Alcohol addiction can disrupt your life and ruin your relationships. Despite the harm that addiction causes to you and those around you, your body will continue to crave alcohol to the point of causing you pain no matter how much you want to stop drinking. When quitting alcohol seems impossible, enrolling in an alcohol addiction treatment program can give you the treatment and help you get through detoxing and learn how to lead a sober lifestyle.
At Arkview Recovery Center, our alcohol addiction in Mechanicsburg, PA can help you get through your withdrawal symptoms. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, contact us at 717.744.0756 to learn tips to stop drinking.
Alcohol Addiction Changes Your Brain Chemistry
When you drink in excess, you flood your body with chemicals that mimic the effect of dopamine, which is the primary neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of happiness, euphoria, and other vital functions. When you drink heavily, your body stops producing dopamine naturally because it thinks you already have enough in your system to make you feel happy. The more you drink, the longer you will go without producing dopamine, which is responsible for more than just making you feel happy.
Now that your body has stopped producing dopamine, it requires another source, which is alcohol. When you go too long without alcohol, your body with go into withdrawal and produce symptoms such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Disorientation
- Rapid heartbeat
- Tremors
Tips to Stop Drinking
Many people will try to stop drinking on their own several times before giving up or seeking outside help from an addiction treatment center. If your withdrawal symptoms are not that severe, there are ways that you can help avoid drinking on your own that will give you a better chance of succeeding.
Understand Your Relationship with Alcohol
After a typical night of drinking, tally up the number of drinks you had and think about how much you drink regularly. Sometimes you won’t even realize that your one or two drinks a night are now four to five drinks. If you are shocked by how much you drink, it’s best that you are now aware of it and can begin to cut back or stop drinking altogether.
Give Yourself Time to Cut Back
Quitting cold turkey didn’t work for you before; trying it again will produce the same result. Instead, replace half the amount of drinks you usually order with water. Over time, you may be able to stop drinking altogether by slowly cutting back over several weeks.
You can also reduce the number of nights you go out with friends to socialize and drink. Stay inside and relax or have a non-alcoholic game night. You could rediscover a new hobby with your extra time.
Talk to a Support Group or Friend
Talk with a close friend or family member about your drinking and begin having an honest and open conversation with someone about your drinking. Often you’ll discover why your drinking is increasing and open your eyes to a deeper problem that you are unwittingly burying.
Change Your Environment
Change starts at home. Remove any temptations from your house, like half-filled liquor bottles that trigger your drinking. If you are drinking more due to conflicts with a spouse, friend, or family member, try removing yourself before you are triggered to drink. Then, when you are both calm, find a place where you can sit and work on your issues without arguing.
Learn to Overcome Alcohol Addiction at Arkview Recovery
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction and cannot stop drinking alone, let our Arkview Recovery team help you with our alcohol addiction treatment program at our safe and welcoming addiction center. We can help you face your withdrawal symptoms effectively and allow you to focus on your quitting alcohol permanently. When ready to make a fundamental change in your life, call 717.744.0756 or complete our online form to learn more about our alcohol addiction treatment program and how to stop drinking.
