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Lifestyle Changes For Diabetes Control

How To Beat An Alcohol Addiction

7 October 2014

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If you have an alcohol addiction, you know how debilitating it can be. It can lead to failed relationships, problems at work, and health issues. While you may feel it's impossible to stop drinking alcohol, this is not the case. Many have successfully overcome their addictions to alcohol, and you can too. Below are some tips on how to do this.

Understand Your Addiction

The first step in overcoming alcohol addiction is to learn more about the nature of addiction. When a person has an addiction to alcohol, their brain will try to convince them that drinking alcohol will cure negative emotions. For example, when they are sad, their brain will tell them to drink in order to feel better. If they are bored, their brain will tell them to head to the local bar to get rid of this boredom. Basically, their brain will find any excuse it can to put more alcohol into their body.

If you experience thoughts like the above, the important thing to remember is that they are just thoughts and you don't have to listen to them. If you find yourself thinking that you need to drink, counter this thought by telling yourself you can find something else to do. Recognize the difference between the addiction side of your brain and the rational side of your brain. If you ignore the addiction side of your brain, it will eventually tire of telling you to drink.

Distract Yourself

Another important step in overcoming substance abuse is finding ways to distract yourself from alcohol. To do this, you will need to think carefully about your own personal interests. Some ideas for things to do in place of drinking include the following:

• Exercise: Exercise is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety. Thus, it can offer an excellent distraction from alcohol. So, the next time you're tempted to drink, try going for a walk or hopping on the treadmill instead. Choose a type of exercise you enjoy so you'll be more likely to do it.
• Clean: This may sound like a silly suggestion, but some people find tidying up their home to be a great distraction from alcohol cravings. The best part is that you'll have a nice-looking home at the end of the day.
• Talk to a friend: You may also use other people as a distraction. For example, you may call up someone you haven't talked to in a while or invite a friend out to dinner. Just make sure that the friend you choose is someone who supports your decision to quit drinking.

Create A Better Lifestyle

Quitting alcohol can offer you the opportunity to reinvent yourself and your life. After all, you will need to find new things to do with the time you once spent drinking. Below are some suggestions for how to build a better lifestyle for yourself:

• Discover a new hobby: Think about whether there is something you have always wanted to try but never got the chance to. If there is, take a chance and do it. Also, consider whether you have lost touch with old hobbies due to your addiction. If you have, consider pursuing these hobbies again.
• Develop a support system: You may also want to evaluate your current group of friends to determine whether they give you the support you need to overcome your addiction. If they don't, try joining groups with people of similar interests. You may just find some new buddies this way.

Overcoming an alcohol addiction doesn't have to be an impossible feat. Using the advice here, you should be able to create an alcohol-free life for yourself. You may also consider joining a group or treatment center if you need additional help.

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