For some people drinking alcohol is one way to decompress, relieve stress, and relax after an especially tiring day or week. Others do it out of peer pressure. Shy people do it to lose their inhibitions and enjoy or even survive social situations they cannot get out of. Whatever the motivation is, if done on occasion, this could be a relatively harmless way to live a balanced lifestyle. But as with all other things in life, too much of something, even a good thing, could be harmful. Consume alcohol in excess, and it could lead to addiction.
Addiction to alcohol could be a very big challenge, not only for the alcoholic but to the people around them as well. If you have recently completed a rehab program in a Toronto alcohol rehab facility, it’s important to recognize that while the hard part of treatment is over, the journey to recovery is ongoing. Leaving a rehab facility can be an exciting and liberating experience, but it can also be overwhelming as you navigate the challenges of transitioning back to everyday life. The road to recovery is, by far, not a straight and easy path, so it is much better to avoid having to face that road in the first place. Here are some ways to avoid being hooked on alcohol so that you can maintain and live a healthy lifestyle:
#1 Know your limits
This could be a bit tricky because to be able to know your limit, you sometimes have to cross it. We have all been in this situation at some point in our lives where we regret the choices we made the night before and swear off alcohol like it’s the devil. But this is just one way to gauge how much is too much. If you could avoid alcohol altogether, then that is much better.
#2 Everything in moderation
Once you have gotten a good feel for how much alcohol you can take and still function at a high level, stick to it. When you find yourself in a situation where your convictions are being put to the test, look back to the times when you regretted having too much to drink, or think of your family and other meaningful relationships in your life for added motivation.
#3 If not a drinker, do not start
The simplest way to avoid alcoholism is to not drink at all and look for alternative ways to have a good time with friends or unwind. This may sound simple enough but is actually easier said than done. Every day you could find yourself faced with an excuse to down a bottle or two with friends, workmates, clients, or just by yourself. But if you think it is hard for a non-drinker to avoid alcohol altogether, it is many times harder for a drinker to quit, especially when already hooked. So, think before you drink.
#4 Knowing when to quit
For people with a drinking problem, the first step to recovering is to recognize that there is a problem. This could be a challenge for most heavy drinkers as they sometimes fail to recognize the signs of addiction to alcohol or refuse to do so. But the human body is naturally equipped to tell us when to stop. From apparent signs such as liver or lung problems to the more subtle, like changes in behavior. Failing this, the people around like family and friends are usually the first to notice if something is amiss.
Knowing how to quit drinking is an altogether different matter. There are many ways to go about it, depending on how firm your resolve is, the resources available, or what your inclinations are. But if you dread going to AA meetings or do not have enough money for rehab, try Craig Beck’s “The Complete 90 Day Quit Drinking” video course. Many have already tried it and personally attest to its effectiveness.
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