While you may want to cut down on drinking, the task can seem pretty daunting at first. That’s only natural – breaking an ingrained reliance on beer, wine, and spirits is easier said than done. Even so, please don’t despair; it’s entirely possible to prevent excessive alcohol use. Your Kansas City addiction specialist will even share some tips on how you can get started. To that end, here are four things you can do right now to avoid drinking excessively.
Keep Your Home Alcohol-Free
An obvious way to limit alcohol use is to restrict your access. So, consider keeping your home alcohol-free from now on.
People will often indulge in something just because it’s easily accessed. From junk food to streaming services, many “vices” become incredibly tempting when they’re only a couple of steps away. To that extent, you can limit your drinking by not keeping alcohol in your home. Once the effort to “get a drink” exceeds a certain level, you’ll decide you’re better off doing something else.
Drink Carefully & Slowly
Of course, you can still limit your intake of alcohol when it’s nearby. Just remember to drink carefully and slowly in such cases.
The real key here is to make your drinking less “automatic” or thoughtless. For example, don’t simply guzzle your alcoholic beverage; sip it over time so it lasts longer. You can also drink soda, water, or juice after having a beer, thus ensuring you don’t ingest too much alcohol at once. Even making sure that you don’t drink on an empty stomach will help.
Stay Busy
They say, “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings,” and there’s some truth to it. Therefore, stay busy so that you don’t feel tempted to drink.
You’re less likely to think about alcohol when doing something fun. After all, who can consider a drink when they’re completely caught up in thrills and excitement? It’s thus a good idea to try various hobbies to keep your mind off drinks, especially those that appeal to you. These might include sports, movies or TV, jogging, playing an instrument – the list goes on!
Ask for Support
Even with the tips above, you may find yourself struggling to cut out alcohol. You should ask for support from people you trust in this situation.
If you ask someone trustworthy, odds are good that they’ll help you limit your alcohol use. It’s just a matter of finding the right person, whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a valued community member. You could even consult a doctor or therapist for help, as they’d have expert guidance to offer.
The project may take time, but you really can prevent excessive alcohol use. Just remember the tricks above and see the appropriate specialists as needed.
About the Practice
B&L Medical Group is based in Kansas City. Led by nurse practitioner Laura Lindsay, our practice does everything possible to help you safely and effectively quit opioids and alcohol. This effort primarily comes in the form of medication-assisted treatments, which use medicines like Buprenorphine and Suboxone. Our team also guides patients on how to stay sober long-term, ensuring you’re truly free of addiction. For more details or to book a visit, contact us on our website or by phone at (913)-713-1238.