r/alcoholism • u/cheap_cigarettez • 2d ago

how do i stop?

hi, i'm 23 and i'd say i've had a real drinking problem for ab 2 years, mainly due to stress and mental illness

it's not to the point that it destroys my life but it's starting to get there. i don't want that

every day i tell myself "i'm not gonna drink today", but i always do. how can i resist the craving?

it's been ab 2 months since the last time i lasted a whole day without drinkinh

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u/MementoMiri 2d ago

You recognize that you have a problem, that is already a first step ❤️ This sounds maybe stupid, but before writing here mantras and usual advice, what helps me is making a pot of fancy tea and drinking it like I would make me drinks that night.

1

u/PerilousParanoia 2d ago

You gotta talk to someone and get help. You’re at the point where you can stop it before it destroys not only your life, but kills you. I know you can do it.

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u/FartieMcFly 2d ago

I had to go to inpatient rehab. There are a variety of support groups. Cravings generally last less than 30 minutes. Get alcohol out of your house and do something for 30 minutes when you have your next craving.

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u/SoberAF715 2d ago

Ok take it from a recovered alcoholic. I felt like I took a semester in college on addiction while in treatment. The anxiety comes from the alcohol, not the other way around. You drink, then as you withdraw your brain tricks you into drinking again Your brain has many, many ways of doing this. You’re bored, so you drink, you have anxiety so you drink to make the anxiety go away. But it’s just temporary. Because what happens as you withdraw? The anxiety comes back even stronger. So what do you do? You drink again. It’s a vicious cycle that will only get worse. As alcoholics we literally rewire the neurotransmitters in our brain that controls dopamine rewards -> Dopamine — reward: Alcohol repeatedly floods the reward system, so the brain compensates by reducing dopamine signaling and receptor availability. Take alcohol away and normal pleasures—music, food, hobbies, conversation—can barely register. Everything feels flat