People may seem more accepting or less judgmental, and you might feel you “fit in.” You may convince yourself that experiences are more enjoyable and conversation more relaxed. These beliefs can help rationalize the negative experiences that might also occur. Many people have quit alcohol by talking with others who face the same challenges. Some groups have online forums and chats as well as in-person meetings. Try a couple of groups and see what is most comfortable for you. The younger people are when they start to drink, the more likely they are to develop alcohol use disorder at some point in their lives.
Three Key Health Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
It’s common to drink to lighten tension on a first date or before a difficult conversation. For example, you may realize you’re always drinking when you’re sad or you’re always drinking when you’re with certain friends.
In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. If you drank after successfully stopping , it does not mean that you have failed. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time. If you think you have alcohol use disorder, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision.
Family and Children’s Programs
Our mission is to provide empowering, evidence-based mental health content you can use to help yourself and your loved ones. The first thing you have to do is take a How to Stop Drinking step back and evaluate your habits. That means looking at your relationship with alcohol so you can understand why you drink, when you drink and how much you drink.
- If you want to quit drinking on your own, you’ve already started yourself on the right path.
- Try a couple of groups and see what is most comfortable for you.
- This short activity offers a recognize-avoid-cope approach commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people to change unhelpful thinking patterns and reactions.
- Maybe your concerns center around your reasons for drinking rather than the amount.