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Taking a break from drinking can help to clarify and change your relationship with alcohol.

A sober month or more can improve your chances of moderating afterward.

Temporary abstinence is an informative and empowering strategy, not an endpoint.

Professional guidance and support can amplify and extend the clinical benefits of sobriety sampling.

Rethinking the Question of Abstinence

Most people who want to cut back on drinking assume the best strategy is to somehow force themselves to simply drink less. Surprisingly, research suggests that taking a temporary break from alcohol may actually improve the chances of long-term moderation. Rather than reflecting an all-or-nothing philosophy, a planned period of temporary abstinence can help reset habits, build confidence, and make later moderation more achievable.

Self-guided breaks from drinking can be beneficial. Professionally guided breaks supplemented by real-time support from an addiction psychologist or other specialist practitioner can further amplify and extend those benefits.

Taking alcohol off the table for several weeks or longer........

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