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[Host] It's not always easy to think about getting help for your drinking.

But many people have done it ... in many different ways.

And you don't need to do it alone ...

There are all kinds of people and programs to help you meet your goals.

If you drink large amounts, you may need to start by getting help from a doctor or another health professional or an inpatient "detox" program.

This is called medical supervision, and it helps you safely stop drinking and uses medicine to help with any withdrawal symptoms.

For others, it's often best to stop drinking completely for a week or two and then review your goals and your options ...

which may include a combination of medicines, behavior therapy, and social support groups.

As far as medicines go ... certain kinds of medicines can help reduce cravings.

And other medicines can help with depression, anxiety, attention issues ...

or other problems that may get in the way of changing your drinking habits.

A doctor or counselor can help you know what kinds of medicines might be helpful for you.

Behavior therapy ... practiced on your own or with a group ...

can help you make a solid plan to quit or cut back on drinking.

It will help you take a look at the causes of your drinking, the messages you tell yourself about drinking, and what you might do instead of drinking.

Free social support groups, such as AA ... Alcoholics Anonymous ...

and SMART ... Self-Management and Recovery Training ...

can also help with these types of things ...

but they're usually designed for people who want to completely quit rather than cut back.

For some people, these types of social support groups are the key to staying motivated and connected to others ...

and a good meeting can mean the difference between feeling low and at risk of drinking ... and feeling strong and inspired not to drink.

These groups are not one-size-fits-all.

So try to keep an open mind and shop around to find the group or meeting that best fits you and what you believe.

If it's hard to imagine going to a meeting, it may help to know that you don't have to speak or share until you feel ready.

You can just watch and listen.

So ... maybe you've heard something that's got you feeling a bit more confident about treatment.

Can you think of a small step you could take ...

maybe a person you could call ... a meeting or program you could explore ...

or some other step that would bring you closer to your goals?