"What do you mean, you just quit?"

Yep. That's the simplest way to get sober. If you prefer, you can do this incrementally--reduce your drinking by 50% today, then 50% again tomorrow, and so on. Or you can pour everything down the drain right now and not buy any more. (By the way, that's a pretty simple concept: if you don't buy it, you can't drink it!). The main thing is to take action NOW--do something specific, make a commitment, and stick with it. YOU are in control.

 

Obstacles to quitting are usually thoughts or beliefs about how difficult it's going to be. There are those absolute thoughts again! I can't quit, I need it, it'll be uncomfortable, I can't sleep without it, I need it because I'm stressed or anxious, the party won't be fun….Take those thoughts rationally, one by one. They aren't true, and you can prove it. You CAN do it.

 

Yes, there are physical consequences of quitting suddenly after prolonged alcohol abuse. Your sleep patterns and digestion may be disrupted, and you may be kind of jumpy. Most of the physical effects last about 72 hours; after that the effects are largely psychological and emotional. A change in your diet, some vitamins, and herbal tea have all been mentioned by others as helping to get through these few days. Support from others who have been there can make a big difference. It DOES get easier with time.

 

Urges may seem overwhelming in the first few days. Techniques for coping with urges include diverting yourself with other activities (change your daily pattern to fill your drinking hours). Actively dispute the reasons you are telling yourself about why you "need" a drink. Avoid the little rationalizations and "bargains" you want to make ("I'll buy a six-pack, but tonight I'll just drink one…or two…."). Make a promise to yourself, make it iron-clad, and stick with it. Urges WILL pass, and will become less common as time goes by.

 

Mood swings are not uncommon. It's exhilarating to make a significant decision and stick with it. You do notice changes right away, and they can be exciting. Urges can be demoralizing and make you feel as though you are not succeeding. Many people lapse, but it is not inevitable--nor does it mean you're a failure. Sobriety doesn't bring happiness, but it does make it more recognizable and easier to attain. Mood swings WILL pass, and your days will become more even as your body adapts to your new chemistry.

 

Anxiety about how people will react is a recurring theme on this board. The fact is, most people are far less interested in your drinking than you are. Sure, you can develop strategies for dealing with people who are persistent. Perhaps they have an irrational belief that you're only "fun" if you're matching them drink for drink. More likely, your resolve deepens their pre-existing insecurities about their own habits and behavior. YOU have made a choice and you don't NEED to defend it.

 

You've acknowledged that your drinking is a problem. Is there any better way of dealing with that problem than quitting? Give it a try! What have you got to lose?