What are the best ways to stop drinking so much? For starters, finding strategies to reduce problem drinking is best accomplished with the help of a medical professional who has experience in treating alcohol addiction. The health professional should also be available for support during any challenges along the way.
It’s important to understand that quitting cold turkey can have challenging consequences, so it is generally recommended that people gradually cut down on their intake over time until it is possible to stop drinking altogether. Birth control pills may also interfere with the process because estrogen affects the metabolism of alcohol (the breakdown and elimination.)
One of the best way to stop drinking so much is to assess the routine of drinking and make healthy changes. For example, find new recreational activities or hobbies. This will help to create a different routine without the alcohol intake. Newer hobbies may also mean spending more time with not heavy drinkers, which can be good for everyone’s health.
Another way is to set up an intervention for yourself! An intervention occurs when family or friends confront an individual about their excessive substance use so publicly that they have no choice but to acknowledge it themselves. It’s not easy, but if you are willing to do this for yourself – do so in person so that they can hear your plea directly from you. You should explain what problem drinking means for your life and how you plan to overcome it. Make sure you provide concrete examples of how drinking affects your life. The good idea is to bring along some of your most important possessions (or pictures of them) that have been destroyed because of alcohol abuse.
Some people find it helps to keep a journal, so writing down their goals and successes every day helps them stay on track. You can also write about why quitting will be hard or what you are afraid might happen so that they seem less daunting in the future. The goal is to help build an emotional support system for yourself and stay accountable for your actions.
Another best way to stop drinking so much is by finding new activities that can replace drinking altogether! For example, instead of getting drinks at a bar, go for lunch or coffee with friends. There are also many new activities to do online these days, so if you find yourself in the mood to drink – see what’s trending on social media and join whatever conversations look interesting!
The world of social media has created several new channels where people can meet and catch up in person. So maybe you can set something up so that there is no drinking when everyone comes together! Of course, this will help take away some of the fun from it when everyone gets together, but it might just be enough for you to stop drinking so much.
