Alcohol consumption is a major and prevalent part of American culture – there are no two ways around that. From champagne toasts to bar hopping events, drinking is not only socially acceptable – it is generally expected. This can make things pretty darn tricky for individuals who are suffering at the hands of a serious alcohol use disorder. There are various reasons to stop drinking alcohol and if you wondered why to quit drinking, you’ll find answers here.
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Should I Quit Drinking?
If you believe you might be struggling with a real drinking problem, it can be difficult to separate taking things too far on occasion with a serious and progressively worsening issue. There are several ways in which you can determine whether you are suffering at the hands of a drinking problem that requires professional intervention.
Questions to Ask
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I tried to quit drinking or cut back on my drinking because of personal consequences, only to find myself drinking again days or weeks later?
- Do I drink every day or almost every day?
- Have my loved ones ever expressed any level of concern about my drinking habits?
- When I do drink, do I find it difficult to just have one or two alcoholic beverages?
- Have I changed my daily routine to make more time for drinking and recovering from alcohol use (such as nursing hangovers)?
- Do I often drink more than I intended?
- Have I ever done something while drinking that I wouldn’t do when sober, like sleep with a stranger or drive while intoxicated?
- Do I try to justify my drinking habits by telling myself things like, “It isn’t that bad,” or, “I can stop if I wanted to, but I don’t want to right now”?
- Have I gotten in trouble with the law for my alcohol use and continued to drink regardless?
- Have I missed work, school, or any other personal obligations because of my drinking?
- Do I feel anxious or unsettled when I know that I’ll be going to a “dry” social event?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, there is a good chance that you are suffering at the hands of a serious alcohol use disorder. If you are still unsure, feel free to give Chapel Hill Detox a call at any point in time. Our team of experienced and compassionate Treatment Advisors will conduct a brief pre-assessment over the phone, which will help us determine whether or not alcohol detox is right for you and assist in why to quit drinking.
Why Quit Drinking? 8 Reasons to Stop Drinking Alcohol
When it comes to getting clean and sober, you might be wondering, “What’s the point? Why quit drinking, and what are some reasons to stop drinking alcohol?” This is probably especially true if you have not yet experienced any devastating personal consequences as a result of your drinking habits.
It is important to remember that if you are suffering at the hands of a legitimate alcohol abuse disorder, things will only continue to get more difficult. Alcoholism is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that can only be effectively treated with a combination of intensive therapeutic intervention and a long-term recovery program. So, why leap now?
Here are eight great reasons why sobriety always outweighs active alcohol use – even if you aren’t quite convinced that you have a drinking problem.
1. You won’t have to worry about hangovers anymore.
Regardless of whether you have alcoholic tendencies, hangovers are never fun. The pounding headaches, the insatiable thirst, the intense and unwavering nausea. Imagine waking up every day with a clear head, feeling great and ready to take on whatever life throws at you. It’s entirely possible!
2. You will be able to show up for the people who care about you.
You have probably been neglecting the people you love for your drinking. Chances are, you have replaced quality time spent with your friends and family members with looking for alcohol, getting drunk, and recovering from getting drunk. Even if you are physically present, there is a very good chance that you aren’t emotionally or mentally available to those who need you. Getting sober will allow you to be there in every sense.
3. You will be able to set and attain personal goals, even lofty ones.
Have you always wanted to travel to Dubai? Have you always wanted to learn how to paint, or open your food truck? These might seem like lofty goals now, but that is likely because you have become a total slave to alcohol. Breaking free from addiction will free you up to do anything you want to do – literally!
4. You’ll save money.
Drinks are expensive, especially if you go out to the bars multiple times a week. You will be shocked by how much you save if you quit drinking altogether.
5. You won’t have to worry about getting into legal trouble.
When we drink excessively, our inhibitions are significantly lowered. Even if you have convinced yourself that you make good decisions when you’re drunk, there’s a good chance that isn’t the case.
Because alcoholism is a progressive disease, many people find themselves doing things that they never thought they would ever do. This can include getting behind the wheel of a car while drunk and ultimately getting a DUI, or sleeping with a stranger at a bar and contracting an STD. The best way to avoid alcohol-related consequences? Don’t drink and give up your addiction.
6. You’ll have less drama in your life.
Do we even need to expand on this one? If you are ever wondering why to quit drinking, or if you are needing reasons to stop drinking alcohol, not having to be surrounded by drama is a superb reason.
7. Your health will improve dramatically.
Even if you don’t realize it, you are doing extensive damage to your body every time you drink alcohol. Every single one of the vital organs is affected by alcohol.
Many mistakenly believe that drinking just does damage to the liver, but it also does extensive damage to the kidneys, the heart, and the brain – just to name a few. Quit while you’re ahead, and give your poor vital organs some time to heal! At Chapel Hill Detox, we prioritize restoration of physical health, along with mental and emotional health. Not only are we dedicated to safe withdrawal in a structured environment, but we teach our patients about the extensive physical damage that drinking can – and will – do.
8. You’ll start to learn more about who you actually are.
When you drink all of the time, being a “party animal” will quickly become your identity. The thing is, that isn’t a real identity.
Drinking is what you do; it certainly isn’t who you are. Once you quit drinking, you’ll start learning about yourself. You’ll learn what you like, what you dislike, what you’re good at, and what you aren’t so good at. The journey of self-discovery is worth sobriety in and of itself.
What Are Some Alcoholism Treatment Options?
Although there isn’t currently a cure for AUD or alcohol use disorders (much like many other relapsing and chronic diseases), it can still be successfully treated and managed. Professional treatment in a medical detox center such as Chapel Hill can assist individuals who are struggling with AUD to recover from substance abuse and ideally remain sober. If you or someone you know is questioning why to quit drinking or reasons to stop drinking alcohol, they will greatly benefit from a substantial amount of treatment.
Whether you are considering professional treatment for troublesome alcohol use, there are a variety of options to treat an AUD ranging from the following programs:
- The detox process
- Inpatient treatment
- Behavioral therapies
- Medications for detox
- Peer support groups
Detox
Detox serves as the ideal first step toward recovery from an AUD. It’s important to note that detoxification alone isn’t usually enough to assist an individual in achieving extended abstinence. Detoxification is a set of interventions that are designed to assist someone comfortably and safely withdrawing from their alcohol use. This has the ability to position an individual to transition into a normally long-lasting and formal treatment program.
Before entering a detox center, a physician will perform thorough assessments of the patient’s alcohol abuse experience, including:
- Previous withdrawal experiences, if any
- Psychiatric and medical history to determine their withdrawal risk
- Undergoing screening for the presence of any co-occurring physical or mental health issues and blood tests
Once the detox process is complete, a patient might transition to a more acceptable substance abuse treatment program. Depending on the severity of a patient’s addiction, the level of social support that is received at home, and various other factors, they might undergo outpatient or inpatient treatment for an AUD following withdrawal management and detoxification.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment or residential treatment entails patients residing and living in the rehabilitation center 24/7. The timeframe of inpatient treatment can vary in duration, sometimes consisting of short stays of three to six weeks, and some individuals stay longer for six to 12 months. The main reason inpatient treatment is beneficial for the individual is that the person is removed from environments and distractions where they might be surrounded by the following triggers:
- People
- Places
- Things
When the person struggling is surrounded by triggers, an alcoholic relapse can present itself. It allows the person suffering to solely focus on their recovery and build essential coping skills for the individual to embark on living life as a sober person. During this setup, patients receive monitoring and around-the-clock care, which helps the individual address post-acute withdrawal symptoms and necessary support is offered.
Behavioral Therapies For Alcohol Abuse
Inpatient treatment provides various types of behavioral therapies which are used commonly to treat AUDs. These therapies can include individual and group therapy sessions aimed in:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based form of therapy that focuses on assisting individuals to identify and change negative, unhelpful behaviors and thoughts that contributed to or led to their addiction. In CBT, people will learn a healthier approach to not only cope with skills but develop future skills they will utilize relapse prevention.
Marital And Family Counseling
This is a form of talk therapy that incorporates a patient and their loved ones into their therapy sessions. When individuals struggle with substance abuse, their closest relationships are directly or indirectly affected as well. This form of treatment can rebuild and repair the family dynamics, while also addressing any issues that might have developed as a result of an individual’s drinking.
Find Alcohol Detox Treatment at Chapel Hill
When not constantly overseen by a licensed team of medical professionals, alcohol detox can be extremely dangerous. In fact, alcohol is one of the only chemical substances that produce life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. At Chapel Hill Detox, we have extensive experience treating even the most severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, from seizures to delirium tremens.
If you have been suffering at the hands of an alcohol abuse disorder of any severity, we are available to help. Our admissions process is quick and easy – simply give us a call and we will help you determine which level of clinical care will best suit your personal needs and recovery-related requirements. We look forward to speaking with you soon and getting you started on your own personal journey of alcohol addiction recovery today!