5 Things You Need to Know About Cutting Down On Drinking

1. A Painful Truth

Many factors can make you think you might be drinking too much: it's interfering with your work and family, it's putting a serious dent in your wallet or you may have gotten pulled over recently for drunk driving. Maybe you're even worried that your problem will require more than just cutting back, but quitting completely. The truth is that if you think your life is suffering due to alcohol abuse, you're probably right.

2. The Binge Drinker

Binge drinkers are people that drink a lot of alcohol, but only at certain times, like on the weekends. They might not consider themselves alcoholics, because it doesn't interfere with their ability to function in daily life. But if you are unable to consume alcohol without drinking for the purpose of getting drunk, it's an indication of a bigger problem.

3. Sobering Activities

Whether you've decided to try just cutting back your alcohol consumption or have decided to abstain completely, you're going to have to find other ways to occupy your time. You want to remove yourself from the temptation to drink. Don't tell yourself you're going to the bar just to hang out with your friends and sip on a soda. Until you can truly trust yourself in those situations, it's best to avoid them completely.

4. Hitting Too Close to Home

Friendships may change due to your decision. Some of your pals may see a little of themselves in you, and start to wonder if maybe they should cut back on drinking, too. They may not be ready to do so, and you may find yourself with fewer friends at first. The best thing to do is to keep busy with hobbies and activities that don't involve alcohol, with friends who are willing to support you through this. True friends will abstain from alcohol when they're with you so as not to tempt you.

5. Help Along the Way

You may find you can't break this addiction yourself. As much as you promise yourself, family and friends that you are going to get your drinking under control, you just can't. It's time to seek professional help. Start with admitting your problem to your family physician. He can direct you to specialized help and support groups. Finding a therapist to help you understand the psychology behind excessive drinking and perhaps a support group of other people struggling with alcohol can be the beginning of your road to sobriety.