Figuring out how to stop drinking isn’t always as easy as many people think. Because of this, there’s sometimes a stigma surrounding alcoholism. The common misconception is that if you’re experiencing negative consequences as a result of drinking, you can just stop. If you’re reading this and struggle with alcoholism, you know that it’s easier said than done—and there’s a reason for that. The disease of addiction is cunning and extremely powerful, but you can stop drinking today with the right help.
Learning How to Stop Drinking Requires Surrender
This is the often the most difficult part for anyone who is struggling with alcoholism. The term “surrender” may seem negative, but the reality is that surrendering to the fact that you can’t control your drinking gives you power. In turn, this power gives you the ability to regain control of your life for good.
Alcoholism is a disease that makes you a slave to drinking. Recognizing this issue is the first step to recovery.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine if alcoholism is a problem in your life:
- Do you find it difficult to stop or moderate your drinking?
- Do you experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t drink?
- Have you had any negative consequences as a direct result of your drinking?
- Have friends, family members or coworkers brought up your drinking?
The only one who can diagnose your drinking problem is you. Unfortunately, this can be difficult for a variety of reasons. Nobody wants to think that they’re different than their peers, but there’s nothing to be ashamed of. In order to get the help that you need, you need to be the one who understands that you’ve lost control.
Addiction Treatment Doesn’t Have to be Scary
When you have alcoholism, the thought of not drinking can seem extremely scary. Addiction hijacks a part of the brain called the amygdala, which is responsible for all of your survival instincts. On a subconscious level, your brain is telling you that you need alcohol in order to survive. Although your brain wants you to think otherwise, you’ll see that going to addiction treatment is a great decision.
How Alcohol Treatment Programs Work
While you’re unable to stop drinking, the problem actually goes much deeper than that. Alcohol is only a symptom of a much larger issue, which is dealing with life on life’s terms. In treatment, you’ll go through different types of therapy that will help you find the sources of your alcoholism. Once you’re able to identify what makes you go toward the first drink, you can begin to make healthy changes to your life.
At Crestview Recovery, our alcohol addiction treatment program will teach you how to stop drinking. This program may include:
Crestview Recovery is here to help you learn how to stop drinking for good through our evidence-based alcohol treatment programs. Our staff, as well as our other clients, will provide you with the care and support you need to recover. Call us today at 866.262.0531 to get the help that you need.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
