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What Can I Replace Alcohol With At Night?

What Can I Replace Alcohol With At Night Resurgence Behavioral Health

How to Relax at Night Without Alcohol

Many people who have had a tough day at work look forward to drinking alcohol at the end of the day. Whether they opt to go out and have a drink or whether they drink a glass of wine in the comfort of their own home, drinking alcohol isn’t always something that is out of the ordinary or indicates alcohol abuse. However, when you begin to drink to access and you’re ready to limit alcohol intake and enhance your health and wellbeing, there are several steps that you can take to avoid drinking while still enjoying a night out. Here are some recommendations as to how you can relax without alcohol if you’ve stopped drinking: 

Go to the movies 

The movies provide a great way for you to unwind without any stress or pressure. You may opt to go to the movies with friends or family or on your own. Regardless of how you decide to go to the movies, you can spend a few hours fully engrossed in the latest Hollywood flick. Keep in mind that there are some movie theaters that do serve alcohol. What you may want to do is pick a theater that doesn’t so that you can avoid any temptation. 

Participate in an outdoor activity 

Going for a long walk or a run is an excellent way to distract yourself at the end of the day. Exercising in any way, shape, or form can produce endorphins which can naturally help you to feel better. Taking a walk during a warm summer night or enjoying a crisp and cool stroll as the weather starts to get colder is a wonderful way to spend your night and distract yourself from drinking. 

Skip the night out 

Remember, no one is forcing you to go out at night. Although the idea of a night out on the town may seem appealing, if it’s something that is going to put you in a bad position when it comes to your sobriety, it’s something that you should skip. Instead, you can order some delicious food, put on a great television show, and have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re not giving in to that temptation. 

Why Cut Back on Alcohol?

There are many people who decide to drink as a method of stress relief, similar to those weaning off Zoloft, who may be seeking relief from anxiety. There are other people who start drinking in social settings as a way to fit in. While drinking for stress relief can feel comforting at the moment, much like the initial relief felt by some when taking or weaning off Zoloft, the reality is that it can open the door to a black hole that one will continue to fall through. A functioning alcoholic, for example, may find stress in nearly every aspect of their life.

There are several reasons why one should look for alcohol alternatives and cut back on alcohol. First and foremost, you may recognize the early signs of alcohol issues and make the conscious decision to find alcohol substitutes. You may also find that drinking alcohol has taken a physical and psychological toll on your health, much like the struggle some experience while weaning off Zoloft, aiming to manage mental health more holistically. Balancing mental well-being is a delicate process, whether dealing with substance use or medication adjustments.

What to Drink Instead of Alcohol

There are several palatable options for things that you can drink instead of alcohol. Opting for a nonalcoholic drink not only quenches your thirst but also ensures you do not find yourself in a position susceptible to relapse. While some individuals might feel comfortable sipping nonalcoholic beer, others believe that indulging in such beverages could tempt fate, possibly triggering a return to excessive alcohol consumption. When planning outings, a prudent rule of thumb is to inquire about the venue in advance, allowing you to peruse the menu for nonalcoholic drink options and prepare accordingly. In this context, understanding what is transfer addiction becomes imperative. Transfer addiction involves substituting one addiction for another, such as replacing alcohol with another substance or behavior, which is vital to recognize and address to maintain a steadfast journey toward recovery. By being mindful of potential triggers and understanding the dynamics of transfer addiction, one can navigate social scenarios with confidence while remaining true to their recovery path.

Other Ways to Relax

There are several other ways that you can relax but you may have to get creative in your approach. A good recommendation is to take the time to make a list of things that you really love and enjoy. You may also want to take the time to explore new things that you’ve always been curious to try but haven’t taken the step. For example, you may want to try reading more on some nights. You may also want to take your weekends and visit different attractions that are in and around your area. Regardless of what you decide, this time in your life is a wonderful way to learn more about yourself so that you can stop being focused on alcohol and start being on healthier and more fulfilling decisions. 

Need More Support? Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Resurgence Behavioral Health

If you’ve made the decision that you’re ready to remove alcohol consumption from your life and you need additional help to do so, the team at Resurgence is here and ready to help you put together a plan to address your substance abuse. It’s important to remember that when you quit drinking and depending on the severity of your alcohol addiction, it’s possible that you may experience withdrawal symptoms. To ensure that you are well cared for during the time that you’re experiencing these withdrawal symptoms, it’s strongly recommended that you commit to an alcohol detox program. The reason for this is that alcohol detox will ensure that you have the help that you need as you experience these symptoms. On average, detox will last approximately seven days with the worst of your withdrawal symptoms manifesting within the first three days of your time in detox. After detox, you will be in a better place to be able to commit to an alcohol rehab program. 

Once you make it through your alcohol withdrawal program, the next important decision that you will need to make revolves around the substance abuse treatment program that you decide to commit to. If you need to work through an alcohol detox program, you may decide that you want to have the continued around-the-clock support from your addiction treatment team, then you are well suited for inpatient alcohol rehab. The reason for this is that this type of addiction treatment provides you with the environment that you need to truly focus on your own health and wellbeing in a protected and sober type of environment. During the time that you’re in inpatient addiction treatment, you will learn more about healthy alternative options that you have when it comes to your alcohol consumption. 

There are many other people who are ready to quit alcohol who cannot commit to an inpatient addiction treatment program. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to take advantage of alternative activities when it comes to your alcohol addiction recovery program. In cases like this, you would be an excellent candidate for outpatient addiction treatment. This form of outpatient treatment can help you to address your substance abuse while still seeing to these other important responsibilities in your life. 

It’s important to remember that during the course of your treatment program, you will participate in many different forms of addiction therapy so that you can overcome your addiction once and for all. There are several different types of therapy that can benefit you in your recovery journey such as: 

Group therapy 

Group therapy is one of the most important forms of addiction therapy that you will experience during the time that you’re in treatment. Group therapy gives you the chance to interact with other people that are working through their own form of addiction treatment. This type of interaction can help you to understand that you’re not alone when you’re going through certain things in your recovery. You will also have the chance to be able to develop your system of support as you begin to share and listen with others. 

Trauma-based therapy 

Did you know that the genesis of addiction is usually experiencing some form of trauma? Trauma can come in many different shapes and forms and have a profound impact on your life. During trauma-based therapy, you will be able to address these events in such a way that will not retraumatize you so that you can heal and recover from them. 

There are other forms of therapy that you will experience during the course of your time in treatment. Individual therapy, behavioral therapy, and family therapy are all forms of counseling that you will benefit from during the time that you’re in treatment. Your intake team will be able to provide you with the answers to any questions that you may have regarding counseling when you initially reach out. 

If you’re ready to stop binge drinking and address your alcohol use disorder, the treatment team at Resurgence is ready to hear from you. We not only help clients to put together a plan for alcohol rehab but we can also assist you in putting together a drug abuse treatment plan as well. For more information about our alcohol rehab programs for yourself or your loved ones, we encourage you to get in touch with us at (855) 458-0050

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David Rofofsky
David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.


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