Heavy drinking over long periods of time can lower your quality of life. There are many reasons to drink less alcohol, but primarily, it will improve your health and make you feel better. And for those who are struggling with addiction, getting help from our alcohol rehab in Mississippi can be the best way to get your life back on track. Support and guidance can help you learn how to drink less alcohol and live a healthier, happier life.
The Top Reasons to Drink Less Alcohol
1. Higher Risk of Disease
Too much alcohol puts you at risk for a wide range of health problems. Some of the most common health risks include:
- Heart disease – When you drink excessively, you’re putting a lot of strain on your heart. This can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Liver damage – Alcohol is a toxin, and your liver has to work hard to filter it out of your body. Over time, this can lead to liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
- Cancer – Alcohol consumption is linked to several types of cancer, including mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, and liver cancer.
- Brain damage – Drinking too much alcohol can lead to brain damage, including memory loss and dementia.
2. Safety Risks
Drinking too much alcohol can affect your safety in different ways. Alcohol can make it harder for you to make decisions or resist doing dangerous things. For example, this can increase your risk of causing a car accident or falling and hurting yourself. When you’re intoxicated, you may also be more likely to take risks that put you in danger, such as swimming in dangerous waters or walking alone at night in a bad part of town.
3. Social Problems
Having alcohol too often can impact your relationship with friends and family members. You might start avoiding being around them, especially if they try to get you to stop drinking. Because alcohol lowers inhibitions, you might also damage your closest relationships by behaving inappropriately or saying things that are sometimes best left unsaid.
4. Increased Risk of Cognitive and Mental Health Problems
Drinking alcohol excessively can affect your ability to think clearly. This can have a negative impact on your performance at your job or at school. You could end up getting in trouble at work or have your grades fall at school due to missed assignments or poor performances on tests. When you drink too much, you also have a higher risk of developing mental health problems. Depression and anxiety are common mental health issues that co-occur with heavy drinking.
How to Drink Less Alcohol
If you want to start drinking less alcohol, there are a few things you can do to make it easier. Here are some tips:
- Don’t keep alcohol around – Keeping it out of the house makes it easier to avoid temptation.
- Avoid situations or people that trigger drinking – If you tend to drink in certain social situations or around certain people, avoid these as much as possible.
- Place limits on how much you drink – Reduce the number of drinks you have. For example, switch from two drinks to one. Cutting back a little at a time can help you safely give up drinking altogether.
- Combine food and drinks – Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means it will affect you faster. In addition to preventing alcohol from being absorbed too quickly, you might also feel too full to keep drinking.
However, if you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, these tips may not be enough. In fact, trying to go cold turkey on your own can be dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and in some cases, life-threatening. That’s why professional treatment is often the best option for people who are struggling with alcohol use disorder.
What’s the Best Way to Stop Drinking?
The best way to stop drinking is to slowly taper your alcohol intake. Stopping all alcohol use abruptly puts you at risk of having severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal effects, such as delirium tremens. Gradually giving up alcohol gives your brain time to get used to this change. You still might experience withdrawal symptoms, but they’re more likely to be milder. For example, you might feel shaky or irritable and have headaches for a few days or more.
The most effective and safest way to stop drinking is by going through a professional alcohol detox program. This kind of program provides medical supervision to make sure that you stay safe while you go through withdrawal. After you’re done with a detox program, you can move on to a professional outpatient or inpatient alcohol rehab program to fully recover.
Alcohol Detox and Rehab Programs at Woodland Recovery Center Mississippi
If you’re interested in overcoming alcohol addiction as safely as possible, Woodland Recovery Center Mississippi offers detox and rehab programs. Our detox program offers a safe environment for you to get through alcohol withdrawal. Our alcohol rehab programs provide a secure and caring place for you to focus on recovery. We have different kinds of treatment programs and services available, including inpatient and outpatient options. Our services also include behavioral therapy, family support, art therapy, and more. Contact us today at 662.222.2989 for more information on how you can better manage your drinking.
