| Drinking alcohol is a widespread addiction. There are | | | | This ambivalence about drinking comes naturally to all |
| conflicting counsels about how to stop drinking alcohol. | | | | the alcohol addicts. On the one hand you want to stop |
| You have to chart your own course from the myriads | | | | drinking alcohol and on the other hand you are terrified |
| of crisscrossing ways to stop drinking alcohol. | | | | of giving it up. You may be afraid of failure. "What if I |
| Have a Clear Vision | | | | relapse again? My hopes will be dashed. It would be |
| A clear vision about an alcohol free life can motivate | | | | greatly demoralizing. I would be depressed more than |
| you and strengthen your efforts to stop drinking | | | | ever before." These dilemmas are faced by every |
| alcohol. If you stop drinking alcohol, you will improve | | | | addict trying to give up drinking. You may even deny |
| your general health and quality of life. Your relationship | | | | your disease is chronic, incurable and progressive. |
| with your parents, spouse, children, friends and relatives | | | | Then there is one part in you that wants to drink for |
| will improve. | | | | ever. A voice in you may also say that you are |
| Adverse Effects of Addiction | | | | doomed for ever to this life of drinking. This voice may |
| Addiction to alcohol may increase your chances of | | | | urge you to take a peg right now. This self denying |
| injuring yourself and others under its influence. Alcohol | | | | pessimistic stance may impel you to continue drinking |
| addiction ruins the life both physically and emotionally. It | | | | since it is impossible for you to quit it for ever. |
| reduces the man to be his caricature. You set bad | | | | The 'Voice' and You |
| example before your children and forfeit moral | | | | However you must try to distinguish between 'that |
| authority to check them if they do anything wrong. | | | | voice' and you, that is, your own real person. 'That |
| There are numerous steps about how to stop drinking | | | | voice' does not care anything about you, your values, |
| alcohol. | | | | welfare, dreams and ambitions for a good, happy and |
| Self Help-Introspection | | | | healthy life. Make up your mind to fight that voice and |
| Think hard and try to see the benefits of abstaining | | | | you are sure stop drinking alcohol once for all. |
| from drinking alcohol. You may have been discarded | | | | Support Groups-Alcoholics Anonymous |
| by your boy/girl friend you loved most just because | | | | If self help does not succeed, there are numerous |
| you are an alcohol addict and are given to repeated | | | | other resources to help you about how to stop drinking |
| relapses. You may not have been able to realize your | | | | alcohol. One such popular resource is Alcoholics |
| dream of distinguishing yourself, for example, as an art | | | | Anonymous-AA- that organizes meetings all over the |
| designer just because of your alcoholism. Try to | | | | world for those who wish to stop drinking alcohol. This |
| analyze the outcome of your past drinking and | | | | group is comprised primarily of those persons who |
| envision your future. How it would change if you | | | | have been alcohol addicts. It may be noted that these |
| stopped drinking. Make a determined effort to stop | | | | persons are more qualified in offering useful tips and |
| drinking once for all. When you do so, you may be | | | | advice based on their own efforts, agonies, |
| having conflicting thoughts about the benefits of | | | | experiences and success stories. How can a person |
| stopping to drink alcohol and your helplessness in giving | | | | who has never touched alcohol throughout his life |
| it up altogether. | | | | tender an effective and practical advice against taking |
| Ambivalent Thinking | | | | it? |