How to stop drinking: Step-by-step guide to giving up alcohol

For those struggling with alcohol addiction or considering returning to drinking after sobriety, seeking professional help is highly recommended. Therapy, support groups, and other resources can provide invaluable assistance in managing addiction and maintaining recovery. Receiving professional guidance can empower individuals to take control of their recovery journey and resist the temptation of drinking alcohol after therapy. A personalized relapse prevention plan is essential for maintaining sobriety, as it helps individuals identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and set achievable goals.

The Illusion of Control

Relapse can be part of the recovery process, and it can strengthen someone’s dedication to long-term sobriety if it occurs and is properly handled. When you are an alcoholic and have achieved sobriety, you are in recovery. However, it takes work to stay in recovery, and even the hardest-working person can experience slips, lapses and relapses during the alcohol recovery process. The relapse rate among people who quit drinking is as high as 60%.[1] X Research source There are ways to avoid a relapse, though—and we’re going to take you through those strategies. We’ll tell you the best way to handle it so you can return to sobriety.

What to Do After a Relapse

At certain stages of recovery, individuals who have an AUD may still hope that they can one day drink normally. This hope may disrupt optimal recovery and keep the individual from moving forward in their recovery. The success stories of those who have quit drinking after 20 years are filled with examples of overcoming challenges and finding the strength to persevere. These individuals faced intense cravings for alcohol, anxiety, depression, and irritability, but with the right support, they were able to conquer these obstacles and achieve sobriety. By working with a therapist or counselor, you can tackle the root causes of your addiction, find out why an alcoholic can’t stop drinking, explore effective treatment options, and build healthier coping mechanisms. Through therapy and counseling, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your addiction, empowering you to make lasting changes and achieve long-term sobriety.

• Drugs and alcohol essentially “hijack” the reward and pleasure centers of the brain.
• Once your doctors in detox have made a full assessment of your condition, they will be able to recommend whether or not they think you would benefit from going back to rehab.
• As you begin to practice mindfulness, you can also start identifying the things that make you happy besides alcohol.
• When people drink after a period of abstinence, the body experiences shock.
• By quitting alcohol, you can reverse or improve some of these cognitive damages, giving you a clearer mind and a brighter future.
• This therapy is developed for adolescents with drug use problems and their families.

How long after you stop drinking does your body heal?

It is important to be aware of any red flags that may suggest a relapse is forthcoming in order to take counteractive measures to avoid it. Such preventive techniques may include applying better stress management tools or not putting yourself in situations that may trigger cravings. Start socializing without alcohol by engaging in alternative activities, and conversations and focusing on the present moment. Non-alcoholic drinks are a great way to join in the festivities without compromising your well-being. A lapse is a brief return to drinking or using drugs, but the individual quickly stops again. Relapsing is when the individual returns to drinking or using drugs after a period of sobriety.

• The chronic nature of alcoholism means that it typically worsens over time without intervention and can lead to significant impairment in daily functioning and quality of life.
• Some studies find that this structure, along with a start date for sobriety and milestones, is important to some people in recovery.
• By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
• Your withdrawal symptoms will be at their worst for the first 48 hours.
• But if you know your friends are likely to give you a hard time, or you know that you’re going to run into people who are going to insist you drink, having a few canned responses can prevent you from being taken off guard.
• These include how long the relapse lasted and how much you were drinking during the relapse.

Other definitions, however, often focus on the process of recovery and developing coping mechanisms and habits that support health and wellness over the long term. Total abstinence may be the goal, but the reality is that setbacks are common. You may need a different approach to treatment, or perhaps How to Avoid Drinking Again After Sobriety to return to inpatient treatment. Regardless of what led to a relapse, getting back on track quickly gives you the best chance at long-term recovery, rather than waiting until the problem worsens. It is hard to admit to others that you have experienced a relapse, but it is the best thing to do.

The Voices of Sobriety

• Preventing relapse and sustaining recovery demand continuous effort, support, and self-awareness.
• “I knew I could no longer go on pretending that I had a handle on my drinking,” she explains.
• In these programs, it’s customary to receive plastic chips as you progress to the one-year mark, at which time you receive a bronze coin.
• It could take some time and effort to find a strategy that helps you navigate them effectively, but you do have plenty of options for support.

How Should I Deal With a Relapse?

The Importance of Professional Support