If you want to stop drinking you may be able to do so by yourself or you may need alcohol treatment.

If you’re dependent on alcohol and drinking heavily regularly, you should seek medical advice before stopping drinking as there can be unpleasant and dangerous side-effects. A GP or alcohol professional will be able to talk to you about possible alcohol treatment and how you can stop drinking safely.

If you’re not yet dependent on alcohol but are concerned that things are going that way, try these tips to take control of your drinking.

1. Slowly, slowly

It may be easier to change your habits gradually, rather than suddenly. Start off where you have one day per week on which you drink no alcohol at all. Once you have achieved this, up it to two days and so on until you’re happy that you’re in control of your drinking or you have stopped altogether. If you have addictive tendencies towards alcohol, it’s probably healthiest not to drink any alcohol at all.

2. Avoid temptation

Think about occasions and situations in which you’re likely to drink and avoid them, especially in the early stages. If you know you are likely to drink when you’re home alone on the weekends go out somewhere, plan to keep busy or invite a friend over and agree not to drink. If you feel that you can’t go to pubs and not drink, avoid them for now. Try other activities such as the cinema, a DVD at home or a night at a friend’s house. » Read more: Tips for Quitting Alcohol

For children of alcoholics, alcoholism can bring shame and confusion. It is not uncommon for the children of alcoholics to feel as though they are responsible for their parents’ drinking problem. Some children may even think that the reason why their parent is drinking is because of the issues that they may have contributed. Teens who believe they are part of the issue may move out of the house or work harder to address the problem. The alcoholic parent may aggravate this blame situation by saying things like “You drive me crazy,” or “I won’t take this anymore.” What any child needs to understand is that irrespective of what they believe about alcoholism, their parent’s alcoholism is not their fault regardless of what may suggest otherwise.

Not many people realize that alcoholism is a disease. More often than not, people assume that all an alcoholic has to do is to quit drinking. But this is usually much easier said than done. The world health organization (WHO), (ACP)the American College of Physicians and the (AMA) American Medical Association recognizes that alcoholism is a physiological disease. For the alcoholic, there is a physical craving to drink and, as the disease progresses, the body develops a physical dependency to it. Without professional assistance, an alcoholic will continue to drink and continue to become more addicted over time.

Alcoholism in the family causes considerable damage. Although each case is unique, alcoholism destroys familial relationships and creates an environment that is chaotic and unstable. Some alcoholic parents emotionally or physically abuse their children while others neglect their children by denying them counseling and nurturing. Most alcoholics behave impulsively. Children are often faced with trying to appease their parent’s moods. They may feel as though it’s their job to “parent” their parents. One minute they may be avoiding an argument and the next they may find themselves consoling a parent who promises that things will be okay. Even though each family is unique, children with an alcoholic parent often feel lonely, depressed, unloved and burdened by secrecy.

When dealing with alcoholism in the family, it’s important to get into action. Doing nothing will only further enable the alcoholic. Fleeing, hiding, or pretending that they really isn’t a problem is not a solution. » Read more: Children of Alcoholic Parents