Do you need outside help?

One of the best ways to quit drinking alcohol is to do so on your own. Of course some drinkers will seek professional help and that’s fine. But if you are able to break the habit by yourself, to stop drinking under your own steam then your victory will be all the sweeter for having achieved your goal unaided.

If you do choose to go down this path then the first and most helpful stage is your understanding. It is that ‘understanding’ of why you drink in the first place. The aim here is to think through the process of quitting. With your mind in control of the subject, you are far better able to plan your action.

You don’t have to be a doctor to know that habits once formed can be hard to break and the brain gets used to certain responses and acts accordingly. If your brain gets the message that you need a drink to get through a difficult time then your brain takes over. Your brain is telling you that it’s okay to have a drink and more importantly, that you need to have a drink. Actually it’s only a part of your brain.

Knowing this is the way your brain works is really helpful. If you feel helpless, stop and think about your brain. Just being aware of how it operates can move you much closer to your goal of quitting alcohol.

One way to trick your brain and its suggestions is to regard your brain as a separate entity. There’s my normal brain and there’s my booze brain. Let’s face it; your booze brain doesn’t care about your health. It has a separate agenda. It will use any excuse to encourage you to drink. If you’re sad, have a drink. If you’re happy, have a drink to celebrate. Think of your booze brain as the bad guy and use your good or normal brain to outsmart it.

It sounds silly but you are smarter than your booze brain. You can outwit and out-think your booze brain. You are in charge. Knowing that, take control of the situation. Order your booze brain to be quiet. You see once you take control it will become increasingly difficult for your booze brain to get a look in. It will be excluded from your thought processes. You will be running your life and drinking alcohol is not a part of it. Enjoy your new found freedom, your control over your own destiny and the great feelings a well-earned victory can bring.



For more information on how to stop drinking alcohol please go to the next article.