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Many alcoholics may lash out or blame loved ones during this time. While it’s important to maintain mutual respect, be prepared for your loved one to say more than they mean during this time. Defining recovery itself can be challenging, as it may look different from person to person. For one, it might be the ability to completely resist alcohol in all situations, even if it is challenging. For another, it may be the ability to drink in moderation without losing control. Talking with a professional can help you set realistic goals for what recovery and healthy life should look like for you.
- It’s a disease of brain function and requires medical and psychological treatments to control it.
- For example, good sleep, regular physical activity, managing stress more effectively and eating well all can make it easier for you to recover from alcohol use disorder.
- Al-Anon is one of the best-known support groups that helps people who are affected by their loved one’s alcohol use.
- This article was medically reviewed by Janice Litza, MD. Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin.
You might have a few setbacks, but don’t let them discourage you. Sobriety is an ongoing process, and there’s no endpoint. Changing old habits also means making an effort to build a sober social network. It is essential to have sober friends who will support your recovery journey. Consider taking a class, volunteering, or attending events in your community to meet new people who can support you. Over time, alcohol’s toll on your body can be hard to reverse.
When to Seek Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Try diaphragmatic breathing, or breathing from your diaphragm. Physical activity can provide you with a go-to coping skill for when you feel the urge to drink or having repetitive thoughts. Try and apply those five things to how you handle stress or urges to drink to increase your chances of being successful. If you are a good writer, write a blog or essays about your journey through recovery.
Make meetings a priority – Join a recovery support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous , and attend meetings regularly. Spending time with people who understand exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober. Treatment should address more than just your alcohol abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on examining the way alcohol abuse has impacted you and developing a new way of living. Do you want to stop drinking altogether or just cut back?
Fill your time with new activities.
With less alcohol in your life, you’ll be able to experience a lot of benefits and improvements. By focusing on the positives and thinking about the long-term benefits, you’ll be able to maintain sobriety much longer. Even drinking moderately can sometimes leave you feeling unwell, groggy, or hungover. Your treatment setting will depend on your stage of recovery and the severity of your illness.
This option is increasingly popular—especially during the pandemic era. Online programs let you consult with doctors and recovery coaches over video chat, access anti-craving prescriptions, join virtual support groups, and track your progress digitally. Putting treatment on your phone eliminates commuting time, and makes it easier to fit appointments into your schedule.
“I could never have imagined that a life of sobriety would be so rich.”
If you’re trying to overcome alcoholism, you’ll need counseling or rehab to help you quit. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Get treatment for other medical or mental health issues. People often abuse alcohol to ease the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental how to overcome alcoholism health problem, such as depression or anxiety. As you seek help for alcohol addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is by getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.
What are the 5 steps of addiction?
The five stages of addiction recovery are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance.
Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Our mission is to use new technology https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to make treatment more accessible, and reduce the stigma around problem drinking. We offer both abstinence and moderation as options, and use only evidence-based methods.