How Do I Stop My Addiction to Alcohol?

Wondering how do I stop my addiction to alcohol? Find out how detox and rehab can help at White Sands Treatment Center.

How do I stop my addiction to alcohol? You can stop if you have professional help. Do you want to stop drinking but find that you can’t do it on your own? You may have tried cutting down or stopping altogether, but it’s just too hard, and you don’t know what to do. You can stop drinking with the right kind of help. You should speak with your doctor to determine if your drinking problem is serious enough to require an inpatient status at a rehab center. If you have been drinking for a long time, you will need a medically assisted detox to prevent any serious complications. And you will need treatment after the detox process is completed.

Alcohol addiction and abuse are common in the U.S. because drinking liquor, beer and wine is legal and socially accepted. Abuse of alcohol can create a variety of problems for the drinker and adversely affect his mental and physical health. People who use alcohol consistently regardless of the negative effects it has on their life are considered to have an alcohol use disorder. If you want to know how to quit alcohol addiction, you must first determine the type of alcohol problem you have by studying the three drinking behaviors listed below:

• Recreational Use – You use alcohol socially or to relax. You may occasionally binge drink, or pass out while under the influence.
• Dependence – You drink alcohol secretly and in isolation, and you crave alcohol on a regular basis. You find that you need to drink to be able to cope with life’s problems.
• Addiction – You put alcohol above everything else and feel that you cannot function without it. Your drinking may at times put you and others in danger. You become defensive and combative when you are questioned about your drinking.

Alcohol addiction will cause the alcoholic to have cravings for alcohol. He may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms if he tries to reduce his drinking or quit altogether. He may have to drink more to feel the effects of the alcohol because his body has built up a tolerance to the alcohol. Alcohol can affect the alcoholic in many ways including:

1. Spending all your time getting alcohol, drinking it, and recovering from drinking.
2. Neglecting duties and responsibilities.
3. Having poor attendance and performance at work or school.
4. Spending all your money on alcohol or borrowing or stealing money to buy alcohol.
5. Withdrawing from family and friends to drink.
6. Engaging in risky behavior and situations.
7. Your personality changes when you drink.
8. You experience blackouts and memory lapses.

If you have an alcohol addiction problem you will want to know how to quit alcohol safely, and this requires that you receive a medically supervised detox at a rehab center. The medical staff at the rehab center will monitor you and keep you safe as your body is weaned off of the alcohol. Alcohol Addiction Treatment includes using medications to help alleviate cravings and withdrawal symptoms. A drug rehab center is a best and safest place for you to stop drinking and turn your life around.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within two hours after the last drink and can last for several weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction. Some of the withdrawal symptoms are:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting, shakiness, headache, insomnia
• Anxiety, agitation, excitability, confusion, hallucinations
• Seizures and delirium tremons (DT’s)

Alcohol addiction treatment may include psychological and behavioral therapies to find and treat the underlying causes of your addiction. Behavior modification therapy will teach you how to change negative thought patterns into positive ones. And relapse prevention strategies will equip you with the skills you will need to manage triggers, strong emotions, toxic people, and situations.

This is how to quit alcohol addiction safely and permanently. When you commit to a 90 day or longer alcohol addiction treatment plan, you will be giving yourself the time and knowledge you will need to live a happy and sober life.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.