Understanding your relationship with alcohol is the first step to quitting. To break the cycle of addiction, you must identify the reasons why you drink and explore alternative ways to address those problems. Treatment usually begins with alcohol detoxification, which helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms. It's also important to be aware of peer pressure, keep busy, ask for support, and be persistent in your efforts to quit.
Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist who specializes in treating addiction and alcohol moderation, explains that knowing why you drink is essential. Taking a break from alcohol for a month can be beneficial to the body, even if you don't experience withdrawal symptoms. An evaluation consisting of 11 affirmative or negative questions can help assess the severity and likelihood of an alcohol use disorder. If you turn to alcohol to control emotional distress, it's important to recognize that this can cause the need to drink, making success seem even more unattainable.
To overcome this challenge, it's important to find new hobbies and activities that don't involve alcohol. Additionally, talking openly about your relationship with alcohol can help encourage others to explore their own drinking habits.
