Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Learning how to stop drinking with Ed Philips

By Ed Philips

It happens every day to a lot of people. Well, then, why can't people stop drinking? The first reason is fear. They are afraid of what they are going to do without alcohol in their lives. Much like a smoker quitting cigarettes doesn't know what they're going to do without a cigarette in their hand. But, although a smoker is endangering their lives, a drinker alters the way their brain thinks, and does things, and acts in ways that are inappropriate and unacceptable. A cigarette doesn't do that to you. You don't leave your purse in a bar because you had a cigarette. Or a pack of cigarettes. A drinker can easily drive home on the wrong side of the road, sideswipe the garage door, and yell and scream for scrambled eggs and cheese! And then have to get up and go to work in the morning. So why not stop? Number one, it's usually an addiction, so it's not as easy as it sounds. Number two, without the proper guidance, it's very hard to do alone. Number three, who wants to not only have to quit doing something they love to do, but do it in front of strangers, as in a twelve step program?

It may be difficult for this patient to initiate a phone call to such a group at this stage. If the physician knows of a sympathetic, recovering (preferably female) alcoholic who would be willing to meet with the patient and offer her support, he or she might offer a suggestion such as, "I know someone with a similar situation and background as yours. Would you mind if I asked her to call you?" Although it is tempting to enlist others to encourage this patient to stop drinking, great care has to be taken not to disclose her medical problems without her consent, not only for medicolegal reasons, but also to retain her trust. Leaving a voice-mail message for her son at home, where she would be likely to hear it, could undermine these goals.

How can I stop drinking? There are many ways to help yourself stop drinking. You do not have to drink when other people drink. If someone gives you a drink, it is OK to say no. Stay away from people or places that make you drink. Do not keep alcohol at home. If you cannot stop drinking, GET HELP. You may have a disease called alcoholism. There are programs that can help you stop drinking. They are called alcohol treatment programs. Your doctor or nurse can find a program to help you. Even if you have been through a treatment program before, try it again. There are programs just for women.

Don't give him an excuse to drive drunk. Even though you have made it absolutely clear that there is to be no drinking and driving, you should let your teen know that you will pick him or her up with no questions asked wherever they are if they are drunk or the driver who took them somewhere is incapable of driving. Teens who are afraid their parents will "kill them" are more likely to take the risk of driving drunk or get in the car of an impaired person because they are afraid of getting in trouble. Be a good role model. Make certain that your driving habits don't conflict with any of the rules you have set for your teenage driver. Don't drive if you have had a few drinks and keep your temper in check in situations that could lead to road rage. Your teenager is paying as much attention to what you do as what you tell him to do.

Alcohol when taken in moderation is a nice way to relax or enjoy a social engagement, where when alcohol becomes a problem it can effect everyone who is close to the alcoholic. Some things that can tell a person they may be having a problem with alcohol are: - worry over not having alcohol or money to buy it - hiding alcohol so others do not know you have it - often wishing to be drunk or get drunk faster - unable to stop drinking once started - hearing others comment on your drinking Alcoholism should always be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has a drinking problem professional help is available in every community. Recognizing the problem is the first step to finding a solution.

If possible, STOP DRINKING. Not only will it help with your snoring, but it is also thought that drink anything more than, in "moderation", is detrimental to your health. At the very least stop drinking 4 - 6 hours before going to bed. This grace period will allow your body a chance to for the effects of the alcohol to wear off and reduce theeffects that it may have on your sleeping, helping you to sleep without snoring. Sedatives such as sleeping pills behave much in the same way as alcohol, and amplify the affect if you take them while drinking, causing your body to relax its muscles and inducing many of the same symptoms as alcohol.

Are you getting love-handles? If you're like many men, you have probably found yourself expanding in places you rather would not. Are you sitting stationary at work all day, then go home and drink some beer, eat some pizza and watch late night TV while letting your love handles get out of control. Don't feel bad, cause you're not the alone. obviously if you're seeing your mid-section expanding it's probably time to get up and start strengthening your abs. Some simple things you can do to lose those love handles forever are: stop drinking so much beer! OK, all kidding aside, you may want to control your eating habits, introduce some basic resistance and aerobic training along with ab exercises. And since we are talking about beer, you may want to reduce your beer (alcohol) intake. - 14915

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