8 hacks to stop drinking alcohol

In the moments when you know deep down inside that you're going to have to part ways with alcohol for good, you might also be thinking, 'How on EARTH am I going to do this?'

Short answer is, it's not easy (otherwise you would have done it by now) but it's absolutely possible if you're motivated, educated and supported.

After 9 years of sobriety and a heck of a lot of drinking before that, I have figured out a few tried and true hacks to stop drinking alcohol that you need before you start what can be the best journey of your life, getting sober, and staying that way.

8 tried and true hacks to stop drinking alcohol

1. Get really clear on why you want to be sober. Send some time digging deep, pulling out all the negativity alcohol has brought to your life. Has it affected your health? What about your relationships? Be really honest - you don't need to try and convince anyone but yourself. Write a list of the good, the bad and the ugly things alcohol has caused in your life and keep it handy to remind yourself when your resolve gets wobbly and drinking feels like a good idea.

   
   

2. If you're a super-heavy drinker, see a doctor before you stop drinking . Not many people are aware that if you're physically dependent on alcohol (and lots of people are, without realising) stopping drinking suddenly can be really dangerous and even fatal. Your doctor can advise on how to safely stop drinking alcohol and support you with medication if necessary.

   
   

3. Get some health checks by your doctor, regardless of how much you've been drinking. Alcohol can often cause a lot of medical problems and now is the time to take your head out of the sand and assess where your health is really at. Any test results can serve as a baseline to improve on, and help keep you motivated to stay sober.

   
   

4. Tell a trusted friend or family member of your plans. Revealing your plans to get sober to someone who cares about you is important because it gets your intention out in the option and helps you to be accountable. Hopefully the person you tell can be a support to you as you navigate the early stages of sobriety. This person might have heard it all before but you have to keep trying to make a start - ask them to believe in you so you can believe in yourself.

   
   

5. Get real about what's possible - making a massive lifestyle change like getting sober is not an easy thing to do and it you might need a few goes at it. It's likely you've already had several attempts to stop if you're reading this and are moving towards the final and successful effort. Don't beat yourself up if you don't get it straight away - just keep trying and remember, you CAN do this if you're motivated, educated and supported.

   
   

6. Don't try to give up everything at once. When you've been a heavy drinker you will often feel like you need a major health overhaul when you get sober. People will often decide they need to lose weight, stop smoking/vaping and become gym bunnies at the same time as getting sober. This is not a recipe for sober success, more like a guaranteed disaster as most people fall flat on their face by drinking again and going back to all of their bad habits straight away. Focus on one things at a time, and your first priority needs to be stopping drinking. Once you have a solid foundation for sobriety, your other health problems and goals can be attended to.

   
   

7. Sort your personal support. Not everyone is going to love that you want to get sober. In fact, people you drink will probably see it as a threat to them. Be real about who is going to be in your corner and who is likely to sabotage your efforts. It might be time to give some distance to relationships that are not going to helpful to you as you stop drinking alcohol.

   
   

8. Get the professionals on board. One of the best things you can do to support yourself in getting sober is reaching out for professional help. Your GP is the best place to start - they will tell you what publicly funded support is available in your area. Often these support services have long waiting lists and are limited in sessions. Peer support groups are great for some people but don't suit everyone. If you're wanting professional support that is private and quickly accessible, sober coaching might be a good fit. Sober coaching provides intense, one-on-one support from a qualified mental health coach who has walked the walk from addiction to recovery.

To find out more about sober coaching and if it will suits your needs, email info@goodhealthcoach.co.nz or call Paulette on 027 231 5970.