Does It Take More Than Willpower to Stop Drinking?

Question

How can I make my willpower stronger? I am trying to stop myself from drinking liquor every night. I do not have a drinking problem really since I am kept on my toes as the owner of my own contracting company with 16 people counting on my for paychecks but too often I feel like those late night drinks with the guys steal energy from me that I should be directing towards my wife and 2 kids. I have good intentions but I work a lot late nights and my business partner always has vodka on ice in his office and there is just always drinking going on around me I always say just one then and that always turns into just 7 or 8 before I manage to head back home.

Anna Deeds · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question. One of the main differences between someone who drinks socially and someone who has a drinking problem is the inability to cut back or stop when you want to. A social drinker can make the decision that they want to drink less and then follow through and do it. Alcoholics cannot do that and no amount of willpower will change that. Abstinence is the only thing that will give the body and brain a chance to heal.

While you may be able to manage a business, this does not mean you have not reached the point where only abstinence will let your body heal and return to normal functioning. You are right to believe 7 or 8 drinks are taking a lot of your energy. That much alcohol on a daily basis does a lot of damage to the body. The fact that you have been unable to cut back is a sign of alcoholism. I suggest you go for an assessment to determine how much your drinking is really impacting your life. Being around people who are drinking all the time will only make it more difficult for you to quit drinking. Seeing someone else drinking will trigger you to want to drink.

I hope you will consider an assessment for alcoholism. If you have other signs and symptoms of alcoholism, there are many treatment programs available that will help you quit drinking. I hope this answer helps.

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