5 Ways To Tackle Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is one of the biggest hindrances to living a healthy and happy life. Unfortunately, the ease with which it is available has made alcoholism a huge societal problem. Alcohol and its abuse are responsible for so many different kinds of negative effects on the body and brain. And aside from the fact that it causes so many health problems, alcohol also affects a person’s social lifestyle as well as their relationship with their family and loved ones. However, it is one thing knowing you need to quit drinking, and quite another thing knowing how. So, in this article, we will take a look at the latter.

1. Don’t keep alcohol at home

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The first rule, when it comes to dealing with a bad drinking habit, is to make sure that you do not come into contact with alcohol in your home. It is almost impossible to overcome a drinking problem when alcohol is readily available, only a few feet away. The first thing to do is to get rid of all the alcohol you have at home. It doesn’t matter how you get rid of them – pour them down the drain, give them away, or throw them in the trash. Once done, immediately replace them with health drinks or juice.

2. Join a support group

It can be very difficult trying to quit by yourself. For most people, it is almost impossible to quit drinking without any form of support. This is why joining a support group can be very beneficial. You will be in a company of people whose success story will encourage you as well as people still struggling with the addiction. Regardless of the severity of your addiction, having a support group to lean on can reduce your chances of depending on alcohol, which, in turn, will help quicken your recovery journey.

3. Make friends with people who don’t drink

One of the easiest setbacks when it comes to trying to tackle alcohol abuse is hanging out with friends who will encourage you to drink. So, find out if the friends you have are making it more challenging for you to stay sober. If they do, then it is probably time to make some new friends. It is easier to recklessly drink when you have people around that enable you. Non-drinking friends will be better placed to put you in check.

4. Find help

If you are convinced that you need professional assistance, then find out which professional organization near you offers assistance for people with alcohol addiction problems. There are different kinds of organizations, depending on your location. A simple search online should reveal the options available to you. Thanks to technology, there are some techniques you can use while you seek professional help. For example, you can try using stop drinking hypnosis to help put you in the right frame of mind to start your battle against alcohol abuse.  

5. Know your limits

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According to experts, low-risk alcohol consumption can be equated to four drinks or even fewer in a single day. However, this does not necessarily apply to people who have a drinking disorder. Thus, based on one’s age or weight, it is important to know what your limits are.

6. Know the effects

Knowing the negative consequences of something can help you avoid it. If you are aware of how alcohol can affect your overall health, it can act as a motivator to quit drinking. Some of the health effects of alcohol abuse include heart diseases, sleep disorders, memory problems, high blood pressure, and liver disease. It can also cause stomach problems such as gastritis which, in the long run, can result in stomach cancer.

It is advisable to visit stomach doctors if you begin to notice specific stomach issues such as bloating, a burning feeling, and excessive abdominal pain. This way, you can reduce the chances of getting stomach cancer. Other effects of alcohol are legal issues where you can get a DUI case, financial problems when you waste all your money on buying alcohol, and work problems where you may lose your job due to low productivity.

What are some ways you think could be helpful to cut back on drinking?

Thank you for reading!