5 Ways To Deal With The Temptation To Drink Alcohol Again
You may be an individual who wakes up, and the first thing on your mind is alcohol, even if you’ve been promising yourself you’ll stop drinking. It may have been a New Year’s resolution for you.
It’s not your fault. When you’re a problem drinker, constantly thinking of alcohol is very common, especially when trying to stop. Some people hoping to beat the temptation give up when it proves too strong, believing that they’ll never stop. You don’t have to be among them.
The post below explains how you can deal with the temptation to drink alcohol again.
Alcoholism: What Is It?
Alcoholism is a situation where one can’t control their alcohol use anymore. They experience emotional distress when they aren’t drinking and ingest alcohol compulsively despite its adverse effects. Here are some of the criteria that qualify one to be an alcoholic:
- Being unable to fulfill primary responsibilities at school, work, or home due to alcohol use.
- Using alcohol in physically hazardous instances like when operating machinery or driving.
- Developing withdrawal indicators whenever you try staying sober.
- Being unable to stop using alcohol despite your wish to do so.
- Having a tolerance (ingest increasingly large or more regular quantities of alcohol to achieve the desired impact).
- Cravings or a solid wish to use alcohol.
- Spending plenty of time obtaining, using, and healing from alcohol’s impacts.
- Giving up previously enjoyed recreational, social, or occupational activities due to alcohol use.
- Using alcohol in higher amounts or for an extended period than initially purposed.
As per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), adult females who consume no more than three beverages on a specific day and no more than seven each week are at low risk of developing alcoholism.
This low-danger range is defined as four drinks on a particular day and no more than fourteen every week for men.
Alcohol Addiction Figures in the US
As per the 2017 National Study on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), fifty-one percent of the population aged twelve and above reported binge drinking in the past month. Professionals define binge drinking as five or more drinks for males and four or more drinks for females on at least a single day in the past month.
There are two other drinking levels
- High-intensity drinking- alcohol consumption that’s two or more times than binge drinking degrees.
- Heavy drinking- adult females who have three or more drinks every day or at least eight glasses each week or adult males who consume four or more drinks each day or at least fifteen drinks per week.
Most binge drinking happens among stressed individuals in the 18-34 age bracket and is twice as common among men than women. One in 6 grown-ups binge drinks approximately four times every month.
5.3 percent among twelve to seventeen-year-olds reported binge drinking in the past month, with 0.7 percent reporting heavy alcohol consumption in the past month.
Why Should You Stop Taking Alcohol?
There are countless benefits of giving up alcohol, but here are some of the main ones:
- No more hangovers.
- No more apologies- you won’t have to keep saying sorry to people for anything stupid you do when you’re drunk.
- You save money.
- Your liver can finally relax.
- Your brain heals- it won’t have to work so hard to keep your body in balance when you stop drinking.
Ways to Resist Alcohol Temptation
Here are some straightforward techniques you can use to fight alcohol temptation:
Talk to Friends or Family
Share your issues with those around you. This is an excellent way to prevent the urge from bottling up in you and eventually acting on it.
Write a Periodical
Anxiety may cause you to drink. Having a journal that you write in anytime you feel anxious or triggered to drink is an excellent idea. Noting down your feelings and what’s making you want to drink and spending at least fifteen minutes on this action can make you forget your alcohol urges.
Drink Some Water
Water is a healthy and natural detoxifier that’ll not only leave you feeling full but will assist you in dulling the alcohol temptation – even if only for a while. Remember not to drink more than you need as it’ll lead to water poisoning.
You generally won’t require more than 2.5L or 3.5L of water per day. Experts believe that women need a bit less than men on average. You may also need more water if you sweat a lot and are large.
Avoid Triggers
This plays a huge part in overcoming 7othe temptation. If, for example, you go out with your friends for drinks on Friday nights, you can find some other task to do with your friends or family members who don’t drink. You should also empty your house of any alcohol if there’s any.
Question the Urge
Think of the craving as a cue. This sign tells you to drink, but it can’t control you. Ask it why you should and talk yourself out of it. It can signal using an urge coping technique with some practice.
Conclusion
It’s possible to beat alcoholism. The key is to be consistent in your efforts, believe in yourself, and use the tips above. It’s okay to feel defeated, but don’t let that wear you down. Many former alcoholics have overcome the temptation. You can too!
