There is no advice on what a person should do to stop drinking.Each organism and each situation is unique, which means that the solution in each specific situation will be unique.
Awareness of the problem of the need to give up alcohol
The fight against alcohol addiction begins from the moment a person realizes that he is sick.Many alcoholics are convinced that they can give up at any time and deny the existence of addiction, but in fact they continue to drink.And not even the lack of will of the people.They simply cannot adequately assess the damage they are doing to themselves, their health, and their relationships with others.
For such people, the advice of loved ones or the arguments of experts are empty words.Even if they do get them into treatment, at best it's a short-term abstinence and then things go back to normal.
Thus, the basis of successful treatment of alcoholism is the alcoholic's understanding of the problem and a strong desire to change his life.
Find the reason
If you know the cause of the addiction, it is easier to fight it.The analysis will help you understand which aspects you should pay special attention to in the treatment process.There are several main factors that lead to the development of alcoholism.This is the effect of the environment, numerous stresses, habit, hereditary tendency.
Often, a person, thinking, can determine the main factor that causes alcohol addiction.A psychotherapist can also help with this.
How did it all begin?
It will be helpful to remember how the addiction started.This will also help in the proper setting of subsequent therapy.Maybe it all started with a couple of bottles of beer in the evening to relax after a hard day's work.Or colleagues at a new job celebrate all the holidays listed in the calendar.Or alcohol often helped to forget family quarrels.
Gradually, the habit takes root more and more, and now alcohol is used more and more often, and the dose doubles on weekends.
Today's situation
Often people realize that it is time to stop drinking when the addiction is strong enough.A person drinks almost every day, the amount of alcohol increases, the body begins to work slowly, family relationships deteriorate, problems begin at work.
One or a combination of these factors may play a key role in a person's decision to give up alcohol.The decisive factor may be the wife's application for divorce, dismissal or a sharp deterioration in her health.
It is not easy to make such a decision, but it is more difficult to start moving in the right direction.Moreover, it does not really matter what exactly a person gives up.Stopping wine is as difficult as stopping vodka.
Giving up alcohol is not as easy as it seems
Despite what many coaches promise, there is no easy way to stop drinking on your own.Alcohol withdrawal is always stressful for the body and psyche, especially after long-term abuse.
If physical dependence has already been formed, then the person's health will suffer first.Thus, the body will require the usual dose of ethanol, which it can already integrate into metabolic processes.
In addition, studies have proven that a person begins to experience mental disorders (increased anxiety, irritability, sharp deterioration of mood) after some time after stopping drinking.Symptoms like these are one of the main reasons many people relapse.The main thing is to be patient and go through the withdrawal period.
How to stop drinking correctly?
There are two main ways to stop drinking.The first, as milder, suggests gradually giving up alcohol.It consists in gradually reducing the doses of alcohol until they become acceptable or reach zero.The advantages of the method include the low probability of withdrawal symptoms.But the big drawback is that the risk of failure is very high.
The second method involves a sharp and complete cessation of alcohol.The advantage of the method can be considered its high efficiency due to the absence of relaxing factors in the form of a permissible dose.Disadvantages include a high likelihood of developing withdrawal symptoms.The method is not recommended for people who drink alcohol.
It is recommended to entrust the choice of technique to a narcologist who will decide based on the patient's condition.
Eliminating the causes of alcoholism
After identifying the factors that lead to the development of addiction, those who give up alcohol should eliminate them in order to give up alcohol as soon as possible.If alcoholism is caused by constant stress and anxiety, you should try to find solutions to existing problems and minimize the possibility of stressful situations.
If the main reason for drinking is the company of constant friends, you need to change your social circle.The usual evening entertainment with a bottle on the sofa in front of the TV can be replaced by going for a walk or going to the gym.
Help from a narcologist, taking medicine
One of the most effective ways to stop drinking alcohol is to take special drugs.According to the principle of action, they are divided into three groups:
- elimination of hangover symptoms;
- reduce alcohol cravings;
- causes aversion to alcohol.
These tools are quite good at helping to overcome addiction, especially in the early stages, but there are situations where coding is indispensable (especially if the disease is advanced).
Recently, in addition to drugs, dietary supplements that reduce the desire for alcohol and help to give up drinking are also gaining popularity.
Help from a psychotherapist
Those who want to quit drinking without coding should quickly consult a psychotherapist.Many methods have been developed to save a person from addiction.Some are based on the hypnotic effect, while others use the principle of emotional stress therapy.
But you should not hope that one session with a specialist will guarantee a cure.Most likely, you will need a fairly long course and, of course, the desire and active work of the patient himself.
Group therapy
Communication with others who are in a similar situation and trying to get rid of addiction will be very helpful.It is easier to force yourself not to drink alcohol when you know that you are not alone and that you can always get support from people who understand you like no other.
Such communication can be found in Alcoholics Anonymous clubs or on special sites on the Internet.There, people exchange useful techniques, ideas, share their achievements and mistakes.
Physical activity
Physical activity promotes the production of endorphins, hormones of happiness.For a person who has given up alcohol, physical activity will help not only to lift the mood, but also to get in shape, improve health and tighten muscles.
The main thing is to move step by step and not overload an already weakened body.A good place to start is swimming, jogging, rollerblading, skating or cycling.You can go to the gym or do yoga.
Healthy lifestyle
The best way to start a new life is to give up both alcohol and other bad habits on your own.Smoking, gambling, gluttony - all these addictions are often accompanied by alcoholism.
Alcohol and nicotine addiction are especially common.It's hard to quit smoking after drinking alcohol, and smoking is a common craving for many.Therefore, in order to prevent a person from drinking, it is necessary to eliminate all provoking factors, including smoking.
Additional help with folk remedies
It is very difficult to quit drinking forever using only folk methods, but they will be an excellent addition to other methods of getting rid of addiction.
The following herbs are considered the most effective in the treatment of alcoholism:
- marigold;
- love;
- sage;
- centenary;
- thyme;
- St. John's wort.
Decoctions and infusions of these herbs create an aversion to alcohol.Some of the listed plants have a very strong effect, so they should be used with caution, following the prescribed recipe and dosage.It is better not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor.
What are the benefits of giving up alcohol?
Recovery from alcoholism helps restore lost health, normalize the work of internal organs and improve the condition of the nervous system.In addition, a person who decides to give up alcohol reduces the level of stress, improves relationships with people and restores broken social relationships.
Health
After a person completely stops drinking alcohol, a certain period of time passes until all toxic substances are completely removed from the body.Then, the recovery process will begin, which will take quite a long time, but the first results can be seen quite quickly.
After giving up alcohol:
- immunity is strengthened, a person suffers less and easier from diseases;
- the activity of internal organs (liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys) improves;
- the condition of blood vessels improves;
- brain functions are restored;
- the appearance improves (condition of the skin, hair, teeth, nails), the person looks younger and healthier.
Personal life
Abstinence from alcohol also has an extremely positive effect on your personal life.The opportunity appears:
- restore family and friendship relationships;
- gain peace and self-confidence;
- engage in self-actualization;
- find new goals in life.
Society
After giving up alcohol, a person's social life also changes and gradually returns to society.This can be expressed as:
- appearance of new acquaintances;
- the opportunity to get a new promising job or promotion;
- topics for communication with people not related to alcohol gradually emerge;
- a person feels like a full-fledged, respected member of society again.
How to refuse to drink in the company?
Sooner or later, everyone who gives up drinking faces the question of how to stop drinking in the company.It's important to understand that your own health comes first, and there's nothing weird or embarrassing about saying no when you want to drink.This should be done politely but confidently so that the offeree understands and accepts the answer.If someone continues to insist despite the voiced refusal, you should exclude communication with such people.
You can motivate your decision and avoid unnecessary questions with the excuse of needing to take antibiotics, get a quick check-up or drive a car.
It is necessary to learn to categorically refuse alcohol, and over time such offers will come less and less.Moreover, in most cases, holidays are held in the company of relatives and friends, and these people usually know that a person is quitting drinking and will not offer him alcohol.
The result
A person decides to stop being an alcoholic;no one can do it for him.But this decision is the first and perhaps the most important step on the road to recovery.If you stick to your goal, you can overcome all other challenges.The main thing to remember is that there will definitely be a surefire way to get rid of addiction.