How to Stop Picking Up a Drink and Overcoming Alcohol Addiction

It is helpful in addidtion to therapy and a support group to have healthy alternatives to drinking to replace it. The urge may still be there as it can be partially physical. Psychologically we look for ways to lessen any mental pain or anguish and drinking has been an attractive one for centuries. First of all, tell yourself that you can sit in the pain and just look at it as an observer. You don't have to buy into criticisms you heard from family members, low self-esteem thoughts and feelings of being a failure. Psychotherapy is very helpful for this but still on your own you need to practice sitting in the pain to see that you are bigger than it. Thoughts and feeling that attack us are just that- thoughts and feelings.

Sitting in the painful feelings and thoughts without believing them will build up tremendous inner strength. Still, you may need some distractions to cope with the urge to drink . Distractions are fine if they can help you rest your mind and stop repeating unhealthy patterns. Books on self-growth, uplifting movies, phone calls with people who are helpful and not downers and comedy all help the process of breaking old inner routines and replacing them with one's that enable self-development. You may need to evaluate which friends are helpful and which ones are ones that lead you into temptation or into negative self-statements about yourself.

Setting up a few classes are also helpful to attend. They can be towards a degree program or just hobbies you've been wanting to pursue. You can also learn a lot using do it yourself dvds , but you need to be self-disciplined. It helps to have a buddy or a few people if you choose this route. If you rent a dvd on cooking then plan with your friend to create the meal and do that. Carrying through with a project builds your sense of accomplishment.

Continue with outpatient psychotherapy and support groups but also be sure to see your practice as a daily 24-7 event. Every minute is the opportunity to overcome the past habits and create new ones. Loving What Is by Byron Katie is very helpful in questioning your thoughts and assumptions. When we don't question them, they own us.

Another good exercise is to think where you'll be in five years if you don't make changes. Do you want the life you are currently living? If you've alienated friends, family and others there may be a lot of self-recrimination. Don't beat yourself up.about your past actions but resolve to change. Remembering your post behaviors can be motivating if you don't fall into self-hatred but instead use the memories to catapult yourself beyond the addictive patterns and behaviors of drinking or drugs.