How to Get Sober from Alcohol: A Guide to Overcoming Addiction

Many people find that they can eventually stop at one or two drinks as long as they are taking the medication. Eventually, many also find that they lose alcohol use disorder vs alcoholism interest in alcohol, and become completely sober. Aside from physical addiction, alcohol also impacts the reward system within a person’s brain.

Post-acute withdrawal

For some people with alcohol use disorder, trying to recover at home or in an outpatient program may not be enough. Inpatient programs offer a higher level of care, including detox to ease the withdrawal process. For alcohol use disorder, medications like naltrexone and acamprosate are evidence-based treatment options that may help patients reduce harmful drinking or achieve abstinence. You should plan to taper for between three and seven days depending on how much you’re used to drinking. Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety. If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside.

More in Addiction

This didn’t motivate me to quit, but I was afraid of how bad things could get if I drank too much. Going from a life of drinking to a life in recovery from alcoholism can be challenging. You also need a reason that will help keep you from having relapses, dealing with withdrawal, and staying committed to your goal of sobriety. A healthy fear of the consequences is important, but using them alone to curb your alcohol consumption has another serious drawback. By this metric, it’s easy to justify consuming alcohol to excess because so many people are doing it. I got tired of not being respected by friends and loved ones.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Drinking alcohol can create problems in every area of life, including your physical health, mental health, social life, work-life, and overall wellbeing. Make a list of the ways drinking has negatively impacted your life. You may want to reflect on this list when you feel cravings to drink. If you’re a long-term, heavy drinker, you may need medically supervised detoxification. Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more. Withdrawal from heavy alcohol use can be dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening.

1. The mental challenge of this stage is not to let anything make you feel defeated.
2. Consider staging a family meeting or an intervention, but don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation.
3. Implementing these new habits takes time, but reducing or eliminating your alcohol consumption is worth it.
4. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs.
5. Just keep in mind that your improvements won’t happen overnight.
6. If these emotions become excessive, they can hold you back from recovery.

A smart recovery strategy is to completely embrace a new identity as a person that does not drink. If your body is used to a certain amount of alcohol, you may feel certain effects when you stop. How you feel when you stop drinking is largely based on how often and how heavily you drink.

Spending time with people who understand exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober. Whether you choose to tackle your alcohol addiction by going to rehab, getting therapy, or taking a self-directed crack addiction treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from alcohol addiction or abuse is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Write your drinking goal down and keep it where you will frequently see it, such as on your phone or taped to your refrigerator.

If left unchecked, anger can have a negative impact on your health and your lasting sobriety. A structured routine will help you achieve other goals in your life, whether they are short-term (like being on time for work) or long-term (like going back to school and changing careers). A mental health professional can help you cope with some of the challenges you’ll face on your path to sobriety. If PAWS is severe or if you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms, a medical professional can help you work through them and remain in recovery without relapse.

During the repair stage, taking care of yourself is paramount. The mental challenge of this stage is not to let anything make you feel defeated. The abstinence stage typically begins right after you stop drinking.

Since withdrawal symptoms tend to ebb and flow, you may be tempted to feel like you’re not making progress ― even though in reality, you’ve come a long way. That said, there are four general stages of recovery, as compiled california’s best 12 step based alcohol and drug rehab center by addiction expert Steven M. Melemis, MD. These stages can help prevent relapse and support people to live healthier, fuller lives. If you think you may have a drinking problem, you’re definitely not alone.

Some people who move from a controlled and protective setting find themselves awash in the environmental cues that lead to their drinking. If you’re involved in a 12-step program, you likely already know the importance of milestones. In these programs, it’s customary to receive plastic chips as you progress to the one-year mark, at which time you receive a bronze coin. People in recovery from a substance use disorder frequently have problems meeting work-related responsibilities, maintaining employment, and managing money. If you were active in your addiction for a period of time, you may have developed financial problems. Research shows that if you maintain these types of toxic relationships, your chances of relapsing are greater.

For more information about Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) see Suboxone.com, the full Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide, or talk to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA. Once you’ve decided to make a change, it can be tempting to try to get it over with as quickly as possible. But there’s a reason many people continue to identify as alcoholics long after drinking their last drop. While some people may succeed in recovering from alcohol addiction independently, it’s not typically recommended, especially for those drinking heavily or for extended periods.