5 Ways not to return to drinking alcohol & bull; hello healthy

Once you've stopped drinking alcohol, there will be times when you may come back with the temptation to drink alcohol again. It could be that the temptation to drink alcohol comes from your friends, it could be from a place you eat that happens to be having alcohol, or it could come from yourself.

In order not to return to drinking alcohol, in addition to rehab and consulting a doctor, you must have a commitment in yourself to completely quit and will no longer be tempted to drink alcohol.

There are several ways you can do so that you do not return to drinking alcohol, as in a report published by the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Rethinking Drinking, that is:

1. Make a plan for self-control

Even if you decide to stop drinking alcohol, social pressure from friends to keep drinking can make it difficult for you to stop drinking or actually quit. So you still have to be in control, know how to approach to prevent these offers. If you already know how to deal with offers to drink alcohol, you will stay in control and will know how to deal with the pressure to drink alcohol later in life.

2. Know the two types of temptations to drink alcohol

You must know and be aware of the two types of temptations to drink alcohol, to be precise in direct and indirect social pressure.

• Direct social pressure is when someone offers you an alcoholic drink or the opportunity to drink alcohol.
• Indirect social pressure is when you feel tempted to drink alcohol just because you are with your friends drinking alcohol, even if no one has offered to drink alcohol.

3. Avoid the temptation to drink alcohol whenever possible

For some situations, your best strategy may be to avoid temptation altogether. If you feel guilty about avoiding or canceling your friends' appointments (where there is a strong temptation to drink alcohol), you can change your hangout location to a place that doesn't sell alcohol. You can still build your friendships by engaging in other activities that don't involve or present alcohol.

4. Deal with situations that you can't avoid

When you know you're going to drink alcohol at an event or hang out with friends, it's important to have a coping strategy for the situation. If you are offered alcohol, you can immediately say "No thanks". Apart from answering clearly and firmly, you also need to maintain a friendly and respectful attitude. Avoid lengthy explanations and convoluted reasons. You need to remember:

• Do not hesitate.
• Look directly at the person offering alcohol and make eye contact for confirmation.
• Keep your answers short, clear, and simple.

If you are confused about what to say to friends or other people who offer you to drink alcohol, as quoted from the report University of Illinois SpringfieldHere are a few sentences you can say to them if you don't drink alcohol anymore:

• "No, thank you!" (no explanation needed, your response can be brief, subtle, and direct)
• "It is enough." (same as above, brief, to the point and totally acceptable)
• "Thank you, but I have a lot to do, here"
• "I'll just drink soda, thank you."
• "I'm allergic to alcohol."
• "I'm driving tonight."
• "I have a match / exam / meeting tomorrow morning"
• "My drink is still there" (while holding a non-alcoholic drink)
• "No thanks, I'm taking medicine. So you can't drink alcohol. "
• "Again on a diet, alcohol has lots of calories."

5. Remember, this is your choice

Everyone who decides to quit drinking alcohol usually thinks, "I can't drink alcohol anymore." This kind of thinking can keep someone "clean" from alcohol and this is important as a challenge for yourself. Your life, yes you are in control, including in matters of quitting and avoiding drinking alcohol, as well as changing your life to live a better and healthier life. Remember, it's your choice and it's your life, your decisions must be respected.