How to Stop Drinking: 14 Tips for Success

Alcoholism, now known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), describes a dependence on alcohol that may be difficult to manage. If you’re worried about your drinking habits, book an appointment with your GP. While the idea of talking to someone about your binge drinking may be scary and even embarrassing, it’s an important step to take.

• People often use binge drinking as a way to self-medicate anxiety, depression, and stress.
• Ways you can try to relieve stress include reading, listening to music, going for a walk, and taking a bath.
• It’s estimated that 33% of college students binge drink in a one-month period.
• In the United States, about 1 in 6 adults binge drink, and 25% of those people binge drink weekly.

If your dependency is severe, you may need to go to a hospital or clinic to detox. This is because the withdrawal symptoms will also be severe and are likely to need specialist treatment. If you’re dependent on alcohol to function, it’s recommended you seek medical advice to manage your withdrawal. You may also have regular blood tests so the health of your liver can be carefully monitored.

Long-term effects and health risks of binge drinking

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available binge drinking 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor. Your first step may be to try to cut down or quit on your own. If you’re having trouble, or experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, don’t wait to get help. While there’s no cure for an AUD, there are a lot of effective treatments, including medication, behavioral therapy, and online and community-based support groups. In fact, research shows that young binge drinkers have about the same decision-making problems as people with a severe AUD.

How alcohol abuse affects family and friends

Residential treatment or “rehab” facilities provide intensive treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction. Your loved one resides at a special facility for 30 to 90 days and receives treatments such as detox, therapy, and medication. Adults under 35 are more likely to do this than other age groups, and men are twice as likely as women. People who make more than $75,000 a year and are more educated are most likely to binge drink. Those who binge drink are much more likely to participate in risky sexual behavior, including not using condoms, and therefore increase their risks for sexually-related problems.

Try combining a few fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, with a good source of protein to avoid overeating. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Supporting your loved one’s recovery

Your loved one’s addiction may even be so overwhelming that it seems easier to ignore it and pretend that nothing is wrong. But in the long run denying it will only bring more harm to you, your loved one with the problem, and the rest of your family. Nine out of 10 binge drinkers aren’t dependent on alcohol, but doctors and scientists think they’re more likely to develop alcohol use disorder. Binge drinking is when you drink enough alcohol to bring your blood-alcohol content up to the legal limit for driving. That works out to about five alcoholic drinks for men or four for women in less than 2 hours.

The most common of these medicines is chlordiazapoxide (Librium). With access to the correct treatment, you have the opportunity to recognise the reasons for your binge drinking and work towards a new phase of your life. No matter how you choose to support your https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/15-benefits-of-the-alcohol-free-lifestyle/ loved one’s efforts to stop binge drinking, remember you’re not their therapist. You also can’t be expected to constantly monitor their decisions. Your role is simply to remind them of commitments they made and offer small nudges in the right direction.