How to Start Drinking Less

She never drank during the workweek, but on weekends were different. A number of medications can help people who are moderately to severely dependent on alcohol. They tend to work best in conjunction with counselling.

Plenty of people use alcohol to numb emotional pain or face stressful situations more easily. how to control drinking It’s common to drink to lighten tension on a first date or before a difficult conversation.

Have a Plan For Withdrawal

So she takes medication to curb the cravings on a daily basis. At the same time, her therapist treats her for the triggers of her alcohol use, even though he believes she is genetically predisposed to alcoholism. My question is whether having competing interests with her therapist is normal in these situations and would she be better to seek a therapist who can help her achieve her desired outcome.

• While Sober Grid is free to download, people can purchase optional in-app memberships, starting at $3.99 per month.
• Because alcohol is a sedative, it may help you to initially fall asleep at night.
• Manage your “triggers.” If certain people, places, or activities tempt you to drink more than you planned, you can avoid those triggers.
• Remind yourself of why you want to cut back, talk to a friend about it and distract yourself with a hobby or exercise, the NIAAA suggests.

So it’s worth chatting to your doctor if you need a little help getting started. People who are severely dependent usually require some kind of withdrawal support to stop drinking. It is usually better to stop altogether (“cold turkey”) as long as you have medical support. You can undertake withdrawal treatment in a hospital, at home with the help of a GP or nurse, or via telehealth. Alcohol withdrawal typically lasts about five to seven days. For people who are severely dependent, the usual recommendation is to take a permanent or temporary break from alcohol.

#3: Determine Your Personal Motivation to Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

While this can be difficult, it can be a workable solution for some people. That said, you need to make sure you are safe, and that you have a plan you can stick to. To begin with, if you have a milder addiction to alcohol, you may be able to quit on your own, or by attending support groups. It may also be an option to attend medical detox for a week or two, and then attend a less intensive outpatient treatment program. Dr. Paul Linde, Ria Psychiatrist, discusses the different options people have to reduce or stop drinking alcohol. If you’d like to stop drinking alcohol, or drink less, you’re not alone—at least 5.6 percent of Americans over the age of 18 struggle with alcohol use disorder.

If necessary, purchase individual cans or single serving or half-size bottles of wine. For example, every evening , write down how many drinks you drank, where you were, and with whom. For some people, drinking in moderation can be effective at curbing addictive behaviors to alcohol.

Don’t keep alcohol in your house. Having no alcohol at home can help limit your drinking.

You may feel an uncomfortable pull in two directions or sense a loss of control. Research the kinds of treatment that are available and discuss these options with your friend or family member.