Drinking less alcohol will bring many health benefits.
If you feel you are starting to drink too much, you may be able to cut down on your own.
However, if you have become dependent on alcohol, alcohol detox and alcohol treatment may be required.
It's important to note that if you are alcoholic, suddenly stopping drinking on your own can be dangerous.
Don't be disheartened, though, there are still ways to stop.
Alcohol detox If you're addicted to alcohol you should speak to a medical professional about stopping drinking.
They will assess the level of your dependence and this will help them prescribe the right alcohol treatment to help you stop drinking safely and for good.
For many alcoholics alcohol detox is the first step to quitting drinking.
Medication is used to manage the worst of the effects of withdrawal.
These can be serious which is why medical help is needed.
They can include sweating, vomiting, trembling and hallucinations.
In some extreme cases they can be so severe as to be fatal.
Once the body is rid of alcohol through alcohol detox, alcohol treatment can begin through which an individual can explore their relationship with alcohol and learn to break the habits which led to heavy drinking.
Alcohol detox is usually done in a residential centre but managed home detox is possible.
Drinking less Even if you're not alcohol dependent, drinking less is still good for you.
Many people choose to cut down for health, financial or personal reasons.
There are steps you can take to drink less.
Firstly you should assess what you're actually drinking - check it against the Government's maximum guidelines and at least try to get your drinking well within these.
Think about why you drink.
Many people use alcohol as a reward or to relieve stress - try to think of other ways to manage your stress levels and emotions.
Practical steps:
If you feel you are starting to drink too much, you may be able to cut down on your own.
However, if you have become dependent on alcohol, alcohol detox and alcohol treatment may be required.
It's important to note that if you are alcoholic, suddenly stopping drinking on your own can be dangerous.
Don't be disheartened, though, there are still ways to stop.
Alcohol detox If you're addicted to alcohol you should speak to a medical professional about stopping drinking.
They will assess the level of your dependence and this will help them prescribe the right alcohol treatment to help you stop drinking safely and for good.
For many alcoholics alcohol detox is the first step to quitting drinking.
Medication is used to manage the worst of the effects of withdrawal.
These can be serious which is why medical help is needed.
They can include sweating, vomiting, trembling and hallucinations.
In some extreme cases they can be so severe as to be fatal.
Once the body is rid of alcohol through alcohol detox, alcohol treatment can begin through which an individual can explore their relationship with alcohol and learn to break the habits which led to heavy drinking.
Alcohol detox is usually done in a residential centre but managed home detox is possible.
Drinking less Even if you're not alcohol dependent, drinking less is still good for you.
Many people choose to cut down for health, financial or personal reasons.
There are steps you can take to drink less.
Firstly you should assess what you're actually drinking - check it against the Government's maximum guidelines and at least try to get your drinking well within these.
Think about why you drink.
Many people use alcohol as a reward or to relieve stress - try to think of other ways to manage your stress levels and emotions.
Practical steps:
- Don't go in rounds on nights out - say you'll get your own as this way you can drink as slowly as you like
- Be the driver - offer to be the designated driver every now and then and stick to the soft drinks
- Tell friends and family what you're doing and why - they should support you and some may even join in with you
- Choose a high quality drink and savour it, rather than drinking poorer quality drinks quickly without thinking - your waistline will thank you too.