Last Updated on July 20, 2018 by Keisha Mclean-Green

Alcohol addiction is a challenge. It is a struggle that not only affects those suffering from the addiction, but the loved ones surrounding them. Remember, a dependency to alcohol does not make you a bad person, as we all face obstacles in life. With this in mind, here are five ways you can actively beat alcohol addiction, according to specialists at the addiction recovery facility in Florida:

1. Identify Your Drinking Addiction

Denial is the most difficult stage to overcome. It is important to be honest and admit to shortcomings. We all have them, and alcoholism is a shortcoming. But it’s okay to be open about addiction. It’s a big part of our growth as human beings.

It is also important to recognize that addiction doesn’t stop by simply admitting the issue; it takes hard work to overcome the temptation, the excuses, and the dragging of feet.

2. Have a Plan

Any success story has a plan backing it, and alcohol addiction is no exception. Helpguide.org outlines some strategies to formulating a plan, including setting specific, clear, and realistic goals to stop drinking, documenting drinking habits through journaling, drinking alcoholic beverages slowly, setting a weekly “drink-free day,” and so on. Ultimately your goal is never to drink again, so practice proclaiming your abstinence out loud. It will help put you on the right path to recovery.

3. The Power of “No”

It’s so easy to say yes to things we want that we can easily lose sight of the power of no. Do not succumb to peer pressure. Any time a drink is offered, respectfully decline. Think of it as a way to practice pushing the substance away.

Your brain is in the habit of getting what it wants, so it is up to you to re-train it. Cravings will rear their ugly heads, and when that happens it will be important to tell yourself something along the lines of “I don’t drink,” just to reinforce your seriousness, commitment, and strength. It will be hard at first, but over time those feelings will ease, and you will no longer crave alcoholic beverages like you used to.

4. Be On the Lookout for Cravings and Triggers

For the first six months of your commitment to sobriety, cravings will be at their highest. You must not let cravings deter you. Instead, avoid the things that trigger your desire for alcohol. You may have to evade the friends who used to drink with you, and engage in activities to distract from cravings, such as exercise, listening to music, cleaning, or crafting.

Recognize the urge, identify it, and accept it. Instead of fighting what naturally arises within, allow it to be there, but don’t let it take control.

5. Keep a Strong Support Team

You are never alone. You have loved ones who are here to help you, and this is a process you cannot be expected to go through by yourself. Your friends and family, sober communities, and support groups are all there to encourage, comfort, and guide you. Through the help of others, you can break free from your addictive habits and start a new life as an alcohol-free individual.