There are several reasons that moderation may work better for an individual than complete abstinence. One may be that a person’s drinking problem is mild enough that changing their behavior around alcohol isn’t as big a challenge. The goal of cutting back can sometimes feel easier https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to attain. If you’re going to quit by yourself, start by having a plan. Know what your drinking triggers are, and avoid them for a period of time. Spend time coming up with some coping strategies for alcohol cravings, and self-care ideas for days when you feel depressed or uneasy.

There are many options for treating alcohol misuse, dependence, or addiction. Some involve methods of cutting back or quitting on your own. Some, on the other end of the spectrum, involve medically supervised withdrawal, or residential rehabilitation programs . Then there are middle-ground options, including medication for alcoholism, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART recovery, and recovery coaching .

Moderation as an Option

Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. If you’re having a hard time sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support. Maybe you’ve never had any interest in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol.

Or drink soda, water, or juice between alcoholic drinks. Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so make sure you eat food when you drink. Make it clear that drinking will not be allowed in your home and that you may not be able to attend events where alcohol is being served. Routinely monitor and report the prevalence, frequency, and intensity of binge drinking .

What to look for in an app to stop drinking alcohol

You find that it takes more alcohol for you to feel drunk now. Additionally, you drink faster and with the intention of getting drunk rather than just to enjoy the social experience. At the same time, the same amount of alcohol does not affect you in the same way, meaning you have to drink more to get the desired effect.

It lets people track the hours, minutes, and seconds they have been sober and the total number of days without alcohol. People who have hepatitis or other liver diseasesIf you have hepatitis, drinking alcohol increases your risk for fibrosis, liver disease and liver cancer. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum how to control drinking and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. To begin with, a person needs to be ready to stop in order to quit drinking. If they haven’t decided on their own that they want to make a change, it’s best not to try to force their hand. What you can do is speak to them about your concerns, with a sense of empathy and open-ness.

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Tips on Why and How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

For many people, social drinking can lead to excessive drinking, and at some point, we face the realization that our quality of life has sunk to a very low point. However, we still want to be able to have drinks at a wedding, a super bowl party, a Halloween party, etc. People with a parent, grandparent, or other close relative with alcoholism have a higher risk for becoming dependent on alcohol. For many, it may be difficult to maintain low-risk drinking habits. This “increased risk” category contains three different drinking pattern groups.

• Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest.
• One may be that a person’s drinking problem is mild enough that changing their behavior around alcohol isn’t as big a challenge.
• However, people with AUD drink alcohol even if it negatively affects their lives.
• If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page.
• Watching a family member struggle with a drinking problem can be as heartbreakingly painful as it is frustrating.
• Overall, recovering from alcoholism is about giving yourself time, caring for yourself, finding a healthy support system, and remaining persistent.

Tell trusted family and friends about your plan to quit or cut back on alcohol. When those around you are in the know, it can help them know not to offer you drinks. It may even help if you spend time with other nondrinkers for a while so you can support each other.

Regulating cross-border marketing of alcohol

Programming can range from hour-long sessions a few times a week to several hours per day. Our mission is to use new technology to make treatment more accessible, and reduce the stigma around problem drinking. We offer both abstinence and moderation as options, and use only evidence-based methods. Of course, putting these into practice will depend on how much you drink, in what situations you drink, and what your reasons are for reducing your consumption. For some people, additional support may be necessary, including groups, medication, or coaching. There are now telemedicine programs, including Ria Health, that can make these forms of support easier to access. Taking a break for a month can give you some perspective on how much you drink, and what it feels like when you don’t.