Adults of a legal drinking age may find themselves overindulging in alcohol once in a while, especially those that have not built up any tolerance. As this issue progresses to regularly binge drinking, it becomes a daily activity that is hard to stop. Although it is legal to purchase and consume alcohol, the reliance on drinking is similar to a major drug addiction. An addict that can acknowledge that their behaviors are not ordinary can make a successful recovery if done properly.
Admitting the Problem
Addiction to alcohol, drugs, and other substances is often an issue that builds gradually from occasional use to overindulging. An occasional drink that has become heavy drinking is hard on the mind and body, especially in those that are constantly recovering from their latest binge. It’s a major breakthrough anytime an addict is able to admit that they have a problem on their own. Although it doesn’t make the actual recovery much easier to go through, it does eliminate a lot of issues associated with denial and resentment of others that may have been involved in some type of intervention.
Understanding the Issue
There is almost always a reason that a man or woman has become a binge drinker, other than simply enjoying the feeling of being under the influence of alcohol. Any doctor or therapist is going to encourage finding the reason or reasons that heavy drinking has become a part of an addict’s life. Traumatic situations, such as a death in the family or the end of a relationship, are common examples of situations that could cause a person to distance themselves from reality. If the addict is able to get to the root of the issue, it’s easier to understand what is necessary to put a stop to the dangerous habit.
Form a Plan
Anytime the human body has built up a tolerance to heavy drinking, it becomes dangerous to completely quit out of the blue. The body is going to go through withdrawals to a point that the user will want to go back to old habits very soon after the attempt to quit. It’s a smart idea to cut back gradually at first by drinking less at a time, or fewer days out of the week. When this is done in correlation to eliminating the triggers that bring on the urge to binge drink, the success rate is much higher than working without a plan.
Prepare for Setbacks
Binge drinking is as serious as serious as drug abuse, and it’s easy to slip back into the bad habit while in the recovery process. No one is perfect, and it can be a major task to figure out ways to avoid drinking due to a trigger or general boredom. One mistake is not going to ruin progress that has been made as long as the addict is prepared for such situations. It’s important for those in recovery from binge drinking to try to stay busy with a new hobby, exercise often, and work to reduce stress to decrease the chance of a setback.
Turn to Family and Friends
Hiding heavy drinking is easy when living alone without much of a social life, but it’s unusual for no one to notice that there is a problem. Recovery may seem like a personal journey, when in reality a strong support system is often a major factor in success. Trusted friends and family are essential tools in avoiding triggers, finding positive outlets, and uplifting the addict’s spirits in difficult moments.
Enter a Rehab Facility
It’s common for people to equate recovery facilities with drug addition, but alcoholism is a real dependence that effects the body and mind. Proper medical supervision is the safest way to recover from binge drinking, and there is comfort in the presence of experienced professionals. Detox isn’t going to be easy in the beginning, and going through it alone at home is unsafe. Addicts often experience symptoms like tremors, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, heart and respiratory irregularities, and severe anxiety that can lead to giving up on the quitting process.Binge drinkers put their body and mind at risk of permanent issues, the abuser may go through financial trouble, and personal relationships often suffer. The decision to stop is not as simple as giving the body few days to detox from heavy alcohol consumption, although this is a great first step. Following the tips to stop binge drinking for good and entering rehab provides the best chance of a successful recovery and lifestyle change.