Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffCoping with alcohol abuse or dependence usually requires that you change your habits and make different lifestyle choices.
- Consider your social situation. Make it clear to your friends and family that you are not drinking. You may need to distance yourself from friends and social situations that impair your recovery.
- Develop healthy habits. For example, good sleep, regular exercise and eating well all can make it easier for you to recover from alcoholism.
- Do things that don't involve alcohol. You may find that many of your activities involve drinking. Replace them with hobbies or pastimes that are not centered around alcohol.
References
- Gold MS, et al. Screening for and diagnosis of alcohol problems. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Kelly JF, et al. Alcohol-related disorders. In: Stern TA, et al: Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier. 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192040318-6/0/1657/241.html?tocnode=57542852&fromURL=241.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- FAQs about alcohol. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- FAQ for the general public. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/General-English/default.htm. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 31, 2010.
- Helping patients who drink too much: A clinician's guide. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/guide.pdf.
- Alcohol dependence. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Common questions about diet and cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_2X_Common_Questions_About_Diet_and_Cancer.asp. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Gold MS, et al. Psychosocial treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Warne D. Alcoholism and substance abuse. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elseveier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192038080-3/0/1494/129.html?tocnode=54115695&fromURL=129.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Make a difference: Talk to your child about alcohol. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/MakeADiff_HTML/makediff.htm. Accessed March 29, 2010.

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