Alcohol problem - help & advice needed??
Question: I urgently need to cut down my alcohol consumption - preferably without the need to attend AA type meetings. Can anybody offer practical self help I can do at home, or advice on how to resist that first drink?
There seem to be large numbers of preachers on answers, who will undoubtedly tell me to turn to god. I have heard all this before & remain agnostic, so if that's your advice, please respect my choice & keep it short.
Answers: There is a herbal remidy called Kudzu. It helps to curb the cravings. Drink lots of water! It's good for you and gives you something to physicaly do to take your mind off bringing a alcoholic beverage to your mouth. Another thing, look for triggers, like smoking, stress, boardom, bars, pool halls, anywhere alcohol is sold, friends that drink regularly etc. avoid them like the pleg.
Self-hypnosis works. It's a very nonreligious practice.
Try this:
When you feel the need for alochol drink water until you're not thirsty anymore.
If you have the means to get up and go then do it, change your surroundings, like quitting smoking.. go to places you know you can't smoke. Try going somewhere that it isn't ok to walk around with a drink in your hand... like a gym, or the grocery store, or to a friends house that doesn't drink.
You're eliminating one of the most effective approaches right upfront (AA, not god) but I'm sure you have your reasons. It sounds like you feel very stressed when facing that first-drink-or-not question. May I suggest meditation as an overall stress-reliever. It's not religious; it simply activates a built-in biological mechanism to lower stress levels. It doesn't have to take a lot of time (20 minutes, twice a day) and you can learn the technique in five minutes. You don't need a teacher or a class; you can do it at home. I'm sure there are plenty of resources around, but if you can't find anything else, I'd recommend The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson. It was written in the 70s, but explains how it works, why it works, and how to do it. Good luck!
Duuuuuude? After many years of failed attempts to cut down and stop on my own, I had to go to AA. I've met maybe one or two people that actually quit on their own, but usually with no permanance, and they almost always are VERY misirable. Your preaching to the choir with me. Many have tried to come up with a drug, or a book that can do it. I've tried them all. They don't work.
I was agnostic myself, or so I thought, and there are many who still are that go to AA. All they say really is that you find a higher power. That can be nature, or a door knob for all they care.
My advice. Get over yourself, and drop the ego.
The very fact that your asking this question tells me you have a serious problem. Your probably asking because you have already experienced some legal, relationship, or social trouble. Don't kid yourself. Alcoholism is a disease. Just like depression or cancer. The drink is but a symptom. Just ask the 4 million or so people that are active members of AA. They can't all be wrong. If you think they are, thats your ego talking.
You probably won't pay much attention to what I say now. But maybe one day, if you make it to AA before you die or go nuts, you'll remember what I've said. Sorry for the long answer, but for something this serious. There is no short easy fix.
try to be the designated driver and get friends to help you out. Also, remove most if not all of the alcohol from your house. If you don't want to get rid of it outright, stash it at a friends house who will help you cut back on consumption.
Find something to do, a hobby or something that will take your mind off of drinking, or something worth quitting for. Or a hobby that you can't do while drunk, like a sport. Excercise is supposed to be helpful too.
There seem to be large numbers of preachers on answers, who will undoubtedly tell me to turn to god. I have heard all this before & remain agnostic, so if that's your advice, please respect my choice & keep it short.
Answers: There is a herbal remidy called Kudzu. It helps to curb the cravings. Drink lots of water! It's good for you and gives you something to physicaly do to take your mind off bringing a alcoholic beverage to your mouth. Another thing, look for triggers, like smoking, stress, boardom, bars, pool halls, anywhere alcohol is sold, friends that drink regularly etc. avoid them like the pleg.
Self-hypnosis works. It's a very nonreligious practice.
Try this:
When you feel the need for alochol drink water until you're not thirsty anymore.
If you have the means to get up and go then do it, change your surroundings, like quitting smoking.. go to places you know you can't smoke. Try going somewhere that it isn't ok to walk around with a drink in your hand... like a gym, or the grocery store, or to a friends house that doesn't drink.
You're eliminating one of the most effective approaches right upfront (AA, not god) but I'm sure you have your reasons. It sounds like you feel very stressed when facing that first-drink-or-not question. May I suggest meditation as an overall stress-reliever. It's not religious; it simply activates a built-in biological mechanism to lower stress levels. It doesn't have to take a lot of time (20 minutes, twice a day) and you can learn the technique in five minutes. You don't need a teacher or a class; you can do it at home. I'm sure there are plenty of resources around, but if you can't find anything else, I'd recommend The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson. It was written in the 70s, but explains how it works, why it works, and how to do it. Good luck!
Duuuuuude? After many years of failed attempts to cut down and stop on my own, I had to go to AA. I've met maybe one or two people that actually quit on their own, but usually with no permanance, and they almost always are VERY misirable. Your preaching to the choir with me. Many have tried to come up with a drug, or a book that can do it. I've tried them all. They don't work.
I was agnostic myself, or so I thought, and there are many who still are that go to AA. All they say really is that you find a higher power. That can be nature, or a door knob for all they care.
My advice. Get over yourself, and drop the ego.
The very fact that your asking this question tells me you have a serious problem. Your probably asking because you have already experienced some legal, relationship, or social trouble. Don't kid yourself. Alcoholism is a disease. Just like depression or cancer. The drink is but a symptom. Just ask the 4 million or so people that are active members of AA. They can't all be wrong. If you think they are, thats your ego talking.
You probably won't pay much attention to what I say now. But maybe one day, if you make it to AA before you die or go nuts, you'll remember what I've said. Sorry for the long answer, but for something this serious. There is no short easy fix.
try to be the designated driver and get friends to help you out. Also, remove most if not all of the alcohol from your house. If you don't want to get rid of it outright, stash it at a friends house who will help you cut back on consumption.
Find something to do, a hobby or something that will take your mind off of drinking, or something worth quitting for. Or a hobby that you can't do while drunk, like a sport. Excercise is supposed to be helpful too.
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