How to Quit Drinking if You Have a Drinking Problem

If you think you have an alcohol problem then the first thing that you should do is to get specific with it and nail it down. What is the exact scope of your problem with alcohol and how deep does it really go? Is your problem really with drinking too much or does your problem really get nasty when you actually stop drinking?

If you tend to drink large amounts but can basically go without booze for long periods of time when you want to, then you are likely just a problem drinker.If you can’t leave the bottle alone for several months on end without becoming antsy over it then you are likely suffering from alcoholism.If you are not sure if you are an alcoholic or if you are a problem drinker, then you should do these trial runs:

1) Allow yourself to have, at the most, one drink per day for the next half a year, never to go over that amount. No sneaking an extra drink in here or there allowed allowed.

2) No drinking allowed, at all, for at least half a year. No exceptions allowed.

If you can do either of these challenges without any problems and without slipping up at all then you are likely not an alcoholic. But if you find yourself struggling with the experiment and actually resenting it then you might be suffering from alcoholism. If you’re a problem drinker then you will screw up the first trial and won’t be able to curtail your drinking at some point in time. If you are an alcoholic then you will fail at the second experiment and not be able to abstain for six months without some sort of recovery program.

If you determine that you have some problem with alcohol then it is best to ask for help. If you are a true alcoholic then this might involve seeking treatment in a facility with a full detox unit. This is highly advisable because coming off of booze is a serious condition that can result in death if not monitored properly.

On the other hand, if you have a drinking problem, then you might seek counseling or therapy in some way. This can help you identify if you want to take steps to reduce or stop your alcohol consumption.