Quit Drinking and Do it on your Own!

By Ed Philips

Has your overindulgence in alcohol created embarrassment for you and your family in both your personal and professional relationships? If so, then getting a grip on your drinking is the first step to quitting. It is difficult to quit drinking even at the best of times. Often, people seek out qualified help or the assistance of a program like Alcoholics Anonymous when they can't do it on their own. This isn't always necessary, however. With some fundamental behavior training, many people can find the will to quit drinking on their own. Here are some basic tips to help you get away from alcohol:

When coming home from work, you may feel inclined to stop along the way be it at the grocery store or a bar for a quick drink. By going straight home, you will avoid the temptation of purchasing alcohol at the store and the bar. Once home, you probably will feel less inclined to go back out again. When you do go to the store for groceries, make a habit of purchasing them all at once so you don't have to run out multiple times thus lessening the urge to buy alcohol. Make a habit of going to places that don't serve alcohol like a movie theater or ice skating rink. If you apply just some of these tips, your chances of avoiding drinking alcohol will lessen.

At night, in order to keep both your brain and mouth occupied, chew gum or eat candy. Eat lots of fruit and foods that contain fructose. Like giving up smoking, you need to swap the habit with another. Start working out. Make it routine to go to the gym right after work or if not possible, go home and work out to your favorite music instead. When in a social setting, don't associate with people who drink; talk to them, but don't agree to meet them at a local pub or club. While you may think this behavior will lead to the loss of friendships, those that really love and care about you will not abandon you and will do most anything to support you.

For at least a year or more, do not frequent the bars. If you are on your own, go to coffee shops or try Internet dating as an alternative. It is imperative that you stay away from those familiar places where alcohol is being served. If you don't already have a partner, don't get into any serious relationships until you have your drinking under control- you need to focus on yourself. If you happen to be in a volatile relationship already, get out of it as quickly as you can. The emotional highs and lows that come from a destructive relationship can often lead to emotional behavior that can lead to drinking all over again.

Look into the various drugs now on the market that can help you with the cravings you will feel when you quit drinking. It is especially important to consider taking some of these medications if you have already completely stopped consuming alcohol. There is Antabuse which will make you very sensitive to alcohol should you decide to drink it. Naltrexone can be used to help you reduce your cravings for alcohol and Acamprostate will help bring your brain back to normal after you have drunk large amounts of alcohol for a long period of time.

Decide on why you need to drink. Keep a diary.Try to identify what has the effect to cause you to have a strong desire to drink alcohol, and dodge those situations as much as you possibly can. Forgive yourself and make an apology to those you have offended. You will feel less guilty and you are more unlikely to get the desire to drown your sorrows.

Remember: you can only take your life one day at a time, one step at a time. Recognize that you may feel the urge to drink again at some point in your life but that this time around you have made the choice to be and remain sober. Get yourself into a routine of taking vitamins, especially vitamin B as it will help with stress. Vitamins in general will serve to replenish your body with all it lost while you were drinking. Your mind is a very powerful thing and you can quit drinking if you set your mind to it. All those around you will reap the benefits of having a sober and healthy friend, partner and family member. You too will reap these same rewards so get going and do it now!

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