A lot of drinkers think about quitting but do not have
enough will power. The following free advice can help you to make a realistic
but effective plan for giving up drinking for good.
To boost your chances of quitting drinking, make a list of
pluses and minuses about stopping. When you put something in writing, it often
has an affect on your entire mental outlook. It can also motivate to forge
ahead, and may make quitting less difficult by allowing you to keep your eyes
on the prize.
In order to succeed with your goal of quitting drinking, you
should do so in as easy of a method as you possibly can. Never choose to quit drinking
by going cold turkey. Many people who attempt to quit will fail on their first
try. Since alcohol is so addictive, it is best to wean yourself off which is how rehabilitation from alcohol starts. This will
ease you through the early withdrawal stages and make quitting less difficult.
Tell your loved ones that you want to quit drinking. This
can help you to create a support group to facilitate the process. The help of
these people can keep you focused on your plan to quit drinking.
Try to encourage friends and family to support your decision
to stop drinking. It is vital you tell them you need and value their support,
and you can do without them being judgmental. Remind them that you may have
times of frustration and irritability and ask them to bear with you. Make sure
that you have support from close friends and loved ones during your quitting
process, this support can come in handy as quitting is not easy.
One of the keys to quitting for good is avoiding the things
that make you want to drink. If you like to have a shot with coffee you can
switch to tea, for example. Try to find something to take your mind off of the
subject.
Fortify your resolve to not give in, by creating a solid
backup plan for when the cravings kick in, or the pressure adds up. You could
try new hobbies, massage, or strenuous exercise during peak cravings. Whenever
you find yourself with time on your hands, fill it with the things you love to
do, like talking with friends, interesting games or books.
Clean your house, as thoroughly as possible, once you quit drinking.
Clean your carpets, furniture and drapes. You might even consider putting a
fresh coat of paint on the walls. Your house will smell clean and fresh, and
you won't be reminded of the desire to drink each time you walk through your
door.
Consider rewarding yourself for important milestones and
plan those rewards in advance. Make a list of things that you can use to reward
yourself for reaching a week, month or day of nondrinking. Keep it in a place
you visit often, like the refrigerator or bathroom mirror, so you can view it
repeatedly. It might provide inspiration and motivation during difficult times.
Find something that will give you motivation, even when you
feel like giving up. This can be accomplished by posting motivational sayings
in your office, or by wearing bracelets to symbolize your intentions.
Regardless of your specific strategy, having a visual reminder can help you
fight off the urge to drink beer.
Don't let yourself indulge even a little bit. Do not
convince yourself that drinking one sip will not hurt your good resolutions;
one will soon turn into two, and all your hard work will be for nothing.
Remember that having "just one" can exacerbate your cravings and get
you on the wrong path.
Get some exercise. Exercising can increase your lung
capacity and encourage healing, so start a regular exercise routine as soon as
you stop drinking. Getting some regular exercise can also help you to avoid the
age-old complication of weight gain. Furthermore, exercise causes your body to
produce endorphins, which can give you a natural high. Although the high won't
be the same as an alcoholic high, it will help you to cope with alcohol withdrawal.
If you don't quit once, you can always try again. Even
strategies that are extremely sound and begun with great determination do not
always achieve the desired result. Figure out what caused your determination to
wane and treat it as a learning experience to help guide you the next time you
quit. You may triumph the next time.
Get rid of anything that reminds you of your drinking days.
You can start by throwing out any lighters, matches or ashtrays. Throw your
clothes in the laundry and clean your home in order to eliminate the stench of drink.
Doing these things will make it less likely that you will be reminded about drinking
and wind up with an alcohol craving.
Try exercising to replace your drinking habit. After working
out, the body releases endorphins. These make you feel better and are a great
distraction from booze. You should also exercise to counteract certain side
effects of quitting, such as weight gain.
When you are feeling a moment of weakness, call someone in
your support network. It could be a family member, friend or colleague, or someone you met while attending drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.. anyone
that you can count on to listen to how you are feeling. Your conversation will
distract you from your craving, and you will be reassured that there is always
someone to support you get through this.
If you are craving a drink, try deep breathing. This allows
you to step back and refresh your memory about your reasons for quitting to
begin with. It might also help bring more oxygen into your lungs, which may
give you a refreshed feeling. Deep breathing exercises are very easy to do, and
you can practice them at any time.
Stopping drinking could be the greatest challenge of your
life. However, it is not an impossibility. It will take time, patience and
willpower. You will be best served by gaining as much knowledge and assistance
as you can. Put the tips from this article to work in your life, and hopefully,
put an end to your dependence on booze forever. For more practical alcoholism advice, please go to http://providencewomensrecovery.com and find out how you can stop your addiction cycle once and fore all.
