Staying Away From Alcohol: Tips To Avoid Drinking

 

"I will not drink tonight," is what you say when you are abstaining from alcohol and are faced with the prospect of going out for the evening. 

This prospect can raise fears and anxiety in those that are struggling with alcohol abuse or even a burgeoning alcohol dependence. While this situation is a difficult and serious one, there are some simple tricks and tips that can help you to get through the evening with minimal temptations towards imbibing in alcohol.

NOTE: These are suggestions to aid in the abstinence from alcohol in social situations. Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse issues should be discussed with medical professionals or substance abuse counselors.

Staying Sober In A Restaurant

This can be especially tricky for those that have become used-to drinking alongside meals, or drinking before meals for increased appetite. Those with strong dependencies toward alcohol will often have a suppressed appetite without using alcohol beforehand. In this case small appetizers and conversation are your best friend. Replace the looming thoughts of alcohol with the conversation at the table. Concentrate on the fact that you are enjoying this time right now... you do not need a drink.

Staying Sober In A Bar

While this situation is admittedly a bit more difficult than the bar setting, there are ways to avoid the hyper-present temptations of alcohol in a bar. Just like in the restaurant setting, social interaction is key to staying sober. First-off, grab yourself a carbonated water; fizzy water mimics the tingling sensation of alcohol on the lips, mouth, and throat. This is a simple but effective trick into fooling your mind into a bit of contentment. 

Lastly, do not be hesitant to walk out to the front of the bar, patio or smoking area if the temptations become very strong. "Getting a breath of fresh air" can help to reset your mind and give you a second wind on your will against using alcohol.

There are plenty of little tricks that you can use in any situation to avoid the pressures of alcohol abuse. Take the time to notice what triggers you in social situations and discover your own tricks to help you to battle against those triggers and successfully distract yourself.

The Dangers of Blackout Drinking

 

Blackout Drinking -- is categorized as binge drinking in-which the individual drinks so heavily in such a short period of time, that the brain cannot record new memories. Essentially, an individual that has reached "blackout" Blood Alcohol Contents (BACs), will not be able to retain memory of the events happening during the blackout period. This leaves a very dangerous window open for the individual in-which the individual is exposed to many risks and dangers. Here are some of the risks associated with blackout drinking.

Suppressed Breathing, Asphyxiation, and Death

One of the biggest dangers to those that are blackout drunk, is that when they eventually pass out (It will happen, a blackout drunk is unable to naturally enter a normal state of sleep), that they will pass out in a dangerous position, leaving them open to labored breathing, suppressed breathing functions, and even asphyxiation. We have all heard the stories of people falling asleep drunk or on drugs, and never waking up -- this is due to suppressed breathing and death during the night.

Public Blackout Drunkenness

Being blackout-drunk in public is dangerous enough, but there is much more danger hidden in this. Consider that when in blackout drunk, you do not have any control over yourself. In this moment -- in public -- you are opening yourself to the dangers of getting robbed, kidnapped, beaten, or even being hit by passing cars. Being in public can be a very dangerous thing, especially when you can barely stand and are highly intoxicated.

Alcoholism

Of course the one major risk associated with all types of binge drinking and alcohol abuse, is the increased risk of addiction and alcoholism. While full-on alcoholism typically takes much more than a few cases of binge and blackout drinking, these types of behaviors surely increase the risk of alcoholism, and can even speed up the onset of addiction.

Alcohol can be very dangerous when ingested in large amounts. If your drinking has become binge-drinking, or you are having increased periods of blackout drunks, it could be time to seek alcohol abuse treatment, before the problem continues to escalate.

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Opiates Are A Hard Substance To Kick

If you're trying to get off of opiates, then you probably know that it's hard to do. The reason for this is because of how bad the withdrawal symptoms can get. If you're someone that wants to get off of opiates, then check this information out.

When you first try to quit opiates, they're going to make you feel very sick because your body will be so used to them being there. This is why most people fail when it comes to getting off of this drug because they don't want to feel sick any longer. This is why it's sometimes a good idea to check into a detox facility to get the help with this that you need. You don't want to end up using again by trying to quit at home, and it's hard to get your fix in a place where you can't have visitors or anything of that nature.

Once you're off opiates, you may want to think about getting some kind of counseling. Generally, people use drugs and alcohol because of an underlying problem such as depression or anxiety. You may as well get some help with those things so you don't turn to drugs to get the help you need any longer. Make sure the counselor you see is good with people who are struggling with addiction. This way, you will know that they have had the training needed to help you take care of being addicted to opiates.

As you can tell, there are things you can do to get help when you're addicted to opiates. You just have to make an effort to put these tips into practice. In the end you'll be glad you did when you don't have to deal with addiction any longer.