Nobody wants the party to stop once it gets going, yet some “parties” need to be cut short before devolving into disasters. One example of this is when you start drinking too much. Having a few drinks to relax is perfectly understandable, but if you don’t keep track of your drinking, it can easily become a problem in more ways than one.

If you find that this is easier said than done, then this article is what you need.

In this article, courtesy of Sunnyside, we’ll look into how our brains are affected by alcohol and how you can stop your drinking even after you’ve had a few.

Your Brain and the “Buzz”

After you’ve had a few drinks, your whole body will start to feel warm and fuzzy, almost like you are vibrating. Naturally, our brains love that feeling. Even when the buzz goes from a pleasant feeling to a drunken numbness, the brain still perceives it as pleasurable. However, when the brain becomes accustomed to the "buzz," it begins to expect it, and that’s how alcohol use disorders start.

Whether you want to follow a system to prevent you from getting drunk or set a quota for yourself, you’ll need to be mindful of your relationship with alcohol. People that struggle with alcohol consumption want the "buzz," but a lack of self-control can turn this desire into addiction. That’s why identifying and controlling this sensation is crucial when you begin controlled drinking. But the buzz isn’t permanent. Once it starts to fade, drinking more will only make things worse.

In order to control your drinking, you need to develop habits that allow you to stop drinking even (or especially) at the point where you experience the "buzz.". Plus, you will avoid feeling the need to keep drinking until you pass out.

Tips to Control Your Drinking

Closing the tap once it’s overflowing is possible, but it will require some effort. If you are interested in ways to help you drink less after you’ve already had a few, these tips are what you need:

Pay Attention to How you Feel

Regardless of how you decide to cut back on your alcohol consumption, you need to pay attention to what thoughts and feelings arise when you drink, which is one of the basic tenets of mindful drinking. Alcohol numbs, dulls, or blocks feelings entirely, and when you stop drinking or reduce your consumption, your feelings return, which can tempt you to drink again. A healthier way to deal with these feelings is to write your thoughts and feelings down in a journal or speak to friends, family, partners, or therapists about them or use the journaling tactic “HALT.”

There are four components that combine to make HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. People will experience these feelings when they reduce their alcohol or drug use, and in order to properly control our drinking, we must cope with those feelings. In other words, it reminds us to halt or stop and pay attention to our needs.

• Whenever you feel hungry, eat.
• Express your anger in a healthy way by venting, exercising, pounding a pillow, or telling someone.
• If you're lonely, surround yourself with friends or, if everyone you know is drinking, look for new ones.
• Sleep when you are tired.

People who want to control their drinking need to learn to take better care of themselves, even the basics like eating and sleeping.

Set Limits and Stick to them

For people who are attempting to moderate or control their drinking, a great principle is to choose an amount they will not exceed and stick with it. To maintain "low-risk drinking," the National Institute of Health recommends that men don’t drink more than four drinks per day (14 in a week) and women don’t have more than three per day (7 in a week).

One technique that helps people stay honest with themselves is to place four coins (or as many coins as you intend to drink) in their back pocket. Whenever you take a drink, move a coin to your other pocket. If you do this, you can ensure that you do not exceed the previously established limit when your coins run out. Counting drinks becomes more important if you plan to drink large amounts of alcohol. Alternatively, a mindful drinking app can help you keep track of your drinking.

Avoid hard alcohol or switch to nonalcoholic drinks

The carbonation in beer can fill you up, which, combined with a lower ethanol content, makes it take longer to get you drunk. You can also slow down when switching between alcoholic drinks and nonalcoholic drinks.

If you nurse your drink slowly or garnish it with a lemon or lime, people are less likely to offer you more drinks. In addition, you are more aware of your drinking habits when you are not drinking your usual amount or reducing your consumption, which goes a long way toward helping you control your drinking.

Additionally, avoiding hard alcohol or switching to mocktails can help avoid hangovers and their nasty effects.

Final Thoughts

That warm fuzzy feeling that comes from the buzz can be very appealing, but that’s where the problems start. If you focus too much on that buzz, you can spend the night chasing it in and only end up with a nasty hangover for your efforts. But controlling your drinks after you’ve started isn’t impossible. Consider switching up your alcohol for spirits with less ethanol or non-alcohol drinks.

You should also pay attention to how you feel while drinking and set limits for yourself that help you regain a bad habit. While it might seem like too much during the evening, you’ll be happy you did when you wake up the next day.