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There are millions of people struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction. Alcohol addiction can be overcome by those who feel they are ready to quit drinking. It is never too late to decide to tackle your addiction and rid yourself of the craving for alcohol. Learn how to overcome alcoholism this year by implementing a step-by-step plan for recovering from alcohol abuse that you can follow every day.
People with alcohol problems usually do not decide at one point to make a big change or transform their drinking habits overnight. Recovery is a more gradual process. In the early stages of change, denial is a huge obstacle. Even after admitting you have a drinking problem, you may still make excuses and drag your feet. It’s important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or you’re struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice.
Set goals and prepare for change
To establish drinking goals, you first need to make the decision to change. Once you have made this decision, be specific in your goals and realistic about your ability to achieve them.
As a person who is concerned about her drinking, you can choose one or more goal(s) that help you lower your alcohol use. The UK low-risk drinking guidelines recommend 14 units of alcohol each week (about 6 pints of beer or 6 medium glasses of wine) with several alcohol-free days each week.
After deciding on a goal, it is advisable to write this down and to formulate a plan for achieving that goal. Having specific plans will help one to achieve the desired goal. In addition, writing the reason why you have set the particular goal will encourage you to persevere in spite of the challenges you may encounter.
Track your progress
Keeping a record of your drinking can help you learn about the patterns in your intake. To record your drinking behavior, note each time you have an alcoholic drink and how much you drink for 3 or 4 weeks. Reviewing the records later will provide information about your weekly drinking habits. There are lots of things you could keep track of such as:
What drinks you consumed
Where you drank
Who you were with
How you felt
How well you slept afterwards
What you ate that day
How productive you felt the following day
Whether you are on track to meet your goals
Any accomplishments
Think about your triggers
Identifying your triggers for drinking will assist you in controlling alcohol intake. These triggers could be environmental situations, such as being with friends or being home alone after putting the kids to bed. Or they could also be emotional situations, such as feelings of anxiety or depression. By recognizing specific triggers, you can then develop an action plan to help you avoid these situations.
If you are struggling, seek further support
Support is crucial for someone in recovery from addiction to alcohol. Recovering from addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Support can come from family members, friends, counselors, other recovering alcoholics, your healthcare providers, and people from your faith community.
Find new meaning in life
Getting clean and sober is only the first step in recovery from alcoholism. Professional treatment programs can help you get started on the path to sobriety; however, to stay alcohol-free, you will need to build a fulfilling life where alcohol no longer has a place.