To live means to decide. Each day, we decide where we’re heading; some are easy to settle while others are not. We decide what TV channel to watch, food to cook for dinner, dress to wear for the party or perhaps, the course to take in college.
The decision to finally quit drinking is as crucial as any of the ones mentioned above. Anyone who is addicted to alcohol has to decide one day when to stop. Whether you’re a party animal or a loner, boozing all night long is a serious indicator. Living a longer and healthier life means entertaining the idea of how to stop drinking.
So, how can a person really stop drinking alcohol? For nondrinkers, this is an easy and no sweat question. Even social drinkers will accomplish this task without difficulty. However, this question gets colorful if you were to ask an inveterate boozer. To quit drinking means changing the lifestyle, mood and even the whole personality of the person.
Quit drinking needs more than just the sweet talks. A person must have the will power, hard work and determination from the start to end. Start by jotting down why you need to quit drinking. This is important because in this stage, you will be rebuilding the foundation of your new life. There are tons of reasons but the most common is to continue living a healthier life. Or maybe, somebody just slapped this idea to your face, which then made you realize that you are actually killing yourself gradually. It could also be that drinking is a drain to the bottom line or even perhaps the company you are working for is threatening to pull the plug (fire you) because you are no longer a competent employee anymore.
The list is endless and we could go on forever. List everything and don’t leave anything behind. This is important because you are going to need this list in the future. It will not only serve as a reminder of the things that you’ve lost due to alcohol but also will serve as an encouragement not to be in those situations ever again.
Once done, the next thing to decide is whether to stop drinking gradually or to stop right away. Depending on their desire to quit drinking, some people could actually quit drinking the “cold turkey” way. I am not trying to belittle your desire to quit, but I would recommend doing it gradually.
The best way to accomplish this is to make another list specifying what type and how much is allowed to take in a day. It’s your daily log or diary and overtime, you are going to reduce this amount until you are finally free.
Joining groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is also a great idea. Members of this organization or groups are also recovering alcoholics and addicts so it is the best way to seek help because each and every one of you understands one another. Opening up what you feel inside will be a lot easier because members of these groups are more than ready to listen to you. Learning how to stop drinking is not easy but it can be done.
Once you quit, don’t look back and never fall into any temptation traps again. Dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms won’t be a problem if your desire and determination to quit is strong. Tell your friends that you are doing this for yourself, which is why you are not going to any drinking parties anymore. Avoid stocking alcohol in your home or workplace. Exercise, jog, read a book, play golf or whatnot just to keep your mind busy. It’s going to be hard and enduring throughout the first few days but you can make it. And lastly, learn to say ‘no’ because it’s almost impossible not to be tempted to drink once more.
