10 Ways to Overcome Alcohol Addiction

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 29.5 million Americans struggle with alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD). Many of these people want to be able to overcome their dependence on drinking. However, alcohol dependence is not something that a person can easily overcome. People with alcohol addiction can go through withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop or even cut back on their drinking.

But there are a few things that a person can do to manage or stop alcohol cravings. At Twilight Recovery, we help people treat alcohol addiction, as well as other substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health concerns.

How to Stop Drinking

Many people with alcohol addiction want to stop drinking altogether. Maybe they’ve suffered negative consequences as a result of their consumption of alcohol, or maybe their friends and family members have intervened. Whatever the case, they want to give up alcohol. Some tips that can help you stop drinking alcohol include:

Seek Professional Help

The most important thing that you can do to recover from alcohol addiction is to seek professional help. This means going to a therapist to understand why you’re drinking too much and to addiction experts to help you develop coping mechanisms. This will also help you understand what your treatment options are.

Consider Inpatient Care

Something that can help many people overcome addiction is inpatient or residential care. With inpatient care, a patient can get support throughout all phases of treatment, starting with detoxification.

Residential care also offers recovering addicts a controlled environment where they can acclimate to not being able to drink alcohol.

Set Goals

Something else that can help if you want to overcome alcohol addiction is to set goals. Write down why you want to quit drinking and set a timeline for your recovery. 

However, you should also not be too hard on yourself if you don’t meet your goals or timeline. Remember that overcoming AUD is a marathon and not a sprint.

Seek Support

Another way for you to taper your drinking is to have a support system. This can mean going to support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or simply going to friends and family. The support system not only encourages you to stop drinking, but it can also hold you accountable when you don’t meet your goals.

Avoid Triggers

An important thing for you to do if you want to stop drinking is to avoid triggers. While you may not be able to remove alcohol from your life entirely, as you may have family members or friends who drink, you can try to avoid situations where your cravings may be triggered.

How to Stop Alcohol Cravings and Cut Back on Drinking

Detox is an important part of recovering from alcohol use disorder. Some people choose to detox in a treatment center and do it all at once. Other people opt to do it slower and taper down their drinking until it gets to zero. But this can be difficult to do.

However, there are a few things that can be done to make it easier to manage alcohol cravings and cut back on drinking. Some of these things include:

Track Drinking

A great tip for cutting back is to set limits and track how much you drink. If you decide that you’re going to set a limit of four drinks a day, then try your best to stick to that limit.

Drink Slowly

A great way to cut back on drinking and stick to self-imposed limits is to drink slowly and deliberately. Sip your drinks instead of chugging them down. This will help you pace yourself and help you avoid episodes of heavy drinking.

Have Alcohol-Free Days

Something else that can help you stop or reduce your drinking is to have days where you don’t have a single alcoholic drink. While this can be somewhat difficult, it can help you acclimate to not having any alcohol.

Find Replacements

Something that can help you with having alcohol-free days is to have replacements for alcoholic drinks. This can be alcohol-free versions of what you usually drink or something else entirely, like soda or iced tea.

Look Into Medication

Many people with AUD are mentally and physically dependent on alcohol. While therapy can help with the mental aspects of addiction, the physical parts have to be addressed.

Several medications, such as disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate, can help reduce alcohol intake by managing cravings or creating unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed.

How to Manage Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms requires a comprehensive approach to ensure safety and comfort. It’s crucial to seek medical supervision, especially because of the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms like seizures or delirium tremens (DT). A healthcare provider may prescribe medications such as benzodiazepines to ease anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.

Proper nutrition, including food and fluids, is essential to support your body during detox. Supplements like vitamins B1 (thiamine), B12, and folate may address deficiencies caused by prolonged alcohol use. 

While detox can be done at home with a strong support network and regular contact with a healthcare professional, having 24/7 care and support can make the process easier to manage.

Can Alcohol Addiction Be Overcome?

Alcohol addiction is a complex disease and one that can have a profound impact on a person’s life. With the right treatment program, many people can quit drinking. With the right support, many people can manage their cravings for alcohol.

Beyond being able to stop alcohol consumption, many addiction treatment programs also help people rebuild their lives after suffering the negative impact of their drinking habits.

Alcohol misuse can strain interpersonal relationships. People who drink may become more belligerent and lash out at loved ones. Loved ones may see a person’s alcohol intake reach problematic levels and protect themselves by distancing themselves from the situation.

Whatever the case, part of helping someone rebuild their life while recovering from alcohol abuse is repairing their interpersonal relationships. Family therapy can be integrated into alcohol addiction treatment to do just that.

Is Complete Sobriety the Only Way to Overcome Alcohol Use Disorder?

While some recovering addicts may want to be able to drink alcohol again, the urge to drink may be strong, and it needs to be managed. The truth is that with alcoholism, a single drink can trigger a relapse and set a person’s recovery several steps back.

As such, for people who have been dependent on alcohol at some point in their lives, the only way for them to truly recover from their alcohol problems is to stop drinking entirely. 

We’ll Help You Manage Alcohol Abuse

Many people who are struggling with addiction want to find ways to help them recover from their addictions. But many of them never find the support to help them with drug and alcohol recovery. 

The support is out there. At Twilight Recovery, we’ll help you stop drinking and help prevent relapses so you can maintain your sobriety. Contact us, and we’ll start you on the road to recovery.