Drinking alcohol can be a very tough habit to break, especially if you’ve been doing it for years. Enough alcohol consumption can create mental and physical dependency, which makes it hard to stop. 

Excessive drinking not only detracts from your health but can also get in the way of a productive life. People who struggle to drink responsibly encounter problems with family members, colleagues, and acquaintances. 

Stopping drinking takes work and patience. Many people stumble along the path to sobriety. Finding ways to avoid negative influences and cultivate the life you want without alcohol, however, is possible. 

Here are ten tips on how to stop drinking that you can start using today. 

Set Goals

Whether you never want to drink again or you’d like to take a break from drinking for a month, planning is essential. 

Knowing what you’re trying to accomplish holds you accountable to yourself and your loved ones. It also is a fantastic way to gain buy-in from people around you who will support you along the way. 

Be clear on what you’d like to see about your drinking, and set milestones to get you there. 

Tell People

Once you know what you want to achieve, it’s time to make it public. Post your goals on social media, tell your friends, and don’t be shy when people ask why you’re not drinking.

The more you talk about it, the better you’ll feel. Abstaining almost becomes part of your identity, and you’ll likely get a lot of positive feedback when you tell people what you’re up to. 

When people know what you’re trying to accomplish, they are less likely to try and pressure you into drinking at dinner or a party. Instead, they’ll reinforce you with praise about focusing on your physical health. 

Identify Your Triggers

When do you drink? Where do you frequently drink?

Knowing where you are tempted and how you’ll possibly slip up will help you build defenses against the temptation to drink. 

You must be honest about where you’re weakest and strive to avoid those situations. For example, if you can’t attend a company happy hour without drinking, then don’t go!

You can’t expect yourself to become impervious to temptation. Make adjustments where necessary to improve your chances of success. 

Start a New Hobby

People drink when they feel bored. However, if you have something else to do, you won’t feel as strong an urge to grab a beer or some wine. 

Try working out regularly to relieve stress. Join a fitness class or start taking instrument lessons. Find something to fill the time you would have been drinking with. You’ll feel more productive and stop drinking. 

Talk to a Therapist

You may want to shore up support for your efforts to stop drinking by speaking to a therapist. Many people have underlying issues that push them toward alcohol. 

For example, not knowing how to process stress or respond to negative emotions healthily may be some of the reasons you drink. It could be worth your while to speak to someone specializing in addiction. 

Make Health a Focus

In addition to exercising, you should also start dieting. Improving your physical health is a great way to stop drinking because you know what’s at stake. 

It’s harder to pick up a drink when you know you’ve been hard at work dieting and exercising. Make some health goals and stick to them, 

Get to Bed

Going to sleep earlier can help you avoid the time when you’re most likely to drink. Getting some good sleep is also fantastic for your health. 

When you’re well-rested, you’re more likely to experience better energy levels throughout the day. You’ll be in a better mood and will have more discipline to say no to drink offers. 

Save the Money

Drinking, especially drinking out with friends, is expensive. What if you took the money you would have spent on drinking and used it for something fun?

Every time you skip a drink, put that money in a jar and save up for a new bike, vacation, TV, or something else you want. 

Turn not drinking into a game, and the pursuit becomes enjoyable. 

Keep Track of Your Progress

Any hobby or goal is best done when measured. There’s a reason why recovering alcoholics know how long they’ve been sober to the day. It’s because we care about what we track and vice versa.

Keep count of the days you’ve gone without drinking, and remind yourself how far you’ve come each time you make it to another day. 

Peptides & Alcohol Drinking

Melanotan 2 is a peptide that interacts with the body’s melanocortin system. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that trigger certain biological responses. 

There is a lot of research on melanocortins and their role in neurobiological responses to drugs and alcohol. In a lab study on animal models, subjects given Melanotan 2 saw improvements in opioid and alcohol addiction. 

There is also lab evidence suggesting that Melanotan 2 and other melanocortin agonists regulate the reward-based addiction process. 

Clare Louise