How to Stop Drinking Alcohol: Natural Way to Quit Alcohol

Alcohol use can creep into your life slowly, making it challenging to find when you have tripped from moderate social drinking to a pattern. If you are a daily or heavy drinker, then stopping alcohol without medical supervision can be dangerous. Home remedies and alternative therapies are sometimes used to stop drinking alcohol naturally. Some recommended medical treatments, their remedies can include herbs like kudzu, lifestyle changes and more. A person with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism can experience many withdrawal symptoms that can be deadly. Remember that you cannot replace any medical treatments or counselling with other remedies for AUD. Still, meditation, exercise and more herbs may help with the transition to alcohol-free living for moderate drinkers. This Blog discusses how to stop drinking alcohol naturally.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal?

If you drink heavily every week, month and year, then you decide to stop drinking and reduce alcohol, then you may have mental and physical symptoms called alcohol withdrawal. It usually affects people with alcohol use disorder. Alcohol withdrawal can range from mild symptoms to a serious form. Alcohol withdrawal happens most frequently in adults. However, it can also occur in teenagers or children.

The most dangerous form of alcohol withdrawal happens in one out of every 20 people who experience withdrawal symptoms. This condition is called delirium tremens. In delirium tremens, the brain is not able to easily reorganise its chemistry after alcohol is stopped. This develops a state of temporary confusion and leads to dangerous changes in the way your brain arranges your circulation and breathing. The body’s critical signs, such as heart rate or blood pressure, can change substantially or unpredictably, creating a risk of heart attack and stroke, but in some cases, this condition can sometimes be life-threatening.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

If you drink more often, you may have possible to alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. When you stop drinking alcohol, it is common to get withdrawal symptoms. If you have certain other medical problems, then you may have more serious withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can occur within 8 hours after the last drink, but can happen days later. Peak of alcohol symptoms by 24-72 hours, but may go on for weeks.

Common Symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Jumpiness or shakiness
• Mood Swings
• Nightmares

Other symptoms may include:

• Sweating, clammy skin
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Pallor
• Rapid heart rate
• Tremor of the hands

Ways to Stop Drinking Alcohol Naturally

Herbal Remedies for Stopping Alcohol

Herbal supplements may help to ease withdrawal symptoms, speed up liver healing and help to stop drinking alcohol. Be mindful that while herbal remedies can play a supportive role. Every person’s situation is unique and different in alcohol addiction. There are many factors, like genetics, mental health, and social environment will also affect success in stopping alcohol. So that before taking a new herbal remedy, specifically if you are on medication, consult with your healthcare provider because they can help you avoid side effects.

Kudzu Flower

Kudzu is a plant in traditional medicine. Flowers and roots are used to manage issues related to conditions like alcoholism. This medication might be helpful for those who struggle with alcohol, and it can also help decrease alcohol consumption, even in those who drink heavily. Kudzu does not affect sleep cycles, that why you may start working after a single dose.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is also a traditional herb they are used in ayurvedica indian medicine. It can be used to reduce stress and anxiety, which may occur during the process of stopping alcohol. Its calming effects may be due to its activity on GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors in the brain, while slowing down the central nervous system.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is also an herb, and this is extensively recognised for treating liver damage, including alcoholic liver disease. While continuing to drink alcohol use can damage the liver, that’s why milk thistle is often used in an integrated manner to help the organ detoxify and regenerate. Milk thistle silymarin can promote liver cell repair and protect against toxins. Improved liver function can help reduce many issues; there is nay support to resolve when stopping back on alcohol.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Both are helpful tools in managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These methods help to change the body and mind on the way to a state of calm, strengthening healthier coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety and other triggers that may lead to drinking. If you want to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms, Mindfulness and meditation help you reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Mindfulness helps state of bring one present and be aware in the moment, and meditation is a tool to cultivate mindfulness, and it is a specific, structured practice to train your attention. Regular meditation can help to decrease stress and manage cravings & symptoms, and also improve our overall mental health and well-being, regularly training the mind to always stay present and develop greater self-control and resilience when we face triggers or cravings.

Change Lifestyle

You will change your daily habits and environment, which can support your goal of stopping alcohol. While they have a profound impact on your ability to reduce drinking. One change to your daily routine can be helpful when stopping drinking alcohol. In your life, replace all unhealthy activities then live with a healthier lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle changes you can build to feel better when you stop drinking alcohol include:

Nutrition and Hydration

Take foods with higher vitamin and mineral contents to help restore nutrients lost when drinking. Also, keep hydrated and taking at least 8 glasses of water every day may help decrease withdrawal symptoms and keep you feeling better.

Exercise and Physical Activity

Charming in everyday exercise releases endorphins in your brain. That improves your energy levels, reduces stress, and helps restore damage to body systems affected, stabilises your mood and decreases anxiety caused by alcohol. Even a daily walk can make a major difference in managing cravings.

Sleep Hygiene

Hitting the hay and waking at the same time every day is an instance of a reliable schedule. Create an even greater level of consistency in your routine to help promote healthy sleeping patterns because alcohol disrupts these. Try to create a calming environment in your bedroom that allows it to be quiet, neat, and cool if you plan to sleep. So as that avoid the TV and phone screens for at least 45 minutes before prior to sleeping.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

If social situations or close friends force you to heavily, say no to everyone. Remember that you should not cross your limit because you focus on recovery and avoid alcohol. Making new routines means waking up early in the morning, then doing yoga at the same time. Remembering option habits helps break new habits.

Build a Supportive Network

You will help your family and friends stop or reduce alcohol use. You should share everything related to stopping alcohol with your family and friends, then your supportive network is built and all the help you receive to achieve your goal. Remember that you find someone to check in with regularly, whether it’s a close friend or family member or a mentor in the group.

Stop Drinking Alcohol With Therapy

There are multiple effective treatment therapy options for alcoholism. Most rehab facilities will utilise some or all of the following treatment methods.

Talk Therapy

Psychotherapy is the classic approach of having a conversation with the patients. Here, a patient talks about their problems, past traumas, daily challenges, and issues with the psychologist. It is also called a talk therapy session, which can take place in a group or family setting. If this therapy is taken for alcoholism, a psychologist may help a patient with a better understanding. This therapy helps you to achieve your goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This therapy is extensively considered the favoured psychotherapy treatment method for alcohol use disorder. CBT is a proven method for relieving the burdens of alcoholism. The basic premise of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the importance of knowing negative thoughts and behaviours and replacing them with positive thoughts and behaviours. CBT can teach you techniques to cope with stressors and triggers in real time.

Facilitation of 12-Step

A 12-Step program is a supportive community where people openly discuss their hardships with substance abuse. The most famous 12-Step program is alcoholics Anonymous, but programs are working for other addictions like cocaine and heroin. A 12-step program provides mutual help to everyone in the group. This program complements other forms of therapy and provides patients with a topic to discuss with their psychologists.

Art and Music Therapy

Art and music therapy are strong tools used in drug and alcohol treatment to support this process. Some people cannot share their own feelings with others, while these therapies give people a safe and creative way to express their feelings. These therapies provide individuals with unique ways to express themselves, process emotions. This therapy builds healthier skills and plays a major role in stopping.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder. This is a technique that was built to address dilemmas and help grow a person’s motivation to change unhelpful or harmful behaviours, like substance use. Mi is based on respect and sympathy. This therapist, who provides MI, helps you find reasons to make a change, and then they help you to make a plan to implement those changes.

Family or Couples Therapy

If you drink alcohol heavily, this affects your relationships with your family and partner. Family therapy for addiction and stopping alcohol helps family members identify how they influence the behaviours of members who misuse substances. This therapy helps every person to boost their confidence, set boundaries and learn new skills to communicate with family and partner.

Conclusion

Heavy drinkers who stop drinking alcohol suddenly can experience grave withdrawal symptoms that could be deadly. If your brain has adjusted to your heavy drinking habits, it takes time for your brain to readjust. Home remedies and so many therapies are used to help people stop drinking alcohol. Herbal supplements like ashwagandha and more may decrease the alcohol withdrawal symptoms and avoid cravings. Some more steps, like lifestyle changes and more, can also help you to live a better life alcohol-free. If you have a drinking problem or you decide the stop drinking alcohol, talk to your healthcare provider. They help you safely and support you.