How to Stop Drinking Today

Together, you can come up with a plan to get through it. My decision to quit drinking had nothing to do with Sober October. Relying on alcohol to assuage the brunt of cyberbullying or the uncertainties of a musical career was no longer cutting it. So much of alcohol addiction is relying on our impulsive mind rather than the deliberate; short term over long term. Because we need to reprogram our brains to have a better balance, but also to learn new routines, it’s important to feed it some short-term rewards.

“Sober-curious” or “mindful drinking” are now familiar phrases; Sober October and Dry January are popular trends. But it still requires a willingness to go against the grain. For the most part, I could float on top of the waves of temptation during our island stay.

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Regardless of the reason and goal, 30 days of abstinence is the best way to start. Even if the goal is to cut down, How to Stop Drinking abstinence can assist with lowering tolerance to ease moderation of use, and your body could use the break.

Find words that assist you respectfully but firmly refuse. When alcohol is a regular part of a person’s routine, drinking may become an almost natural response, particularly when they feel worried or overwhelmed. It may not be necessary to entirely overhaul your life to stop drinking, but making a few modifications to your environment to minimize alcohol triggers can significantly impact you. Perhaps your spouse, sibling, or roommate is contemplating a shift as well.

Talk about it

One of alcohol’s big lies is that it blunts the pain. I would argue it only buries it until it mutates into a much more ugly monster.

• What’s more, they’re someone who will understand and help you work through it.
• You’re likely to be in situations where you’ll be offered a drink.
• Make a note about how you feel physically and mentally on these days—recognizing the benefits may help you to cut down for good.
• If a few in our group opted to go to a bar for a beer after dinner, I didn’t object but I didn’t join them.
• If certain people, places, or activities trigger a craving for alcohol, try to avoid them.

You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time. Drinking or being sick from drinking interfered with work, family responsibilities, school, or social engagements. Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She’s also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” have been translated into more than 40 languages.