Reflecting on past progress and setting realistic, achievable steps can strengthen resilience. Seeking support from loved ones, therapists, or recovery groups ensures accountability and encouragement, helping you regain momentum toward sobriety. Framing sobriety as a temporary challenge versus a permanent lifestyle change can make it easier to stay sober for the long haul. “For psychologists, many of them are addiction-informed, and in their advertisements or on their websites they will mention that specifically,” Dr. Lembke said. To get started, try searching a directory like Psychology Today or Inclusive Therapists, both of which have filters you How to Stop Drinking can use to look for specific support around substance use. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve within five days.
Figure out how much you actually drink
Anyone stopping alcohol should discuss their plan with a doctor and seriously consider undergoing a medically-supervised detox.
For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description.
Some people just need a short, focused counseling session.
AUD can be mild (the presence of two to three symptoms), moderate (the presence of four to five symptoms), or severe (the presence of six or more symptoms).
This signal is telling you to have a drink, Halfway house but it’s not controlling you. While having an urge can be uncomfortable, it won’t hurt you. With practice, the urge can become a signal to use an urge coping strategy. The best place to start looking for help to stop drinking is at the doctor’s office as they can refer you to the type of help to stop drinking that suits your situation the best.
Lifestyle Changes That can Help
They may be worried or afraid for your health and safety, or they may fear your drinking puts their safety at risk.
Your risk of having a seizure is highest within the first 12 hours after stopping or reducing alcohol.
To prevent this, your doctor may suggest a treatment program where you stay overnight.
If you think you might have an alcohol use disorder, there are evidence-based treatment options that can help you to quit drinking.
Drugs used for other conditions — like smoking, pain, or epilepsy — also may help with alcohol use disorder.
“I already messed up today” thinking creates dangerous spiral patterns. Common co-occurring conditions include anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Each requires specific treatment approaches that work alongside addiction recovery.
Use resources by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Popular sobriety apps like I Am Sober, Sober Time, and Reframe offer daily motivation, milestone tracking, and habit-rewiring techniques. Online communities like Reddit’s r/stopdrinking, SMART Recovery, and In The Rooms provide 24/7 support and accountability. To maximize benefits, users should check in daily, engage in discussions, and combine multiple resources. Digital tools enhance sobriety by offering structure, encouragement, and a sense of community, making long-term recovery more achievable.
Simply removing alcohol without replacement leaves dangerous empty space. Your brain needs alternative ways to handle stress, boredom, and social anxiety. These patterns reveal why alcohol has become woven into your daily routine. The sooner you get help for alcohol use, the less likely you will suffer long-term consequences. Heavy alcohol use is expensive, potentially costing you $800 each month or even more.
Figure out what scares you about getting sober
You might be afraid of what happens if you keep drinking, but you’re more afraid of what happens when you stop. Most importantly, don’t berate yourself if you slip up and have a drink. Remember that if mistakes are made, we can learn from the experience and start fresh the next day. Perceived social support can play an important part in alcohol use recovery. Professional treatment for an alcohol use disorder can involve outpatient therapy, residential treatment, or inpatient hospitalization. The level of care you need often depends on the severity of your condition.
Is it better to give up drinking all at once or gradually reduce how much you drink?
Doctors, nutritionists, and counselors can also help support people to stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome may occur in people with AUD. After the last drink, a person may experience mild or more severe symptoms. Below are samples of e-health tools developed with NIAAA funding.
Prepare yourself for those times when someone is going to offer you a drink. You might also hold onto a nonalcoholic drink instead, ask a friend to support you in difficult situations or simply exit early if temptation gets too strong, the NIAAA suggests. Instead of aiming for complete abstinence, for instance, aim to drink fewer than seven days a week. “Try sober Mondays or sober Mondays through Wednesdays,” he says.
“Just get a sparkling water, put a lime in it, and have fun,” he says. Lean on close friends and family – Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to couples counseling or family therapy. Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better.
Reflecting on past progress and setting realistic, achievable steps can strengthen resilience. Seeking support from loved ones, therapists, or recovery groups ensures accountability and encouragement, helping you regain momentum toward sobriety. Framing sobriety as a temporary challenge versus a permanent lifestyle change can make it easier to stay sober for the long haul. “For psychologists, many of them are addiction-informed, and in their advertisements or on their websites they will mention that specifically,” Dr. Lembke said. To get started, try searching a directory like Psychology Today or Inclusive Therapists, both of which have filters you How to Stop Drinking can use to look for specific support around substance use. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve within five days.
Figure out how much you actually drink
This signal is telling you to have a drink, Halfway house but it’s not controlling you. While having an urge can be uncomfortable, it won’t hurt you. With practice, the urge can become a signal to use an urge coping strategy. The best place to start looking for help to stop drinking is at the doctor’s office as they can refer you to the type of help to stop drinking that suits your situation the best.
Lifestyle Changes That can Help
“I already messed up today” thinking creates dangerous spiral patterns. Common co-occurring conditions include anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Each requires specific treatment approaches that work alongside addiction recovery.
Use resources by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Popular sobriety apps like I Am Sober, Sober Time, and Reframe offer daily motivation, milestone tracking, and habit-rewiring techniques. Online communities like Reddit’s r/stopdrinking, SMART Recovery, and In The Rooms provide 24/7 support and accountability. To maximize benefits, users should check in daily, engage in discussions, and combine multiple resources. Digital tools enhance sobriety by offering structure, encouragement, and a sense of community, making long-term recovery more achievable.
Simply removing alcohol without replacement leaves dangerous empty space. Your brain needs alternative ways to handle stress, boredom, and social anxiety. These patterns reveal why alcohol has become woven into your daily routine. The sooner you get help for alcohol use, the less likely you will suffer long-term consequences. Heavy alcohol use is expensive, potentially costing you $800 each month or even more.
Figure out what scares you about getting sober
You might be afraid of what happens if you keep drinking, but you’re more afraid of what happens when you stop. Most importantly, don’t berate yourself if you slip up and have a drink. Remember that if mistakes are made, we can learn from the experience and start fresh the next day. Perceived social support can play an important part in alcohol use recovery. Professional treatment for an alcohol use disorder can involve outpatient therapy, residential treatment, or inpatient hospitalization. The level of care you need often depends on the severity of your condition.
Is it better to give up drinking all at once or gradually reduce how much you drink?
Doctors, nutritionists, and counselors can also help support people to stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome may occur in people with AUD. After the last drink, a person may experience mild or more severe symptoms. Below are samples of e-health tools developed with NIAAA funding.
Prepare yourself for those times when someone is going to offer you a drink. You might also hold onto a nonalcoholic drink instead, ask a friend to support you in difficult situations or simply exit early if temptation gets too strong, the NIAAA suggests. Instead of aiming for complete abstinence, for instance, aim to drink fewer than seven days a week. “Try sober Mondays or sober Mondays through Wednesdays,” he says.
“Just get a sparkling water, put a lime in it, and have fun,” he says. Lean on close friends and family – Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to couples counseling or family therapy. Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better.
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