New Year New You: The Perfect Time To Quit Alcohol
By Carly Benson
The New Year offers the hope of a clean slate to many people. When January rolls around each year, people make their resolutions to get healthier. According to an article published by Statistic Brain around 44% of people make New Year’s resolutions geared towards the category of self-improvement.
You can bet that within this group are the people hoping to sober up and get clean in their New Year. A very common goal people set as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve is to quit drinking alcohol. It’s the perfect time of year to look into getting help for an addiction whether it is of alcohol or drugs.
This article will aim to explore why people quit drinking around this time, how to make sure going sober is successful and how to receive the help they need as they find their own path to recovery.
Reasons Why People Give Up Alcohol In The New Year
The end of the year and the beginning of a new one always makes people take a look at their lives. Most people find themselves unhappy with their bad habits, which is why so many look at giving up alcohol or drugs during this time of year.
The most common reasons are:
- They are questioning if they have a problem with alcohol.
- Some are worried about their consumption but do not want to admit they might be drinking too much.
- People who already are aware of their addictions find the New Year to be an opportunity to tackle their hang-ups.
- Some will want to quit for health reasons or to lose weight by eliminating alcohol from their diet.
- There will be some who are “sober curious” or intrigued by what is now known as “Dry January,” a month without alcohol that many partake in as a reset into the New Year.
- Others decide to quit drinking because they realize that it’s not as fun as it used to be and clubbing or bar hopping has lost its luster.
How To Make Sobriety A Success In The New Year
Whatever your reasoning may be, going sober and sustaining sobriety is much more than just removing alcohol from your life. Living a sober life takes hard work and a long look in the mirror. It means you must begin living life on new terms and with an understanding of why you drank in the first place.
Some tips to help you make sobriety a success are:
- Educate yourself on withdrawal symptoms and be prepared to seek help if you are a heavy drinker to make your transition a safe one.
- Look for support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery in your area.
- Develop a community and support system that know what it feels like and can encourage you as well as hold you accountable.
- Look into rehab facilities if you have a serious alcohol addiction to learning if inpatient or outpatient treatment may best serve you.
- Realize that it’s hard to create a new you around the same old people and places. You may need to reinvent how and where you spend your time in order to ensure you are in environments that help you stay sober.
- Find a spiritual path of some kind such as meditation, prayer, yoga, reading or journaling to help you process through your feelings.
- Involve your friends, family and loved ones so they know about the changes you are making. Be sure your immediate circle knows how they can be there for you.
- Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Often people who are drinking are doing so to mask a co-occurring disorder such as depression or anxiety. It’s important to know that therapy is something most people in sobriety are involved in and it can drastically help you change these patterns.
You Don’t Have To Wait For A New Year To Quit Drinking
Alcohol addiction affects millions of people and has proven to be one of the leading substance abuse issues among Americans. A person considering recovery or treatment can live a life of abundance if they take the steps to make it happen. This means taking real action towards the life they’ve been dreaming of.
Some people will wait for the best time to quit, but the issue with waiting is that no time may seem perfect. Realizing the best time to quit is always now, will help you get started while you are feeling the urge to address your substance abuse.
If you have a serious problem with alcohol, waiting for the perfect time will only cause more suffering. You don’t have to do it alone. At Winward Way, we have many different treatment programs to help get you on the road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about your options and make your goals for changing your life a reality.
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If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction and need treatment, we would love to talk with you and see how we can help you. PLEASE CALL (855) 430-9426. Our counselors are available to answer your questions.
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Carly Benson is the impactful author behind the delightfully, budding personal development blog, MiraclesAreBrewing.com
Source:
New Years Resolution Statistics, Statistic Brain, January 2017
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