There is no single advice on what to do to stop a person from drinking.Each organism and each situation is unique, which means that the solution in each specific case 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 ill.Many alcoholics are confident that they can stop drinking at any time and deny the existence of addiction, but in reality they continue to drink.And it's not even that people lack willpower.They simply cannot adequately assess the damage they are causing to themselves, their health, and their relationships with others.
For these people, the warnings of loved ones or the arguments of specialists are empty words.Even if they are convinced to undergo treatment, everything will end, at best, in a short abstinence from alcohol, and then the situation will return to its previous course.
So the basis for successful alcoholism treatment is the alcoholic's understanding of the problem and his strong desire to change his life.
find the reason
It is much easier to combat addiction if you know the cause of its appearance.The analysis will help you understand what aspects you should pay special attention to during the treatment process.There are several main factors that provoke the development of alcoholism.This is the influence of the environment, numerous stresses, habits, hereditary predisposition.
Very often, a person, upon reflection, can determine for himself the main factor that led to alcohol addiction.A psychotherapist can also help with this.
How did it all start?
It will be helpful to remember how the addiction began.This will also help to appropriately structure further therapy.Maybe it all started with a couple of bottles of beer in the evening to relax after a hard day at work.Or colleagues at a new job celebrate all the holidays marked on the calendar.Or maybe alcohol helped to forget about frequent family quarrels.
Little by little, the habit becomes more and more ingrained, and now alcohol is consumed more and more frequently and on weekends the dose is doubled.
State of things today
Very often, people come to understand that it is time to stop drinking when the addiction is already quite strong.A person drinks almost every day, the amount of alcohol increases, the body gradually begins to function poorly, family relationships deteriorate, problems at work begin.
One of these factors or a combination of them may play a dominant role in a person's decision to quit alcohol.The decisive factor may be the wife's request for divorce, dismissal or a sharp deterioration in her health.
It is not easy to make such a decision, but it is even more difficult to start acting in the right direction.Moreover, it practically does not matter what exactly a person refuses.Stopping drinking wine is as difficult as stopping drinking vodka.
Stopping drinking is not as easy as it seems
Despite what many trainers promise, there is no easy way to stop drinking on your own.Giving up alcohol, especially after prolonged abuse, is always stressful on the body and psyche.
If physical dependence has already been formed, the person will suffer from poor health at first.Thus, the body will need the usual dose of ethanol, which it has already managed to integrate into metabolic processes.
In addition, studies have shown that some time after a person stops drinking, he begins to experience mental disorders (increased anxiety, irritation, a sharp deterioration in mood).Symptoms like these are one of the main reasons why 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, gentler, suggests gradually giving up alcohol.It consists of the doses of alcohol being gradually reduced until they become acceptable or reach zero.The advantages of the method include a low probability of withdrawal symptoms.But the big disadvantage 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 effectiveness due to the absence of relaxing factors in the form of authorized doses.The disadvantages include a high probability of developing withdrawal symptoms.The method is not recommended for people who drink excessively.
It is strongly recommended to entrust the choice of technique to a narcologist, who will make a decision based on the patient's condition.
Eliminating the causes of alcoholism.
Once the factors that caused the development of addiction have been identified, those who stop drinking must eliminate them in order to stop drinking alcohol as quickly as possible.If alcoholism is caused by constant stress and anxiety, it is worth trying to find a solution to the existing problems and reducing the likelihood of stressful situations to a minimum.
If the main reason for drinking is the company of persistent friends, it is advisable to change your social circle.The usual evening pastime with a bottle on the couch in front of the TV can be replaced by a walk or a visit to the gym.
Help from a narcologist, taking medications.
One of the most effective ways to stop drinking alcohol is to take special medications.According to their operating principle, they are divided into three groups:
- eliminate hangover symptoms;
- reduce alcohol cravings;
- causing aversion to alcohol.
These tools are quite good at helping to overcome addiction, especially in the early stages, but there are situations in which coding is indispensable (particularly if the disease is advanced).
Recently, in addition to medications, dietary supplements that reduce the desire to drink alcohol and help quit drinking are gaining popularity.
Help from a psychotherapist.
Those who want to stop drinking without coding should consult a psychotherapist as soon as possible.Many techniques have been developed to rid a person of addiction.Some are based on hypnotic influence, while others use the principle of emotional stress therapy.
But one should not expect that a 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
It will be very useful to communicate with those who are in a similar situation and are trying to get rid of addiction.It is much 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 one else.
This type of communication can be found in Alcoholics Anonymous clubs or on special websites on the Internet.There people exchange useful techniques, opinions, share their achievements and mistakes.
physical activity
Physical activity promotes the production of endorphins, the hormones of happiness.For a person who stops drinking, physical activity will help not only improve their mood, but also get fit, improve their health and tone their muscles.
The main thing is to act step by step and not overload an already weakened organism.A good place to start is swimming, running, skating, rollerblading, or cycling.You can go to the gym or do yoga.
healthy lifestyle
The best way to start a new life is to quit both alcohol and other bad habits on your own.Smoking, gambling, gluttony - all these addictions often accompany alcoholism.
Addiction to alcohol and nicotine is especially common.After drinking alcohol, it is difficult to do without smoking, and smoking creates a habitual desire to drink in many.Therefore, to prevent a person from drinking, it is necessary to eliminate all provoking factors, including cigarettes.
Additional help with home remedies.
It is very difficult to stop drinking forever using only folk remedies, but they will be an excellent addition to other methods of getting rid of addiction.
The following herbs are recognized as the most effective in the treatment of alcoholism:
- hoof;
- celery;
- sagebrush;
- centaur;
- thyme;
- St. John's wort.
Decoctions and infusions of these herbs cause aversion to alcoholic beverages.Some of the listed plants have a fairly strong effect, so they should be used with caution, following the indicated recipe and dosage.It is best not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor.
What are the benefits of giving up alcohol?
Recovery from alcoholism helps to restore lost health, normalize the functioning of internal organs and improve the state of the nervous system.Furthermore, a person who decides to give up alcohol reduces stress levels, improves relationships with people and reestablishes damaged social connections.
Health
After a person completely stops drinking alcohol, a certain time passes until all toxic substances are completely removed from the body.The recovery process will then begin, which will take a long time, but the first results can be seen quite quickly.
After quitting alcohol:
- immunity becomes stronger, a person suffers from diseases less often and more easily;
- improves the functioning of internal organs (liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys);
- improves the condition of blood vessels;
- brain functions are restored;
- The appearance improves (the condition of the skin, hair, teeth, nails), the person looks younger and healthier.
personal life
Giving up alcohol also has an extremely positive effect on your personal life.The opportunity appears:
- restore family and friendships;
- gain peace of mind and self-confidence;
- engage in self-actualization;
- find new goals in life.
society
After quitting alcohol consumption, a person's social life also changes and he slowly returns to society.This can be expressed as follows:
- the appearance of new acquaintances;
- the opportunity to get a promising new job or promotion;
- Little by little, themes of communication with people that are not related to alcohol appear;
- the person once again feels like a full and respected member of society.
How to refuse to drink in company?
Everyone who stops drinking, sooner or later, faces the question of how to stop drinking in company.It is important to understand that your own health comes first and that there is nothing strange or embarrassing about saying no when asked to drink.This should be done politely but confidently so that the proposer understands and accepts the answer.If someone continues to insist, despite the expressed refusal, communication with said people must be excluded.
You will be able to motivate your decision and avoid unnecessary questions under the pretext of taking antibiotics, getting tests done quickly, or the need to drive.
It is necessary to learn to firmly refuse alcohol, and over time such offers will become less and less frequent.In addition, most often holidays are spent in the company of family and friends, and these people usually know that a person is quitting drinking and will not offer him alcohol.
Conclusion
A person makes the decision alone 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 path to healing.All other difficulties can be overcome if the goal is firmly pursued.The main thing to remember is that there will definitely be a sure way to get rid of the addiction.