support can make a huge difference.

Seek Professional Help

Whether it is attending a rehabilitation program or just consulting your doctor, you need professional guidance before quitting alcohol cold turkey. There are some parts of the process that can be very difficult and even dangerous to do without professional help. Alcohol detox is one of them. That is the first step on recovery, the phase when your body cleanses itself from all the toxins it has received from alcohol. In this stage, your body goes into withdrawal. Depending on how heavily you drink, withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to serious. Some of them include anxiety, nausea, vomiting, fever, shakiness, seizures, and in some cases hallucinations. If you decide not to go through this process with medical assistance you may be risking your life.

Furthermore, getting professional treatment for your addiction has many advantages and can make a huge difference in how successfully you handle sobriety. There are tons of different treatment programs that can suit your specific needs, so make sure to take a look at them. The important thing is to choose an option that makes you feel comfortable and that you think can help you the best.

Avoid High- Risk Situations

Resisting temptation is hard. Very, very, hard. So the smartest thing during recovery is to avoid situations where you might be tempted to drink alcohol. Don’t keep alcohol at home. Avoid social situations where alcohol is involved. Stay away from people who you know might drag you into drinking. It may sound harsh, and you will probably feel guilty for turning down your old drinking buddies for a night out at the bar, but you have to. Your recovery is your number one priority right now.

It gets easier over time, and someday you will be able to hang out at the bar with your friends, drinking a soda, without feeling the urge to drink alcohol. But for now, you can’t risk it. Hang out with people who suggest activities that don’t involve alcohol. There are hundreds of ways to have fun without drinking alcohol. This is a great opportunity to find new things you never knew you liked!

Follow a Healthy Diet

Nutrition and hydration are key elements for a successful recovery. After you stop drinking, you need to restore all the nutrients your body hasn’t been able to absorb due to alcohol abuse. It is also an opportunity for your organs to recover from all the damage and, in the case of the liver, regenerate itself. Following a healthy diet is essential in order for those things to happen.

It is best to consult a nutritionist who can recommend you a specific diet based on your particular conditions. But there are some tips you can follow to start improving your nutrition. For example, you shouldn’t make big chances to your diet immediately. You have a better chance of eating healthier for a longer time if you start gradually making changes to your diet. You should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. You can also take vitamin and mineral supplements to help your body absorb these nutrients, which are very helpful during recovery. You should eat enough protein in order to help rebuild muscles. You can get this protein from lean meats, fish, and some nuts.

Recovery is a long process, and though it is very hard at times, it is absolutely worth it. Imagine yourself 5 years from now: you’re healthy, you have great relationships with your family and friends, you’re doing amazing at a job you enjoy… all of that because one day you made the biggest decision of your life: getting sober. Following these tips can help you achieve your goal of turning your life around.

Do you know any other tips on how to stop drinking? If you’d like to share your experience or ask any questions, please leave a comment below