People use addictive substances for various reasons. Said chemicals mask pain, elevate mood, and help struggling individuals forget bad times or remember good ones.
However, increased and heavier ingestion of such products could result in dependency. Once addiction commences, it can be quite difficult to shake. Many addiction specialists argue that alcohol is one of the hardest dependencies to conquer.
The Reasons Quitting Alcohol Is So Challenging
Alcohol addiction is extremely hard to overcome for numerous physical, social, and environmental reasons including:
Systemic Impact
Chronic intake of adult beverages exercises a seriously adverse influence on the brain. The substance is a nervous system suppressant, which means it dulls nerves and other components. Said impact often leads to a feeling of calmness and contentment for short spurts.
Alcohol Is Not As Taboo AS Other Drugs
Alcohol use does not carry the social stigma attached to the ingestion of other dependency-inducing substances. Users do not need a prescription to obtain alcohol and, provided they are 21 or older, can legally obtain adult beverages anywhere they are sold.
Moreover, in many instances, drinking is socially acceptable. The practice is readily undertaken and considered second nature in a variety of social and professional settings. Additionally, the product is widely advertised in television and radio advertisements.
Ease Of Access
Alcohol is not difficult to access. Every small town has multiple convenience stores selling items like wine and beer. Furthermore, liquor stores are typically within a short driving distance of most towns, villages, and cities.
Many People Partake In The Habit
Social researchers opine that quitting alcohol use often proves challenging because a dependent’s friends, family members, colleagues, and acquaintances engage in the act to various extents. Even those yearning to stop drinking might find said aim challenging when alcohol is a major part of events, such as business meetings, family gatherings, and social outings.
Alcohol Is Reasonably Inexpensive
Granted, certain brands of hard liquor come with a fairly steep price tag. However, for the most part, alcohol is much less expensive than other addictive drugs. Products like wine and beer can often be purchased for less than a meal at a local fast food restaurant.
Fear Of Recovery
Like those dependent on other substances, alcohol addicts may simply fear recovery. Some individuals have grown so accustomed to their reliance on adult beverages that they are reluctant to consider a life without said vices.
How To Curb Or Quit Drinking?
Afflicted subjects might wonder what steps they can take to significantly curb or potentially even quit drinking.
Medical professionals and addiction treatment experts suggest that such efforts are often dictated by several factors including:
- The addict’s age
- Said person’s general physical and mental health status
- How long they have been drinking
- How much alcohol they typically consume
Arguably, however, the most important consideration is the dependency’s severity.
Should the reliance be fresh, moderate and relatively manageable, the impacted subject might find success employing methods like:
Documenting The Issue
Treatment professionals recommend maintaining a diary providing entries detailing the times one drank and the amount they took in. Should the frequency and consumption increase, aggressive actions might be necessary.
Setting Intake Goals
Those whose drinking is somewhat under control might wish to set goals. For example, they could set a limit holding themselves to two drinks per day or less and attempting to meet set aims.
Do Not Keep Alcohol Inside One’s Residence
Persons concerned about their alcohol consumption are urged to not store alcohol inside their homes. One cannot access what is not readily available.
Do Not Succumb To Peer Pressure
One does not have to imbibe merely because others around them are. Displaying strength and willpower might heighten an individual’s determination to cut back or stop drinking.
Identify Other More Productive Activities
When tempted to drink, impacted subjects are firmly encouraged to participate in other more productive endeavors, such as reading, partaking in athletic activities, gardening, becoming engrossed in mind-stimulating efforts like crossword puzzles, or listening to music.
That said, when an addiction ranges from moderate to serious, the stricken soul is implored to consider seeking professional assistance. This is especially true if the dependency has lasted for an extended duration or has precipitated discernible health or mental concerns.
Professional treatment typically begins with medically supervised detox inside a established healthcare setting. Such efforts are overseen by experienced healthcare providers who gradually wean alcohol out of the addict’s system with designs on preventing untoward or potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
Once detox is completed, the recovering subject is then encouraged to enter either an outpatient or inpatient treatment program where they will receive counseling, learn to identify the reasons their addiction occurred, establish coping mechanisms, and receive instruction on how to function as a sober individual.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol dependency, please contact us. Our Wilmington, Delaware-based center has helped numerous alcoholics overcome such demons and recapture joyous, energetic, and gainful existences. Call us at 302-842-2390.
