How to Get Started on the Road to Recovery from Alcohol Addiction
Everyone loves a drink once in a while, but how much is too much? It usually starts as a harmless habit and spirals out of control to an extent that it becomes person’s sole purpose for the existence. Alcohol addiction can ruin a person’s life. Although everyone knows its adverse effects, it is so addictive that one cannot go without having another drink. Yet, it is possible to give it up completely.
When it comes to alcohol addiction, it is important to recognize that your actions are what will dictate whether or not your life changes for the better. You can read a thousand self-help articles and books and agree with every word you read, but until you do something about your alcohol problem nothing will change in your life.
The good news is that the action you take need not be difficult to do nor call for a major change in your life. It could be something very small that gets you started in the right direction, which is down the road to a healthier lifestyle and toward feeling truly happy about yourself and optimistic for your future.
Tips for Quitting Alcohol in the First Few Days
There is a lot of advice on quitting alcohol abuse and addiction, but many people are still left having no real clue about where to start and how to step into that first day of not having any alcohol in your life anymore. Here are some tips to get across that line:
- It is always your choice. Any choice you make, whether it is pushing yourself forward or pulling yourself backward, it is your choice. You think up the reasons why can do it all and why you cannot. It is your choice to find excuses or find inspiration.
- Never look at addiction as if it is out of your control and there is a faulty gene inside of you. Although some people are more likely to get addicted to certain things, addiction is a habit. If you start believing otherwise, you will be putting a huge roadblock in your way that you do not need to have there.
- Although cravings have physical symptoms, they are mostly in your head. You might get sweaty hands and other fear symptoms when you first go on a fair ride, but after ten or twenty times, these symptoms will disappear. The same goes for quitting alcohol and the mind will not be controlling your body in the same way. The best way to control these cravings is to take your focus from them and get up and do something else.
- Compare the discomfort you are feeling when you start quitting drinking (the discomfort of cravings, the discomfort of not being able to sleep and the discomfort of being a bit shaky and out of your comfort zone) to the discomfort you have been feeling for years with all the hangovers and all the damage that is starting to be caused to your body and life. Putting up with a short-term discomfort of quitting drinking will seem nothing in comparison to the suffering that alcohol addiction causes.
- It will take a few days for the worst symptoms to wear and if you are not sure if you can do it on your own during this time, make sure you get professional help and know who to turn to when you are feeling the worst. It will take longer to get your life together and do things differently, but you will get there.
- Just because you have done something in the past, it does not mean you have to do it in the present or the future. Thus, you have to understand the reasons why you like drinking and the reasons you started and kept on drinking matter because they will keep on pulling you back in the past and to the alcohol. Break your drinking problem into smaller parts or instances and keep it a day at a time. Every time you think about drinking alcohol, think of an alternative solution or action that will make you feel better. Find alternatives to alcohol for socializing, relaxing, and problem-solving. Keep in mind that this usually requires acquiring new skills and habits, which will be learned as you get closer and closer to staying completely sober.
- Doing this on your own might be beyond your abilities. Thus, connect with other people that can support you throughout this journey. It can be your family or friends or a group of people at a sober house who are going through the same life situation. Connection will help you not feel fearful, depressed, isolated, etc. Keep in mind that you might need medical assistance to deal with the withdrawal symptoms.
Take back control of your life and start on the road to recovery now.
Steps to a Sober Lifestyle
Do maintain a healthy diet
Many of us put the worst kind of crap into our bodies for nourishment. Then, we wonder why we don’t feel happy or healthy or why we can’t think clearly. Start eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and most importantly, don’t skip meals and remember to drink pure water. The healthier your diet, the more your body gets all the nutrients it needs to help you feel better. You will also be less likely to drink alcohol when your stomach is full of food. Plus, what many people think is a desire to drink alcohol is often instead simply their body’s craving water. At the same time, do not keep alcohol at home or work to make it easy on yourself. Do not underestimate the power of out of sight out of minds and remove the temptation.
Do start exercising
If you have not exercised for quite some time, which would not be surprising, coming into recovery it is a behavior that can help you during this recovery process. Exercise releases a natural endorphin into your brain, which is a happiness hormone. Fresh air and sunshine are great weapons against a temptation to drink alcohol. Besides seeing some changes on the outside, you will feel even more changes on the inside and will feel a lot better.
Do recognize that sugar addiction is often combined with an alcohol addiction
If you are addicted to sugar, your body will try to get it from a variety of sources, including alcohol. So, what you think is a desire to drink alcohol is often just your body craving sugar. When you eliminate sugar and sweets from your everyday diet, you will soon find that your cravings for alcohol have also been dramatically reduced.
Do not let one mistake ruin your resolve
It always takes a little effort to achieve something worthy. Even if you have tried and failed a hundred times, keep trying again and again no matter how small your steps are. Think what you can do today without waiting for tomorrow to reduce your addiction to alcohol. Find that one small something you can do and then do it.
This can be a difficult journey, but you don’t have to go it alone. Let us be your guide and provide you the environment needed to regain control of your life and begin the path to recovery.
Do form new habits and find new activities
When alcohol is no longer a part of your life, you will find that you do not know what to do with your life. Thus, consider what hobbies you might be interested in. Volunteering is also an awesome opportunity not only have something positive to focus on, but also adapt to a new way of life, form new friendships, boost self-esteem and simply finding a new direction in life and new goals.
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