How can I stop drinking?

Question

I binge drink just about every weekend and I'm really getting sick of it. I'm only 23, but I feel that I'm already outgrowing the whole "partying" thing. Is it possible for me to quit or at least cut down drastically on my own? What are some suggestions to staying sober?

Answer 1

Binge drinking should be easier to deal with than alcohol dependency. You're not drinking because your body needs to, or you would be drinking everyday. You're drinking because of the social situations you are in. The question is how do you keep from getting drunk on the weekend when that's what all your friends are doing? Hate to say it, but it may be time for new friends. At least until you are strong enough to hang out with drunks without drinking, but then why would you want to?

Answer 2

You have already taken the most important step - which is to want to stop. One thing that really helps is to write down all the consequences of your drinking - financially, emotionally, socially, in terms of your relationships and your health. Take a look at your drinking history, when did it start? What motivated you to start and keep it up? What did it do for you and what does it do for you now?

Drinking or using any drug helps us to stay stuck emotionally. Many people start drinking or using drugs because it helps them to relax and loosen up socially. However the older we get the more the opposite becomes true. Because we were always drunk in those significant early social encounters we don't actually grow emotionally to be able to handle them without being drunk. It sounds as though something inside you is aware that your drinking has just become a habit. Perhaps now is the time to begin this questioning process in earnest and try a new way of life. This is not necessarily just about drinking, it is about your personality and emotional life as a whole.What messages are you giving yourself about life and the way you lead it - what are the shoulds and shouldn'ts in your inner life - are they as outmoded as your drinking pattern has become?

Counselling can be a good way of examining your life patterns and seeing where you would like to change. Try asking your GP about counselling - brief counselling usually entails an hourly session once a week for 12 weeks. this space can be ideal for examining your motivations lifestyle and ultimate goals in life.

Finally I will reiterate - try not to put all the emphasis on your drinking - this is just a symptom of things that need a little deeper exploration to work out. By questioning your drinking you are in effect questioning a whole lot more - you used the word 'outgrowing' - I get the feeling that you already know that the times are a changing. There's nothing wrong with partying but when it becomes a robotic, meaningless experience then the writing is on the wall. You have a long way to go in life, it seems you are in the process of beginning the next chapter. Good luck!

Answer 3

You need to commit to a sober lifestyle. A physician can prescribe certain drugs like antabuse (which will make you very sick if you drink, so there's a big motivation not to, but you have to commit to taking the medication) or Topamax (a drug that cuts the enjoyment of binge drinking). You also need to change your habits. Don't go out to places where drinking is the primary activity. Socialize more with friends who aren't drinking. Have parties at home to watch videos and cook dinner together, no drinking allowed. If you can get through a couple of weekends without drinking at all, the habit will be broken.

Go out to movies or to dinner at restaurants that don't serve alcohol. Get into sports or outdoor activities.

Answer 4

When you get sick and tired of being sick and tired, the best thing to do is to call Alcoholics Anonymous. They can help you learn to have fun without alcohol. They saved my butt. I was dually addicted, alcohol and drugs, but was born an alcoholic. Not everyone is, but I was. If a member of your immediate family is an alcoholic, there is a good chance that you are too. One in ten Americans is an alcoholic. Out of six alcoholics, five die. Be one of the ones, not one of the fives. There is an A.A. meeting in every major city in this country, as well as most of the small towns and most of the other countries in the civilized world. I wish you the best. If you call A.A. and do what they tell you to do, i.e., go to meetings, read the big book, get a sponsor and take the 12 steps with your sponsor, you will recover, and help others to recover also. We find, generally speaking, that we can EITHER control OR enjoy our drinking, but not both. Best wishes for a swift and permanent recovery.

Answer 5

Think about the hangover. Think about the stupid things you've done. Think about the times you don't remember. Think about the people you may have hurt. Think about why getting loaded is a necessity. Think about hanging out with other people. Think about the people that drink moderately that you are missing out on in your life. Think about having to give up all alcohol because you grew yourself into an alcoholic by 25. Think about going to AA if you can't stop yourself. Weekend binge drinking is a serious warning sign. Good luck.

Answer 6

You can quit. Age doesn't really matter in this situation, you're still young. To keep sober, have a party with your friends and make it a no-drinking or smoking zone and instead have a low alchohol drink or eat something instead.

Answer 7

peer pressure, stay away from friends that you drink with, they will only make you drink more. if your really serious about quitting drinking there's a lot of other activities you can do, bowling,going to concerts,movies, maybe you can make new friends that don't drink. seek spiritual help, and if you really have a problem there is always your local AA center in town. Good luck i was once in your shoe,s and if i can do it, i know you can.

Answer 8

You have to ask yourself...are you bindge drinking because of the environment and friends? Or are you doing it because you feel you need to? At some point in our lives we all have to grow out of our "partying stage" and think about our future and how our behavior now will influence it. At the age of 23 I was already at rock bottom and a few years later was in rehab. Please stop if you think you can and if not contact me and will help.

Answer 9

You have to think positively and have a strong wish to quit drinking.Then when you are ready,take a medicine called Esperal or Tetidis or Anthaethyl,gennerically :DISULFIRAM,in small amounts every day,willingly.While you take that medicine,drinking is DANGEROUS!You might have strong reaction if you drink while taking that medicine.If you have to get a proscription,then get it for that medicine.After 15 days or a month of not-drinking,you'll easily quit.The medicine is absolutely not toxic if you don't drink while taking it.

Answer 10

Sounds like you might need a new set of friends to stop influencing you going to the gets-very-boring-very-quickly club/bar scene or a trip to the nearest AA chapter. Plus all that alcohol will put a lot of weight on you, and make you look older before your time, trust me.