What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol Suddenly?

Unfortunately, immediately setting your mind to achieving this one and only hard-and-fast goal is why many people struggle to quit drinking or why they relapse early on in their recovery journey. For some people, their why is centered around relationships. For others, it’s their careers that have taken a hit due to the effects of their drinking. And for others it’s a combination of factors that motivates their move to sobriety. Simply being here, reading tips on how to quit drinking, considering the possibilities of your future is a positive first step. Let’s get you even closer to finding new hope and life in sobriety.

Think through the situations when you tend to reach for a drink—and plan a new approach.

When I quit drinking in November, it was unceremonious, unannounced, and driven by something I really didn’t quite understand at the time. I was drinking less than I ever had, so it felt like a nonevent. It wasn’t until a few weeks afterward that I understood the motivation came from a desire to strip life back to its necessities. I wanted to opt out of things I didn’t know how to opt out of.

At Riverside Recovery, we understand that learning how to stop drinking is a personal journey that requires the right support, resources, and guidance. Our comprehensive addiction treatment programs are designed to help individuals break free from alcohol dependence and build a fulfilling life in recovery. For many people, drinking starts as a social activity but gradually becomes a habit that’s difficult to break. Alcohol use can impact physical and mental health, relationships, and daily responsibilities. Recognizing when drinking is interfering with your life is the first step toward change. There may be many reasons why a person plans to stop drinking alcohol.

Prepare For Triggers And Cravings

One way to combat that feeling, Dr. Koob says, is to check in with yourself after a few months of sobriety to take stock of the benefits you’re reaping. Like any big change, there might be times where it doesn’t feel easy, so it’s important to reward yourself with something as you make progress. It’s equally important not to be too hard on yourself if you slip up every once in a while. That’s why – for people who are alcohol dependent – it’s important to talk to a knowledgeable health professional before stopping drinking. This guide has lots of practical tips on how you can stop drinking and the benefits you can expect. You can also find out about the withdrawal symptoms you could experience if you move from drinking heavily to not drinking at all, and advice on where to get support.

• Alcohol causes changes in your brain that make it hard to quit.
• Alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is defined by a loss of control over drinking habits1, leading to a need for alcohol and compulsive drinking.
• Anyone exceeding moderate levels of consumption may have a dependence or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• How many times have you tried to cut down in the past and failed?
• “And although alcohol might seem to help with anxiety in the moment, in the long-term, it often makes it worse.”

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• Severe symptoms may require benzodiazepines to prevent serious consequences of alcohol withdrawal.
• He or she may not needself-help tools, but those resources might work for you.
• I started a unique, neuroscience-based treatment approach in 2017 that transformed my relationship with alcohol without the need for traditional programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
• This medical emergency is characterized by sudden and extreme confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and severe changes in nervous system function.
• If you answer “yes” to two to three questions, your symptoms align with mild AUD.

While admitting that you have a problem is the first step in many recovery programs, part of that process is realizing that you’re afraid. You might be afraid of what happens if you keep drinking, but you’re more afraid of what happens when you stop. But Dr. Streem knows that it can be hard to recognize signs of alcohol abuse in ourselves. Often, people with alcohol use disorder find that other people in their lives Drug rehabilitation spot their addiction long before they do. Whatever your reason to quit drinking, know that you’re doing yourself a favor.

Why detox is just the beginning

All I can do is tell you that the fear is natural, but you have to proceed anyway. I admitted that I was an alcoholic, that I was scared, and that I needed to make a change. If I couldn’t first accept this, then there was no chance I would ever fix it. I used to be a heavy drinker, but eventually, I got tired of the hangovers and dealing with the embarrassment of my drunken behavior. The tips/instructions help but without the right method/map you may never find your way to freedom so please read on after the tips to understand the best method to stop alcohol use. Remember to reach out to your friends, family, and other loved ones for support, too.

• If you face challenges, remind yourself why you started and seek support when needed.
• But that advice changes if you’re living with alcohol use disorder.
• This means that if you suddenly stop drinking, you may experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
• At large, alcohol dependence is a widespread issue, affecting around 283 million people worldwide2.

Maybe you’re worried that people will judge you for struggling with drinking. Or maybe you’re worried that they’ll judge you for wanting to quit. Here are 8 benefits I’ve observed from 9 years of sobriety.

• It may also mean you decide on what you will do when triggers arise.
• Quitting alcohol completely can seem like a big step, but it could be the change of direction you need.
• These negative emotions coupled with a desire to drink are challenging to navigate, especially alone.
• While the decision to stop or cut back on drinking is deeply personal, Nessel hopes that more people will at least consider the potential effects alcohol has on their bodies.
• If you answer “yes” to six or more questions, your symptoms align with severe AUD.

Examine alcohol health effects

What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you. Maybe you’ve never been interested in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol. It’s common to experience difficulty when making big changes, but good self-care practices can help you manage overwhelming feelings and take care of your mind and body. Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better. However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed.

However, the temptation that keeping alcohol in the house creates is often a catalyst for relapse. To help ease this temptation, consider keeping some non-alcoholic drinks around to replace alcohol. Switch to having tea at night if you used to wind down with a glass of wine or try the many types of alcohol-free beer and wine that are becoming widely available. Group therapy or a support group can help during rehab and help you stay on track as life gets back to normal. Alcohol causes changes in your brain that make it hard to quit. Trying to tough it out on your own can be like trying to cure appendicitis with cheerful thoughts.

No bad withdrawal

You could speak to your GP or a member of their team, or there are a number of national alcohol support services that you can confidentially self-refer to for advice and support. There are many different options and resources that can help you learn how to quit drinking. Just remember that there is no single approach that works for everyone.

How alcohol changes the brain

Similarly, some alcoholics may be able to stop drinking with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. Others need residential rehaband long-term aftercare support. Firstly, if you think you may be dependent on alcohol, you should consult your doctor or another health professional.