A common quandary of nearly everyone who wants to give up alcohol or any other addiction for that matter is timing. When is the right time to quit? And the refrain in our head goes something like this: No point quitting next week because it is my friend’s barbecue. After all it is summer and there will be lots of other barbecues coming up and plus a cold beer tastes really good on a hot day. The fall is not a good time either; too close to Thanksgiving. I absolutely cannot quit during Xmas and New Years. Next March may be a possibility – but that is a long way off, so no point thinking that far ahead. Your reasoning may not be exactly the same, but you get my meaning. (more…)

There is a big difference between getting and staying sober. And while many people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction think that all they need to do is stop drinking or using and they will be OK, this idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Statistics show that more than 90% of all people who stop drinking or using drugs relapse quickly when they do not create and follow an aftercare recover plan.

Think of it like this; if you broke your leg and there were serious complications that kept you from walking for a very long time, your doctor would prescribe a therapy program to help you regain strength in your leg and help you walk again, and you would defiantly undertake and follow this therapy program, but for the chronic alcoholic and drug addict, one of the ugly effects of this deadly disease makes the alcoholic think he is OK, and doesn’t need help, and even after quitting drinking without aftercare this hideous disease will soon take over and he or she will again drink. (more…)

Deciding to kick an alcohol addiction is difficult to do. However, for many who have decided to make such a positive, yet drastic change in their lives there are possibly still more difficult times ahead. Though, not everyone who kicks alcohol habit will experience alcohol withdrawal. Those who are most prone to experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms are individuals, who have been drinking for a long time. Frequent drinkers or heavy drinkers are mostly prone. When these people stop drinking suddenly their bodies react in a number of ways, which are characterized as alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe and can be psychological and physical. Yet the levels of severity depend on the individual. Some of the most common mild to moderate psychological symptoms include, but are not limited to, anxiety, rapid emotional changes, fatigue, depression, shakiness, and nervousness. Severe psychological symptoms are delirium tremens, which are hallucinations and serious bouts of confusion, and agitation. Physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, palpitations, dilated pupils, and abnormal or involuntary movements. More severe physical symptoms include fevers, convulsions, and tremors.

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Many people have habits they want to break. Some can do it with no problem and others have much difficulty. If you’re a drinker and want tips on how to quit drinking alcohol, here are ideas that may help you.

You must acknowledge that you have a real problem. If you are an occasional drinker, but want to quit, you have to make up your mind to do so. Otherwise, without starting of acknowledging your habit, you most likely will fail at quitting.

Next, let others that are close to you like your family and friends know of your decision to stop drinking. They will know you are serious and lend you the support you need to stay focused.

Refrain from socializing with people who drink. When they start consuming and having a merry old time, they will begin to encourage you to have just one drink or sip that will throw you off track.

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re you an alcoholic?

Not such a simple question. That one word “ALCOHOLIC” is absolutely loaded with tragedy. It screams failure, loser, wife-beater.

Drunk, lush, bum, wino, stewbelly, swillpot, tosspot, inebriate, barfly, and drunkard are all bedfellows of the alcoholic.

It is probably the worst kind of addiction that you could ever have…you are accepted legally in almost every town in the civilized world. The druggie has to hide, the smoker has to go outside, and the gambler…he can just hide the amount he loses.

But you can do your thing in full view of the public. Down to the pub…get drunk, get plastered. Stagger, reel, and pass out.

When is it time to stop? When is it time to admit what you are doing?

Do you need to admit anything? How do you KNOW?

I’ll tell you. Stop drinking for a month. If you can do that without any problems, you just passed the test. Are you an alcoholic?

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