Quitting drinking can be like breaking up with the worst ex you ever had: As much as you know it’s time to say goodbye, the memories of the good times can make it hard to finally pull the plug. Still, if you know deep down that your life will be better on the other side, there are steps you can take to move yourself in the right direction. Quitting drinking is the kind of decision that happens little by little for years, and then suddenly all at once. Here are some easy ways to get started on the road to recovery today.
How to Quit Drinking Tip 1: Get Rid of Your Alcohol
Ever heard the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind?” If you’re a problem drinker, it isn’t quite that simple. You’re likely to think about alcohol even when it’s out of sight — and maybe even moreso when it isn’t on hand. Still, clearing your house of alcohol is a good step to take when you’re getting ready to quit drinking.
At the very least, doing so might help you realize just how much you depend on alcohol in your day to day life. If you start to feel physical symptoms of withdrawal, for example, that could be the reality check you need to get help. In the best case scenario, you might even be able to put together a few hours or days clean and sober. It’s a taste of what your life could be like in recovery. Try it; you might like it.
How to Quit Drinking Tip 2: Tell People You’re Getting Sober
If you have been struggling with drinking for a while now, you’ve probably already broken lots of promises to yourself. Sometimes a private commitment isn’t enough to keep you on the straight and narrow. If you’re ready to quit drinking, try telling people about it.
Sharing the news with family and friends or posting it on social media could give you the extra layer of accountability that you need to stay on the road to recovery. Even better, it could cause someone you know to reach out to you with their support. You may have friends in recovery that you don’t even know about, and sharing your commitment will open you up to being a part of that community of caring.
You deserve to have love and support while you’re getting sober. Telling people about it gives them the chance to be there for you.
How to Quit Drinking Tip 3: Ask for Help Getting Sober
That leads us to the third step on the early road to recovery: Ask for help. The road to recovery is a long one and you don’t have to walk it alone. You can’t get help until you ask for it, so ask.
That could be as simple as asking family not to bring alcohol into your home, or asking your coworkers to try a recovery-friendly happy hour activity. It might mean asking a friend to babysit your kids while you check out a recovery meeting.
No matter how much you’ve hurt your friends and family with your drinking, there are probably people in your life who will want to do whatever it takes to help you get clean and sober. All you have to do is ask.
Even if you don’t have a support system in place, there are professionals and addiction treatment facilities ready and waiting to play that role for you. You don’t even have to be 100% committed to getting residential treatment. If you’re open to a conversation, just call us and we’ll talk you through what getting sober could look like for you. At Country Road, many members of our admissions team actually went through our addiction treatment program, so they’ve been where you’re at and made it to the other side.
Changing your life and breaking the exhausting cycle of addiction could be as easy as picking up the phone. Are you ready?