You can start right now down the path to quitting alcohol. You might find your first step leads to your doctor, or a support group or even setting a date on the calendar for a target date to end your habit. Some people have the ability to quit drinking on their own, while others require medical help to overcome the physical symptoms of withdrawal.



If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Quitting Alcohol Can: Prevent or decrease health problems that worsened by alcohol use, such as liver damage. Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. Reduce related family issues or relationship problems. Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home. Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.

Education and emotional support are key when quitting alcohol, particularly if you misuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. Here are only a few of the resources available to you to help end the alcohol cycle:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Alcoholics Anonymous manages meetings around the world to help those who have a wish to stop drinking. These groups are made up of people who have had alcohol use issues, and you may stay anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a well known and established program relying on a 12 step program toward sobriety for life. Each day is dealt with 'one day at a time' and has experienced excellent results since its beginning. Most communities have an AA organization and it is a great resource offered at no cost.

Many walks of life have made use of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. Most people find its supportive nature combined with instilling a sense of self responsibility to be what they need to help them through. Knowing that you are not the only one affected by alcohol can make a lot of difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) organizes meetings all over the world to help those who have a desire to stop drinking. You can also receive education, information, and support to help you stop drinking by asking your doctor, calling an alcohol treatment hotline, or asking your local hospital or alcohol treatment facility.

Stopping your use of alcohol can improve your general health and quality of life. It can also increase the quality of life of the people you live with and those who care about you. You decrease your chances of developing serious health problems associated with alcohol abuse or dependence. You reduce your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Not drinking also is a good way for you to model responsible behavior for younger people, particularly children and teens.

You have the power within yourself to beat this destructive habit. Again, contact your doctor, a support group and surround yourself with hose people who are going to help you in your decision to overcome alcohol addiction. The help of both the mental and physical issues that come with withdrawal are there for you.

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of help. You do not have to face this alone. Odds are that the problems that drove you to alcohol addiction were not your problems alone. The issues created by alcohol misuse only add to the troubles you and those around you might have been facing and are only increased by your alcohol habit.

Continuing to drink alcohol, even if you cut back the amounts, can still leave problems with your relationships, lead to decreased job performance, health conditions and possibly legal consequences (such as being charged with drinking and driving). Any time alcohol interferes with your capability to carry out daily tasks or with daily functions, you might need to stop drinking in any amounts.

When choosing to drink alcohol, even when experiencing all of the problems discussed, only more trouble awaits you. Many times what lies ahead is even more painful and severe and can destroy your life and those around you. By stopping drinking altogether, you can ensure that this outcome will not happen.

Know your reasons for quitting. Make a list of these reasons and keep them close to remind you why this decision is so important to you. Include reasons held by your loved ones, because sometimes it is easier to reminded through their hopes for your than your own. Reading over this list can serve as an affirmation that you have made the right choice.

Make a plan and stick to it. Set a goal to stop drinking and when you are going to reach it. Post it in a place where you can see it often, like your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might even want to put it in more than one place to help you stay on track throughout the day. Put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet where you will be reminded frequently.

Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.

Appraise your advancement. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Undertake a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.

Maintain your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, aim for another 30 days. Bad habits are hard to break, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice good behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become positive habits. If you attempt a plan time and time again but are not successful, consult your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.

Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.

Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.

Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

Any factor is correct as a reason to quit alcohol. For some it is health or relationships, for others it is job performance or legal troubles. You might even want to stop because you have risk factors for alcohol abuse or dependency. The first step is knowing why you want to quit.

Making a plan is the second step in stopping. Decide when you are going to stop drinking. Set a time to evaluate your plan to see whether it is working and whether you are able to stop drinking on your own. Help from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or individual therapy is often needed to help you reach your goal. All answers are correct.

It is very important to schedule a time period to evaluate your plan. At frequent intervals, evaluate how well your plan is working and whether your goals need adjusting. Participating in structured group counseling or individual therapy often helps you reach your goal of stopping drinking. All answers are correct.

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor or other health professional. You might want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions.

If you try this plan to stop using alcohol and are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to get help.