TIPS on how to quit drinking ALCOHOL......very good suggestions/tips

Search

Active member
Joined
Oct 20, 1999
Messages
75,444
Tokens
Info provided by WIKIhow


1
Talk to your doctor. If you choose not to, bear in mind that alcohol withdrawal can potentially be deadly. If you start experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms (panic attacks, severe anxiety pressure you should seek immediate medical assistance. The condition could potentially deteriorate to deadly delerium tremens if left untreated.


2
Change your attitude about quitting! Remember, you're not being forced to give up a good friend who has treated you well. Instead, you are finally ridding yourself of an awful enemy who has robbed you of many great pleasures in life.
3
Constantly remind yourself of what a great thing you are doing and hold tightly to your quit. Remember that you are pardoning yourself from a life sentence in the prison of alcoholism and you will always hold the key.
4
Try to pick some significant date to quit. Be ambitious, but reasonable. If you are very heavy drinker you must first slow down to avoid withdrawal symptoms (in this case it is best to have your doctor help you plan your quitting date).
5
Get rid of all bottles, cans, etc. And don't feel that just because you are having guests over that you need to offer them a beer, wine, or cocktail. It is perfectly fine to offer people tea, lemonade, coke, or the like.
6
Feel your feelings. Cry when you need to. Laugh when you can. Eat when you are hungry. Sleep when you are tired. This is going to be really weird at first, but embrace it. You haven't felt your feelings for a long time. You will have a learning curve.
7
Don't do anything you don't feel ready to do. If going to the beach is a time when you drank a lot. Don't go this year. If going to a certain friend's home for dinner is a time when you drank a lot - get a rain check this time. Protecting your sobriety is the most important thing you are doing right now. Take care of you! Don't worry about everyone else right now.
8
There's an old saying about 'Playgrounds and Playmates' - look at yours - you may need to leave some of your old drinking buddies and watering holes behind. That said - It can be quite a revelation to find out that the friends you used to drink with were drinking with you only occasionally and were having two beers or two glasses of wine to your five.
9
Revise recipes that call for wine so you do not have it in the kitchen, or use non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
10
Buy a wallet and whenever you think about buying a bottle or a drink, put that amount of money in your sober wallet. It will shock you. Use this for healthier stress relief: massage, visit to a day spa, yoga class...
11
Buy a small piece of inexpensive jewelry like a ring or bracelet, or henna your hand, or get a special manicure to remind you that these hands no longer buy or touch alcohol.
12
Drink a lot of water.
13
Consider joining a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous. But do not feel guilty or defeated if you do not find AA to be a fit for you. It is not for everyone. Most people who quit do so without the help of AA. The vast majority of people who have quit drinking and put that phase of their lives behind them have done so by making a conscious commitment to themselves to stop drinking once and for all - and never look back.
14
Never take another sip.
15
After 90 days completely sober your whole outlook will be changed and your body will be in full recovery mode. You will be like a completely different person and you will likely have lost weight!
16
Make lists of ways to 'do' all the things you did by using alcohol without alcohol. A list of ways to celebrate. A list of ways to have a romantic dinner. A list of ways to relax and unwind. A list of ways to be sociable.
17
Feel how good it feels to go to sleep at night without 'slipping into a coma' only to awaken at 3 a.m. with a dry mouth and a splitting head.
18
Don't try to explain quitting to people. Most people do not drink like we did. They are not like us and therefore they cannot understand the fact that we truly have a problem with alcohol. Of course, there are others who have the problem too - Either way the people are going to say 'You don't have problem!' When you quit drinking just say 'No thanks, I'll have a Diet Coke - I'm trying to watch my weight.' If you hang out with them very much they'll figure it out - and they'll think 'Good for him!'
19
Admit to yourself, and remember it, that there is absolutely nothing in your life more important than this one thing.
20
Have a good reason! Like - I never want to miss work because I have a hateful hangover again. Or I never want to embarrass my child in front of her friends again. Or I never want to be ugly to my spouse because I've had one too many again. Or I never want to get a DUI(again). Or I never want to 'drunk dial' my friends and relatives and act like an idiot again. Or I never want to hide bottles all over the house again. Or I never want to have to pretend I remember what happened the night before when I do not recall anything after X o'clock again. Or I don't want to lose this marriage the way I lost my first marriage to the ravishes of alcohol again. Or I wonder what it would be like to feel good again.
21
Do not avoid all situations where you would normally drink. Instead approach them with a good attitude and remember that you can have a good time without drinking.
22
Memorize a prayer, poem or something (i.e. Hamlet's speech "To be or not to be") to repeat to yourself when you are losing your mind; trying to remember it will keep your head together sometimes.
23
Give yourself a prize for every day or every hour that you haven't had a drink.
24
Talk to your doctor. If you chose not to, bear in mind that alcohol withdrawal can potentially be DEADLY. If you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as severe anxiety or elevated blood pressure you should seek immediate medical assistance before the condition deteriorates to delerium tremens.
25
"He who conquers others is mighty. He who conquers himself is almighty."
26
"Pick up yoga! It will help you deal with stress and calm your mind."
27
Take a B-vitamin supplement daily for your first week off alcohol. Alcohol affects the ability of the body to absorb these (specifically thiamine). Deficiency can cause severe cognitive impairment (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or wet brain).
28
If you are tempted, try to visualize what you might look like totally out of control. Do you really want to be that person again?
29
If you are a scheduled drinker, like after work or when you go home, change your routine to involve another activity like visiting your parents or a friend.
30
Have food before you drink, this will reduce your interest for drinking.
31
In the initial stage, reduce the quantity of alcohol intake. Imagine that due to excess alcohol, you are vomiting and having head ache on the next day and stop drinking any more.
32
Learn meditation. Do meditation regularly especially in the morning and at the end of the session, vow not to drink alcohol. Remember your calm mind of meditation later when you feel like drinking. It will distract you.
33
Don’t give up on yourself – Many people will find excuses like, “I’ve been drinking for so long, it probably won’t make any difference” or “I’ve tried so many times, I just can’t do it”. Some will feel hopelessly defeated if they find that they have something highly progressive like Cirrhosis of the liver. Quitting drinking can extend life no matter what’s going on. How long it extends is entirely up to the individual; everyone’s physical makeup is different and some are more resilient. You should remind yourself that if you were willing to try quitting so many times in the past, you have the ability to try again. There is no age limit nor is it EVER too late to try to quit drinking.
<LI class="steps_li final_li">34
Don’t let guilt consume you – Some will feel a sense of foolishness and guilt over not having done something sooner. Don’t pass blame to anyone including you. Alcohol is the enemy. It has been whispering in your ear and telling you that it’s more important than anything else. There is nothing more important than you. You are of no use to anyone if you die. Hence, YOU must overthrow the oppressive rule of alcohol and start fresh, just as any country in revolution. It will be hard and you must learn from the past, but remember that you were mislead and lied to by alcohol; now that it’s gone you can really start living. Those around you will appreciate it too.
 

powdered milkman
Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
22,984
Tokens
most non drinkers dont like onions
 

New member
Joined
Apr 21, 2002
Messages
28,149
Tokens
I just quit drinking for a week or two at a time and live in the gym. It's tough to get motivated to drink when your body is telling you to go to sleep early cause you are tired as hell.
 

Active member
Joined
Oct 20, 1999
Messages
75,444
Tokens
I just quit drinking for a week or two at a time and live in the gym. It's tough to get motivated to drink when your body is telling you to go to sleep early cause you are tired as hell.

Unfortunately for thousands and thousands of alcoholics, it's very tough........not matter the circumstances.
 

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2006
Messages
2,481
Tokens
thats good to read even if you're not considering quitting.
 

New member
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
7,718
Tokens
Who the hell wants to quit drinking? I'm by no means an alcoholic but I am certainly a social drinker. 1-2 drinks per night (nowadays), go to the bar Friday & Saturday. There's been a boat load of studies showing that social/moderate drinkers live an overall better quality of life than non-drinkers.
 

Active member
Joined
Oct 20, 1999
Messages
75,444
Tokens
Who the hell wants to quit drinking? I'm by no means an alcoholic but I am certainly a social drinker. 1-2 drinks per night (nowadays), go to the bar Friday & Saturday. There's been a boat load of studies showing that social/moderate drinkers live an overall better quality of life than non-drinkers.

That's true .........but for many it is VERY, VERY, VERY tough to have and stop after 1-2 drinks.

Anything over 3 drinks and the negatives far outweigh any positive beneifts.......at least that is the opinion of most.

But again, if one can have just 1-2 drinks and never anymore, it is healthier for most longterm than totally abstaining from the drug.
 

EV Whore
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
19,916
Tokens
I've been sober almost 6 months now. By far the hardest thing I've ever done but it's getting easier.
 

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
4,271
Tokens
For some people, the older they get, their body won't allow them to recover from a hard night like when in younger days a cold shower and a morning soda or coffee would get you back to sobriety. I have had some lu lu's of hangovers in my time like most Americans and you finally realize the older you get that the intense sickness that accompanies heavy alcohol consumption just isn't worth it any more. The list above is very interesting and I encourage and support anyone who feels that alcohol might not be the answer to life's problems. Most Americans do enjoy a cold suds after work with friends and co workers and that is fine for some folks but others just choose to pass. Just be yousrelf and everything else is gravy.
 

New member
Joined
Jul 20, 2002
Messages
75,154
Tokens
AA does work if you let it but it is true that it is not for everyone. I am an alcoholic who had his last drink on April 22nd 1990. I owe my sobriety to first The VA Medical facilities in my home state as I was very sick back in the Spring of 1990 and then to AA without both I don't know if I would have survived that all important 1st year.

Today I hardly ever think about a drink but back then as someone already said putting a plug in the jug was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life which includes a tour of duty (with a lot of combat) in Vietnam. Not to mention being head mod here at The Rx for six years...Something I could never have done drunk.

If you have a drinking problem - get help, a real alcoholic cannot quit entirely on his own. I know of one poster here at The Rx who has over 30 years of sobriety, I believe he like myself have done it a day at a time for these many years..

Best of luck to anyone trying to quit drinking, wilheim
 

New member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
4,122
Tokens
AA does work if you let it but it is true that it is not for everyone. I am an alcoholic who had his last drink on April 22nd 1990. I owe my sobriety to first The VA Medical facilities in my home state as I was very sick back in the Spring of 1990 and then to AA without both I don't know if I would have survived that all important 1st year.

Today I hardly ever think about a drink but back then as someone already said putting a plug in the jug was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life which includes a tour of duty (with a lot of combat) in Vietnam. Not to mention being head mod here at The Rx for six years...Something I could never have done drunk.

If you have a drinking problem - get help, a real alcoholic cannot quit entirely on his own. I know of one poster here at The Rx who has over 30 years of sobriety, I believe he like myself have done it a day at a time for these many years..

Best of luck to anyone trying to quit drinking, wilheim

congrats....i have 3 years myself
 

New member
Joined
Feb 5, 2009
Messages
2,872
Tokens
I would say 8 and 16 are the most important once a person is really ready to quit drinking...Congrats on the week Fish and GL tonight
 

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2005
Messages
8,465
Tokens
Reading that Long List in post #1 exhausted me....I need a drink

LOL..you & I don't see eye to eye...but that was funny...

On point....

YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART WHEN YOUR'RE DRINKING TO MUCH...PLAIN AND SIMPLE....

that said...

I work on a 4 on 3 off..drink..think...party's are diff't for sure...

again...don't hate the drinkers.......AS LONG AS THEY DON'T DRIVE....
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,901
Messages
13,439,380
Members
99,344
Latest member
arshman4757
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com