What is a good method to quit drinking without having to turn to groups like AA?
95383
Keep a journal. I know it sounds cheesy, but you'll start to really figure out why you want it. Why you need the break from reality. It's become a hobby, right? Finding a new one to replace the drinking helps, too. Golf, cooking, movies, coaching kids, anything. Something that you can find more rewarding. You know?
1053689
Don't drink don't abuse drugs and show children your happy without wine and beer at a party. If you drink in front of a child you show them how to use alcohol to feel good. It may seem way out there but its the truth.
140599
Tell him he's right, you can't drink that much and not vomit, it's part of self preservation, and otherwise you could risked passing out and vomiting in your sleep and dieing. \n\nAnd next time, don't drink too much.. eat a meal before drinking, know when you feel the buzz, and stop drinking for an hour, drink soda or better yet, anything without cabonation, since carbonation speeds up alcohol to the bloodlines.  An hour per drink is the rule for being and remaining sober, so slack up a while before needing to leave. And eat plenty of non salty foods/snacks, so you aren't retaining liquids.
1164169
well if you want to loose one habit, you have to replace it with another, so if you want to stop drinking alcohol drink something like cranberry or grapefruit, drink anything you want just make it something you like that's not alcohol,  whenever you want a drink, and around the times that you would have normally been drinking, its not going to be easy, but good luck and i hope this has helped, its really awesome that you want to change, but if the juice thing doesn't work i think the best idea would be the doc sry
1062117
Check the local phonebook for A.A. (Alcoholics Anonomus) to find a meeting place.  You can probably find what you are looking for there.\n\nGood luck.
537543
I was in a similar situation and stopped drinking last September.  These are the things I did that helped me:\n\n1. Get rid of all alcohol in your household.  Don't wait to drink it all; pour it all out!\n\n2.  Keep a routine.  I kept my routine of going to the store after work and buying beverages.  Instead of buying bottled beer, I bought bottled carbonated water.  When I got home I popped opened a water and drank.  I went thru a lot of water in the beginning.  I eventually moved on to Diet Caffiene-Free Pepsi (caffiene actually makes me so anxious that I used to drink just to calm my nerves).\n  \n3.  I had to envision myself coming home from work and not having a drink.  I started first thing in the morning.  I saw myself doing my new routine instead.  I also reminded myself of the benefits of not drinking (living longer, feeling better, not being embarassed, happier family, the money I would save).\n\n4.  In the beginning, I had to decline/stay away from social events where I could see myself saying yes to having a drink (friend's BBQ, trips to Las Vegas).  Having friends that drink really does not help and it is best to avoid them in social situaitons where you might be tempted.  Despite how far you come along, it is those social situations where you might be tempted the most.  \n\n5.  When you do run across someone in public that has been drinking, remember what they look like, how they smell, how stupid they act/look.  That is how you look to others when you are drinking.  \n\nI found the first three days hard, then it was the second week, then the forth and fifth.  After the sixth week, it was pretty easy.  My wife, who had an occasional drink one a week, stopped as well to help me out.  \n\nI feel a lot better and I do not worry about smelling like a brewery in the morning.  I can also do alot more in the evening as I don't have to worry about drinking and driving.  I actually sleep a lot better.  Which is ironic because that was the reason I started to begin with.  Like a lot of people, I used alcohol to control my anxieties and OCD.  Good luck.
981835
I don't know how to help you, but you should go to AlAnon, the group for people who are family members of alcoholics.
1100643
Depends on how bad your problem is, and your family genetics. Alcoholism runs through peoples genetics causing some people to be more prone to having a drinking problem. Sometimes the best thing to do is to find a therapist or some other outlet to help you out. I don't like A.A. though, they are too spiritual and in essence a money scam for a couple companies isnce they push books from one publishing company so much to people who don't have the mental will power to realize they don't need the books or the spirituality that ocmes with it, also A.A. becomes a factor to make people too co-dependant on the group. So I suggest seeing a regular therapist to increase your likelihood of not giving into temptation for drinks.
829604
I was so bad of an alcoholic that I was put on antabuse to prevent me from drinking. I haven't drank in 4 years. Yes, it is tough. Yes you will feel so thirsty that you feel parched. Yes, it will even be tougher than I am telling you. But all of the sudden, one day, you will get up and the sun will actually fell warm and look wonderful again. The smell of familiar things will make you want to cry again for the love of it not the pain. It does not sound silly. Your wine has been your friend and your comfort. But it has become your enemy now and you have to tell yourself that. Go to alcoholics anonymous and get a sponsor. Someone you can talk to. To relate with. That really helps. And guess what?? After a few years you can have a drink. Just know that when you do, you will drink until drunk and plan for it. I can drink now and control it instead of it controlling me. Because it was my best friend and your sickness knows you better than anyone. Call AA tonite.
1121674
Have you ever thought of self-hypnosis?  What you have done thus far is probably the hardest step thus far.  You have already recognized one of the most important things of all and you have come from such a mature standpoint on this that I would say your chances of quitting for good are already quite high.\n\nHypnosis is a way to take your conscious messages and put them into the part of your brain that really controls your behavior; your subconscious mind.\n\nHere is one way to do that.  After you finish reading this, close your eyes and imagine the following scenes.  You will imagine two screens.  The first one you will imagine will have a dark frame around it.  I want you to spend some time imagining a movie in this dark frame about the negative effects of alcohol; the reasons you want to quit; the personal prices you paid, and how it has interferred with your life, the bad feelings you get etc ... \n\nNow, the other screen, I want you to imagine is bright and illuminated and beautiful.  On this screen picture yourself healthy, well, successful, and having quit drinking permanently and all the benefits and positive feelings you have associated with being free of alcohol forever.  Imagine the people in your life being proud of you and what you are accomplishing as a result of being free of this problem.\n\nNow, you likely will need support ... however, why not your friends, your family ... some people who care about you.  If they don't know that you drank or had a problem, tell them about it and tell them that you want their support.  I don't recommend AA.  I have seen what these meetings are all about and they, in my opinion, reinforce the negative.  Anything that suggests you keep reminding yourself that you are an alcoholic or suggesting that you are "powerless?" this is a lie that many people choose to believe, but I recommend that when you repeat a suggestion to your brain, that it be one that you want, not one that you don't want.  I also have an issue with the fact that all these alcholics sit there remembering about all the shame and mistakes they made when they drank or even the good times they had.  I realize that for some people this works.  But the system very DISempowering.\n\nYou are much better off right now to take what you have already learned and apply this through self-hypnosis, reinforcing the positive, and creating your own support system.
654325
Use your right to practice religion.\n\nClaim that your religion forbids you to stay sober.\n\nthen raise a stink with the ACLU, NAACP, etc....
173135
You sound like a person who thrives on stress....one beer a night and you are ready to join AA?  Chill, relax, and enjoy that beer (and maybe even two).\n\nRemember alcoholics go to meetings, drinkers go to bars!  lol\n\nAND remember to laugh....what a stress reliever!
654706
Edith is right in a way. You can't change him, or lecture him  into changing. If you try to talk him into quitting he will just figure out a way to hide it from you so that you will get off his back. The more he lies about it the further he will drift from you. You are not in control of him, you are only in control of yourself. That means if his drinking is harming you tell him it isn't OK. If he doesn't quit let him know it is a deal breaker and leave. If he has to suffer ALL the consequences and problems that his drinking causes (including possibly losing you) he will see the problem with it much faster. This is the most powerful thing you can do to help him quit. Allow him to hurt himself so he sees the problem, not just hears it from you. You can only pray he sees the problem before he kills himself or someone else. The only thing you can change in this relationship is you. \nAnother option is to check out alanon. It is a group therapy type setting for the family and friends of alcoholics. I find it to be an incredible source of support. I have learned how to set boundaries and stand behind them with strength. I don't let people come in to my life and create wreckage anymore. I wish you strength sweet one!\n\ncheck out the alanon website. It is full of great information to help you and him. It can also help you find a group in your area if you wish.
726778
First of all...CONGRATULATIONS!  Every day you are sober is a day to be celebrated.  You should be very very proud!\n\nNow, as far as the urges go...no, they don't go away completely.  That's what sucks about this.  My only advice to you is to try and get to a meeting and get yourself a sponsor (if you haven't done this already).\n\nAnd, of course, no matter how tempting...even one drink could put you right back to square one.  It is your choice to drink or not to drink...but once you take that first drink...then the alcohol takes over and really bad things happen.\n\nOne day at a time, my friend.  One day at a time.\n\nAgain, congratulations!
710209
From my own experience, I say go and get a better life, as you only have 1 life to live. You try and try, until you spin your wheels.\n\nI was married to a guy for 13 years and we had 3 kids.  He drank every day, and our life was hell.  Life goes on, and now I have a wonderful husband, and we've been married for 15 years.  I bailed and it turned out good.   I went to counseling and Alanon befe I made my decision.  You may find someone wonderful.\n\nThe best thing you can do when dealing with an alcoholic spouse is to detach from the abuse of the alcoholic. You can do this if you truly love your spouse and want to help them to possible sobriety. The more you focus all your energies on the alcoholic, the less likely he is to get sober. This article focuses on how you can detach and remain healthy mentally.\n\nDon’t Make Alcoholism Your Problem\n\nIf you have never read any of the Al-anon material then you probably don’t know that you are making the disease of alcoholism YOUR problem. One of the sad facts of living with an alcoholic is we become just as mentally and emotionally sick as the alcoholic. This happens because every step of life we take, and every breath of air we breathe has some involvement with the alcoholic. Our emotions overtake our own mental health as we try and cope with the deterioration of the alcoholic in our life. What are we doing wrong? We are concentrating too much on the disease, instead of concentrating on our mental and emotional health. We may as well be tipping the bottle for them. Better yet, we may as well be drinking with them!\n\nDon’t Enable\n\nMost spouses of alcoholics don’t realize they are helping their spouse drink just by a few simple behaviors and actions. Several ways in which you may be enabling your spouse to drink is by buying them alcohol, drinking with them, calling the boss and or family members for him because he is too hung over or too drunk to do it himself. Lying to friends, boss, family and co-workers about him and his drinking problem. Taking them to the store, arguing with them, and behaving like a victim. You are not the victim of alcoholism until you make yourself BEcome the victim.\n\nGet Off The Pity Pot\n\nGet off of the pity pot and begin living for yourself, instead of living for the alcoholic. “Oh poor me, everyday I am suffering and I can’t take it anymore” attitude won’t get you anywhere. You need to take care of yourself and that cannot be done if you are focusing all of your attention on the alcoholic and what he is doing or what he isn’t doing. Start focusing on what you can do for yourself. Get out of the house, don’t hang around the alcoholic, and don’t let them abuse you with their words. If you care about the alcoholic in your life, this is what helps them more than anything else.\n\nDetach With Love\n\nYou are powerless to getting your loved one to stop drinking. The first step in being able to detach is by realizing that the shenanigans of the alcoholic is not your problem. Don’t try and fix their messes for them. Not only does this enable them to continue drinking, but also it justifies their drinking. Don’t have any interaction with the alcoholic while they are drinking; that includes, talking and arguing with them. Why fuss and fight with someone who has lost the ability to make any sense? Don’t become ensnared in the alcoholic trap with them. Stay out of the trap, so you can help them. Ninety-five percent of what an alcoholic says is manipulative and hogwash anyway. Don’t start believing in the lies of the disease. Separate yourself from the antics of the alcoholic.\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcoholism/DS00340\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/AN00920\nhttp://www.maricopa.gov/benefits/pdf/AA/Living_with_Alcoholic.pdf\nhttp://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?pid=152&catalogueContentID=420\nhttp://web4health.info/en/answers/add-living-with-an-alcoholic.htm\nhttp://www.dooyoo.co.uk/archive-lif
273159
tell them to stop drinking so much!
891614
Probably your best bet is Narcotics Anonymous.  You can go to five meetings a day for 28 days.