Giving up alcohol is no easy task, but it’s one task that many people should commit to. Across the UK there are thousands of people that have an unhealthy and toxic relationship with the substance and it’s harming their lives in many ways. Often without them realizing.
If you’re a heavy drinker, then reviewing your relationship with alcohol is an important step. You should consider a wide range of factors and decide whether the substance is having a negative impact on your life. If it is, then it could well be time to give up the stuff.
That in itself is no easy feat, but it is possible, and here are five options to help you do just that…
Set Yourself Some Clear Goals
To begin with, it might be that you want to start by reducing how much you drink. This can effectively be a bit of an experiment to help determine if you do have a problem. Set goals as to whether you want to give up entirely for a set period or limit how much you drink. For example, you may only drink alcohol on certain days of the week, or say you will only have five pints of beer across a week rather than the 10 you would usually.
Think about your goals and set them out clearly, logging your progress as you go. Complete your goals, and you may want to set further ones in a bid to give up alcohol for good.
Get Help From Friends and Family With It
If you don’t want to seek professional help, use a network of family and friends who can provide you with plenty of support. Share your goals with them and get advice, encouragement, and support from them.
This will give you much more accountability in your quest, while you may also wish to consider a support group for people who are navigating the same challenges as you, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s completely free and can be great for picking up tips and advice as well as plenty of motivation.
Consider Some Healthier Coping Mechanisms
One of the many reasons we turn to alcohol is to cope with stress or anxiety. That isn’t going away, so think about how you can replace alcohol as a coping mechanism with something else. For many of us, that’s often the gym. You can spend a similar amount of time there, but exercise can be a much more effective tool of negating anxieties and stress, not just in the short term, but in the long term as well.
Of course, there are many other activities too from engaging in arts and crafts to listening to music, meditating and so much more.
Avoid Triggers and Temptations
As well as finding coping mechanisms for stress, it can be a good idea to identify the triggers that may lead to alcohol consumption and go out of your way to avoid them. For example, it may be social situations with a bar. It may also be visiting a particular friend who encourages you to drink.
You can either avoid these or consider making changes to such routines, like finding alternatives to a bar for socialising with friends, or bringing your own, non-alcoholic drinks to parties.
Seek Professional Help if Needed
Finally, the best option for you could well be seeking professional help. Alcohol rehab is the most effective way to negotiate alcohol addiction and set yourself on the pathway to recovery. While many may think that’s too expensive as an option, it’s actually not, with alcohol rehab cost potentially varying depending on your income as well as offering a range of payment plans.
That shouldn’t put you off and getting help from trained professionals can provide you with the right tools to live your life in a much healthier and sober manner not just in the short term, but for the rest of your life.
Jessica has a flair for writing engaging blogs and articles. She enjoys reading and learning new things which enables her to write different topics and fields with ease. She also strives to break down complex concepts and make them easy for anybody to comprehend.
