The fact that you’re contemplating to quit drinking is an extremely positive sign of your intentions and efforts towards getting alcohol out of your life for good. The following article is an attempt to guide you further with a step-by-step procedure of how to proceed with this task.
Bacchus hath drowned more men than Neptune. ~ Dr. Thomas Fuller
Alcoholism has ruined many a happy household and dimmed numerous bright prospects. Wherever alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse have cast their ominous shadows, there have been nothing but suffering, loss and pain. For an alcoholic, his reason of and deliverance from suffering is the same – liquor. He doesn’t realize that while he is drinking liquor, the liquor is eating away at his life and the lives of those around him.
There are, however, a few fortunate individuals who realize this, sometimes very late, and make an attempt to correct the wrong they have been doing with their lives. Well, better late than never! The fact that realization has dawned and an individual wishes to return to the happy life from which he had strayed is worthy of applause – fate doesn’t allow such privileged intervention to all! Realize this and start putting your decision to quit drinking in action.
How to Dump and Get Over Alcohol
Psychological Conditioning is Important to Quit Drinking
Start with realizing that the need to drink alcohol is a psychological one – our bodies DO NOT require any amount of alcohol for ANY of its functions! Once you understand and accept this, the rest of the journey would be easier.
Since your reason for drinking is psychological, the ways to quit should also begin with psychological conditioning! Remember, it’s all in the mind – you own your mind and not the other way round!
Acceptance is the First Step to Quit Drinking
Accept the fact that you have a problem – drinking problem – and be open to receiving help for overcoming it. It’s okay, everyone screws up with something or the other in their lives, you screwed up with alcohol. Remember, unless you acknowledge the problem, you cannot make a foray towards a workable solution.
Make a Conscious Decision To Quit Alcohol
Decide that you won’t drink and make it happen! We all know how it feels when your decision is dismissed by others. If you, yourself, can’t stick by your own decision, how can you expect others to listen to you? Remember this and take your decision to quit seriously. Any going back on it is a question on your integrity and self-esteem – it just shows that you do not respect yourself enough to adhere to your own promise to yourself! Consider this a stab to your dignity and self-respect!
Be Stubborn About Quitting
Make it your topmost priority and let nothing and no one come between you and your decision to quit!
If people try to convince you to join them for a drink, despite knowing that you’re trying to quit, it’s best to avoid them. True friends and loved ones would always encourage you to abstain from alcohol and support you at each step of your endeavor, even at the cost of being harsh with you.
Let Your Friends Help You Battle Alcoholism
Surround yourself with people who take your decision to quit seriously and support you at each step. Ask those people to be firm with you in case you show signs of relapsing.
Share Your Stories of Abstinence From Alcohol
Share your success stories of resisting alcohol with your support group of allies as they would further encourage you to proceed onward with your mission. Remember, encouragement is extremely crucial at this point. Abstaining from alcohol all of a sudden will surely make you feel desperate and at this juncture, only stoic willpower, sincere support, encouragement and love of your support group can keep you from hitting a low!
That’s a Polite No to Booze
Decline drinks when offered, even at social or formal occasions. You can always excuse yourself by saying that you don’t drink or that you don’t feel like having one at the time! No need to announce that you are trying to quit and feel embarrassed doing so! Moreover, this is hardly anything to be embarrassed of – you should feel proud of yourself for having the courage to admit your weaknesses and make serious efforts towards correcting them!
Medical Help May Be Necessary
Seeking Medical help is a good idea if you are a chronic alcoholic as medical supervision would definitely help you cope better with withdrawal symptoms. Joining alcohol rehab and detox programs is also extremely helpful in severe conditions and in case you are finding it difficult to quit drinking on your own.
Resist Temptation
Avoiding environment conducive for consuming alcohol is the best way to stay away from booze! Avoid going to that bar with your buddies – it may weaken your resolve when you are suddenly surrounded by whiskey and beer bottles.
Be Determined To Quit
Conviction in your resolve to quit is very important. Be convinced that your decision to quit is the right one and let no doubt creep in which points otherwise. Remember, there are always more reasons to QUIT that continue drinking.
Reasons to Stop Drinking
The reasons to stop drinking alcohol are more and better ones than the reasons to drink!
Physical Health
Your liver will bless you for quitting! A healthy liver translates into overall well-being and a healthy body is the key to a healthy life!
Mental Health
When sober, your mind will be sharper, more alert and attentive to details. There are very few things in the world that can match up to the powers of a strong, sharp and uncluttered mind.
Money Matters
Ever tried to calculate how much you have squandered away after all that liquor? And has it done you any good? It has been an investment reaping negative returns till now, hasn’t it? Continue drinking and you waste your money, give up and you save all that money! You can use all those dollars to invest in shares, bonds or just plan a holiday with your family!
Relationships
Your alcoholism adversely affects all your personal relationships, be it parental, spousal or filial. Those days when you remained semiconscious under the effect of alcohol definitely made your family feel sad, or may be a little angry at themselves. Do you think they deserve gloom, self-resentment and guilt for loving you unconditionally? Quit drinking and go back to them! Reconnect with your loved ones and make them feel that the old you – the one they knew before you strayed – is back!
The most that people like me can do is give you advice and pragmatic tips on quitting alcohol. Whether or not you are successful is entirely up to your resolve to succeed. Remember, one can lead his horse to the water but he can’t make it drink!
