Helpful Hints to Stop Drinking Alcohol

"If you need an excuse for why you don't drink alcohol, you could say that addiction runs in your family and you don't want to try it even once because you may not stop until you are dead in a puddle of your own vomit or smashed into the side of a mini-van with children's body parts scattered around your corpse." ~ Duane Alan Hahn

No, the above quote is not exaggerating at all...in fact it is telling you what happens to most of the alcoholics. 'I am not an alcoholic, I am just looking for help to not turn out into one'! If this is what you are thinking, then you will definitely get all the help that you need. They say it is only due to simple curiosity that one starts drinking. But later, it becomes an addiction which is equally complicated to let go. The reason why I can vouch that even occasional drinking can become a big addiction is because I have experienced all this myself. No, it was not me who was an alcoholic but a very close relative. The entire family tried to help him, but he would get back into binge drinking. In fact, even now, he has a lovely wife, 2 lovely kids, but all he can think of is 'where to manage his evening drink from'? The wife works 3 jobs a day to make ends meet. She wants to leave him, but she knows if she does, he has nowhere else to go to...weeping and crying she thinks of the school days when he used to be the basketball team captain and had proposed her. He was bright, intelligent and her dream guy... they went to college together and as soon as he got a good job, they got married. Who would have thought that alcohol can change a person so much? Her dream guy has turned into a nightmare she is living with! She still loves him and wants to help him come out of his misery. But you can only help a person if he is willing to take the help you offer. Will she be able to help him...?

Does all this sound similar to something you have heard of? Is this similar to what you or someone close to you has experienced? One thing's for sure, if you want to 'really enjoy' your life, you should be addicted to 'living healthy', not addicted to alcohol! So, go ahead, use these hints; stop drinking, start living.

Hints on How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

I truly agree with Duane Alan Hahn when he says, "People who drink to medicate their pain are bad enough, but 'party' drinkers who get drunk for 'fun' are the worst because they only think of their own pleasure. That would be fine if they were alone, but they almost always involve someone else. They don't really care what they do to their children, spouses, lovers, relatives, friends or total strangers they may maim or kill on the roads, as long as they're having fun." So stop being selfish! If you are sad, so are others, but isolating yourself and getting into alcohol will only worsen the situation. What can you do to get out of this mess?

Realize Why You Should Stop
Realizing is the first and the most important step when it comes to fighting against alcohol. The fact that you have realized that alcohol is ruining your life and turning you into something you don't want to be, is more than enough to determine that you are willing to give up the addiction. It is obvious that drinking has not only ruined your personal goals, but also adversely affected the lives of people who are most important to you. Compare the 'sober you' and the 'alcoholic you' and realize why you should stop.

Write them Down as Reminders
If alcohol had nothing to do with a troublesome life and atmosphere, then probably no one would ask you to stop, right? Think of the time when you have hurt yourself or your loved ones while you were under the influence of alcohol. Many people end up doing or saying things that leave an irreversible mark on their relationships. I actually stopped speaking to my best friend because he said some hurtful things under the influence of alcohol... things which really hurt me deep within. However, I still think in the corner of my heart that this will make him realize what alcohol has done to our 8 years old friendship... and most importantly, what it has done to him! If you have done some things which you really regret, then write them down as reminders and place them at visible places where you can stop yourself from drinking when you feel tempted.

Avoid Being Tempted, Distract Yourself
The human mind is very powerful, and you must learn how to rule it so that it doesn't end up ruling you. The mind always asks what you have been giving to it. So far it was alcohol, now switch alcohol with something else! Go out for a drive with your friends or family so that they can stop you from pulling over at a bar. Make some nice cheese popcorn and watch a movie with your family or friends. Spend some time with the kids or others in the house. Ask them about how different you are when you drink, and ask them to write how they love the changed you. If possible throw away all the stock of alcohol that you have at home. Replace them with healthy juices, lots of plain water, green tea and NO caffeine! It is always best to take a friend or a trusted person in the loop and discuss with them whenever you feel extremely tempted. They will motivate you to keep fighting by reminding you how strong and wonderful you are.

Keep a 'Drinking Limit' Initially
It is impossible to stop drinking overnight. If drinking doesn't..., then the cravings will kill you! Therefore always quit drinking slowly and steadily. Give yourself some time and set a limit for yourself. For example, if you drink 4-5 drinks everyday, then cut it down to 2 drinks everyday, without changing the quantity! Set a limit for yourself in terms of the number of drinks daily or weekly and make sure you stick to it. You can ask a friend to keep only the desired quantity in your house and lock the rest of the booze taking the keys with him/her. Do all that you can to guard yourself from getting out and being a drunkard again.

Maintain a 'Drinking Log' to Keep a Check
Maintaining a daily log to keep a check on your set goals will help you realize how far you have succeeded in your endeavor. You can make a table which allows you to tick mark on the number of drinks you were allowed to drink per day or per week. A standard drink is,

• Beer: 12 ounces
• Liquor: 1½ ounces
• Wine: 5 ounces

Depending upon how heavy drinker you are, cut your number of drinks to 1 or 2 in a day, and reduce slowly. Make a table that can help you analyze the same. Something like this should work just fine.

I Will Not Drink More Than ___ Drinks This Week
Day	No. of Drinks	Type of Drink	Occasion
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

You can set a new goal for yourself every week and keep a track of how you are going on. Eventually, when you think that you are doing good and now you can even skip drinking for a day or two, then reduce your weekly drinks accordingly.

Be More Active and Participative at Home
Studies show that the more active you are in your daily life, the less you feel the urge of drinking alcohol. Probably alcohol has made you add on a lot of extra pounds, why not try shedding them away? What would be better to get up and watch the sunrise, beautifully shining on your face and breaking the darkness of dawn. Even you are trying to come into the light of life after living in the darkness of alcohol. Go for a walk or a jog, watch the birds chirping and the breeze blowing against your face. Life is beautiful and there is more to it than seeking unrealistic pleasure in alcohol. You can enroll yourself in a gym with some friend. Go for a spa or go shopping. Live an all new life and participate in the household work, catering the emotional needs of your family at the same time. They are actually craving for your real love and attention.

Say NO to Alcohol and Alcoholics
Being more active and socializing will always give you chances to say yes to alcohol again, however, you must learn how to say NO! There are people who will come to you and say, 'There ain't no harm in just 1 drink', but then you must not put your efforts at stake. Instead of feeling awkward, tell them that you would like to be in your senses and enjoy rather than not being in your senses and repenting later. If they say 'Oh common... nothing will happen' ask them to carry on and excuse yourself from that area. Let them think whatever they want to, after all, they are not the ones who will help you at the times of tribulations, right? It's better to be safe than sorry! Just remember, you can't ruin your life just for the sake of enjoying for a few moments. It is now or never.

All these hints will actually prove to be helpful if you follow them like a religion! Don't try looking for loopholes and excuses or else you will remain in the viscous circle of getting in and out of alcohol forever, making both your and your family's life a living hell! There is more to life than alcohol. There are people who love you and care for you. There are responsibilities that you have towards people in your life, there is immense beauty in this world, which alcohol is keeping you away from. So you choose what is more important, an addiction..., or living life in the right direction. Talk to your doctor about the same. Have a happy and healthy tomorrow.