Brooke Aymes started drinking as a way to deal with the negative emotions that arose after the death of her cousin from suicide. Then it became a social activity — “a way to fit in and to feel good about myself,” she says. In addition to feeling less anxious and having better digestion, you may notice bigger changes a few months into sobriety. For instance, your doctor might find that your heart and liver are in better shape, or your skin may have a certain new glow. Treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous work very well together for many people, but there are some individuals who learn how to become sober through other methods.

I Relapsed, Now What?

If you’ve been drinking heavily for a while, odds are you have some close friends and family who drink heavily too. And while we’d all like to hope that everyone would support a loved one’s decision to quit, we also know things are more complicated than that. It’s likely you’ll have to field offers from old drinking buddies, sometimes repetitively. Even well-intentioned people may slip-up, forget, and offer you alcohol. Finally, not every problem drinker needs to quit completely, or attend an “abstinence only” rehab center.

Managing Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the first things you’ll notice in your sobriety is that your sleep greatly improves and you feel like you have more energy overall. Alcohol relaxes the body (including the tongue) and this can lead to shortness of breath, snoring, or even choking. https://rehabliving.net/ When you’re sober though, you don’t need to worry about choking, your throat remains open, and you get plenty of oxygen to the brain resulting in more restive and quiet sleep. Staying sober is not necessarily easier or more difficult than getting sober.

1. People often need to address past trauma or familial issues during this time.
2. Relapse (using substances again after stopping) can and does happen, with 85% of people experiencing relapse at least once and half of them doing so within the first two weeks of sobriety.
3. Many paths lead to recovery, and one of the most popular involves 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Developing Coping Strategies for Cravings and Triggers

Regardless of the path that you choose to take, you should consider talking to an addiction counselor about your options. AA is a revolutionary program that is designed to change your way of thinking and put you in touch with a higher power that can give you hope. The fact is that AA has very democratic beliefs and each person can decide for themselves what to believe in. The ultimate purpose and thinking is to go through the 12 steps, find fellowship and build a community around you for support, and to help other alcoholics. There are cases in which people were able to stop on their own, but those examples are few and far between. It is scary to leave your family and friends and comfort of your home to go to treatment, but for me, the thought of living the alcoholic life was even scarier.

Develop healthy relationships

You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, medically supervised detox and professional rehab are more likely to help you maintain long-term sobriety. Are you or a loved one grappling with alcohol addiction and unsure of how to start the journey to sobriety? Overcoming alcohol addiction can seem like a colossal task, but remember, achieving a sober life is within your reach with the right support, motivation, and tools. The process of breaking free from alcohol addiction involves understanding its nature, acknowledging the problem, preparing for change, and maintaining a commitment to a healthier life.

And if you’re quitting without the support of a program, make sure you have a friend or loved one keeping an eye on you throughout the withdrawal process. For those with lighter drinking habits, the symptoms may be manageable. But for those with heavier habits, it’s best to either cut back gradually, or have a medical professional monitor you. It’s free, it gives you some structure, and it lets you connect to others with similar struggles.

Throughout this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored the complexities of alcohol addiction and offered expert advice on achieving lasting sobriety. Remember, with determination, focus, https://rehabliving.net/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drug-wikipedia/ and the right support, you can break free from the chains of addiction and embrace a life of lasting sobriety. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable.

But there are other factors as well, including genetics and pre-existing health problems. For this reason, we strongly advise speaking with a medical professional before trying to quit on your own. Fortunately, there are many other ways to quit drinking alcohol. Free support groups exist, as do online programs, medication, and moderation-based treatments. It’s even possible for some people to quit completely on their own (although there are significant risks, as we’ll describe below). Framing sobriety as a temporary challenge versus a permanent lifestyle change can make it easier to stay sober for the long haul.

When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment. Tapering can help you overcome alcohol dependence, which is a side effect of chronic alcohol use that causes cravings and withdrawal.

Well, these are not the only means to recover—there are a whole range of resources available to you. It is possible to get sober on your own and learn how to get sober at home. Licensed residential treatment facilities provide 24-hour structured and intensive treatment and care, including safe accommodation and medical assistance. One part of the recovery journey for some people is emotional sobriety.

One way drinkers try to mitigate their fear is through some insurance or self-imposed barrier. They try to drink only a few beers, not text people under the influence or leave their keys with someone to avoid getting behind the wheel. If it’s all you’ve known and you give it up out of fear, your desire for familiarity will win in the long run. However, if you are in pursuit of something new and better, you’re more likely to stick to it.

For more advice, including how to get sober for good, scroll down. Formal treatment programs, such as inpatient and outpatient rehab facilities like Lantana Recovery, offer comprehensive and structured support for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. These programs typically combine evidence-based treatments, like medication and behavioral therapies, to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of addiction.

The important part isn’t to get hung up on the individual effects themselves, but rather to understand that they are only temporary. What works for one person may not work for another, because addiction is such a complex thing. If you wish to contact a specific rehab facility then find a specific rehab facility using our treatment locator page or visit SAMHSA.gov. In the end, treatment should be a positive experience for everyone who is willing to listen. It’s also not unusual to try several times before succeeding. In fact, whichever path you may be on, there’s guaranteed to be another person who’s been there first and gotten to the other side.

In this post, I’ll show you how to stop drinking using simple techniques, mindset shifts, and relying on the support systems around you. You may also need to change your route to work or home in order to avoid any triggers, or people, places, or things that make you want to use drugs or drink again. Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people that you used with or obtained drugs from.

It’s not just your drinking buddies and drug dealers who can get you into trouble—sometimes those who are closest to you can contribute to a relapse. For some people, the addiction is so deep and overwhelming that the only way out is with professional support. Seeking professional rehab services is a safe and effective way to get sober. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you get sober — just that you do.