Alcoholism is one of the oldest and most debilitating diseases out there. But there’s still hope to overcome this condition.

While there may not technically be a cure for alcoholism because you could relapse at any time, there’s still a lot you can do to manage your condition.

With proper treatment, you can take your life back and enjoy sobriety again. In fact, many people have been able to abstain from alcohol for decades.

By reading this guide, you can take your first step into becoming one of the millions of people who have recovered from alcohol addiction.

Eat Right and Take Vitamins

Alcoholism has numerous physical effects on your body besides the ones you feel day to day. That’s why you need to make sure you eat right, exercise, and stay away from other drugs.

The right diet and exercise allow you to undo some of the damage that alcohol causes.

Using substances like caffeine, nicotine, or refined sugars can all make recovering much harder. Although you may have heard of caffeine being useful as an alcoholism cure, this is not the case.

Caffeine and substances like it trigger your body into releasing insulin, which does not help you manage cravings effectively.

Your best bet when fighting alcoholism is to eliminate any other addictions you might have and take the multivitamins you need.

Take your Mental Health Seriously

According to an article by BrainSpark Health, suddenly cutting alcohol out of your life can lead to mental health troubles like depression and anxiety.

The best way to counteract this is to make sure you don’t quit cold turkey. Also, be sure to talk to a doctor about treating your alcoholism and any other mental problems you struggle with.

Seeing a professional and getting help for your mental issues can make the recovery process a lot easier.

Could Medicine Be a Cure for Alcoholism?

If you feel your craving for alcohol is particularly strong, talk to your doctor about medicine for alcoholism.

One drug your doctor may prescribe is disulfiram. Although disulfiram is not a new treatment for alcoholism, it is still somewhat unheard of popular consciousness.

What disulfiram and medicines like it do are give you headaches, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and shortness of breath when you ingest alcohol even small amounts of alcohol.

The unpleasant side effects can also help reverse psychological dependence on alcohol.

Alcoholism Doesn’t Define You

Whatever treatment you choose, you can defeat your alcoholism. While there might not be a cure for alcoholism, treating alcoholism doesn’t have to be extreme or painful. What matters is that you get the help and support you need through the process.

It’s also important to know that your body is unique. Be sure to stay consistent with whatever treatment works well for you.

Don’t forget to talk to your family and friends about how you’re feeling. It’s good to have a strong support system.

For information about living a healthy life outside the confines of alcoholism, learn more here.