Things to Do When You Stop Drinking

The biggest step toward stopping your drinking habit is to admit that you have a problem. Once you decide to quit drinking, you have to make a conscious effort to avoid starting back up again. If you can find new things to do instead of drinking, you increase your chances of remaining alcohol free.

New Hobbies

• Some people make a hobby of going out to the bar for drinks or drinking a specific amount at home in the evening or on weekends. This hobby can become damaging, both to your health and to your relationships. If you choose to stop drinking, replacing this "hobby" with a new one can help prevent you from sliding back into old habits. Choose something that you enjoy and maybe even something you can do with your family.

Support

• Joining a support group can help you work your way past your addiction to drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous has meetings in most major cities and even in some other areas. These meetings serve as support groups for people who would like to stop drinking and their families. In addition, you may be able to find support groups at your local hospital. It also helps to surround yourself with family and friends who care about you and are willing to give up drinking alcohol along with you -- even if they aren't the ones with a problem.

Take It Slow

• Some alcoholics are able to give up drinking completely all at once. However, many others find it easier to step down. If you feel that the withdrawals you will experience will be more than you can handle, it may be easier to cut it out little by little. For instance, if you were drinking five nights a week after work, cut out Wednesdays for a couple of weeks. When you feel good with that, drop another night, and so on until you have cut out all of your drinking nights.

Avoid Drinking Situations

• While some people are able to be around alcohol without giving in to the temptation, others may need to avoid alcohol altogether. This may mean missing a party that you were looking forward to because there will be alcohol there. When you stop drinking, it is best to avoid going to bars and clubs as well to avoid the temptation. Your family and friends should understand what you are going through and make an effort to leave alcohol out of their get-togethers, at least until you have your addiction under control.

Visit Your Doctor

• Drinking alcohol excessively on a regular basis can cause damage to your internal organs. It is important to have regular check-ups whether you continue to drink or not. However, if you really do want to stop drinking and are having trouble doing it on your own, ask your doctor for help. He may be able to prescribe medication for you to help you overcome any cravings or to reduce the withdrawal effects you are experiencing. He can also give you a referral to a counselor if you feel it will help you.