How much drinking is bad for you? Though more people are calling themselves sober-curious or are trying zero-proof replacements for alcohol, drinking is a regular part of social life for most of us. A coupe of champagne can add fun to a celebration. A cocktail can take the edge off a tough day. And a cold beer can […]
Teenagers who use cannabis, alcohol and nicotine are more likely to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and worse symptoms, than their peers who are not regularly using substances, new research has found. The research, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, found that such substances are linked to an array of symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and […]
In many ways, addiction is like any other chronic medical condition. It involves periods of remission and relapse, it can be fatal, and it is often manageable with the right support. Several unique barriers, however, make substance use disorders more difficult to treat. Some people cannot see that they have a problem. Others recognize the […]
Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of death from excessive drinking — and while it’s curable in the earliest stages, many people don’t realize they have it until it’s too late to reverse. Annual deaths caused by the disease are on the rise in the United States, having climbed 39 percent in recent years, […]
Dr. Hester has joined Psychwire’s panel of experts answering questions about moderate drinking, alcohol problems and more. Click here to learn more.
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No longer do you have to feel left out or uncool for being sober. You maybe don’t even have to completely stop drinking alcoholic beverages?
CheckUp & Choices is the leading provider of a clinically proven online program, created to help people who want to change their drinking or drug use. The non-profit organization Self-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) collaborated with CheckUp & Choices in a randomized clinical trial that proved people who participate in both the SMART Recovery meetings and the CheckUp & Choices program have a higher chance of success in recovery.
In fact, SMART Recovery now encourages their participants to use CheckUp & Choices’ evidence-based program to increase their odds of success. One of the best parts about using CheckUp & Choices is that you get to evaluate your drinking habits and reduce problems associated with them in a completely confidential and non-judgmental environment – all from your smartphone or computer.
If you’re considering joining the program to practice control or quit your use of alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, opioids, or any other substance, here are a few reasons why CheckUp & Choices can help you achieve your objective:
The digital tools and behavioral and cognitive strategies you’ll find inside the program reinforce the SMART Recovery principles of self-motivation to make it easier for you to overcome your issue. The program will equip you with mindfulness exercises and tracking tools to support each aspect of your efforts:
If you’re assessing your drinking for the very first time, we recommend starting with the 35-minute CheckUp. It is specifically designed to increase one’s internal motivation to change by giving them individualized feedback that are based on national norms for age and gender. Inside the CheckUp, you’ll have access to sections titled “Look At Your Drinking” and “Get Feedback” which may help you increase self-awareness. Then the “Consider Your Options” section may help you make an educated decision about changing the habit.
Here’s what you will learn from your CheckUp:
If you want to make serious changes in your life, the Abstain program provides mindfulness techniques and behavioral exercises through guided emails. You’ll receive the emails at your own pace (i.e., every day or every week). These tools and techniques will help you track your progress, set realistic goals, identify and manage triggers, and maintain motivation throughout the process.
The program has been scientifically proven to help address and reduce problems with alcohol consumption. In multiple studies funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), individuals who used CheckUp & Choices showed:
If you are not ready to attend the SMART Recovery meetings, the program resources can serve as a convenient first step toward real change. It can also complement your attendance in meetings.
