There is no single advice on what to do to get a person to stop 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 sick.Many alcoholics are convinced that they can quit at any time and deny the existence of an addiction, but in reality they continue to drink.And it’s not even that people lack willpower.They simply cannot properly assess the damage they are doing to themselves, their health, and their relationships with others.
For these people, the admonitions of those close to them or the arguments of specialists are empty words.Even if they are persuaded to undergo treatment, everything will end, at best, in short-term abstinence from alcohol, and then the situation will return to its previous course.
Thus, the basis of successful treatment of alcoholism is the alcoholic's understanding of the problem and his strong desire to change his life.
Find the reason
It is much easier to fight addiction if you know the cause of its appearance.The analysis will help you understand which aspects you need to pay special attention to during the treatment process.There are several main factors that cause the development of alcoholism.It is the influence of the environment, numerous stresses, habits, hereditary predispositions.
Most often, a person, after reflection, can determine for himself the main factor that led to alcohol addiction.A psychotherapist can also help you.
How did it all start?
It will be helpful to recall how the addiction began.This will also help to properly structure the rest of the treatment.Maybe it all started with a few 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 the frequent family quarrels.
Little by little, the habit becomes more and more entrenched, and now alcohol is consumed more and more often, and on weekends the dose doubles.
State of affairs today
Most often, people 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 malfunction, family relationships deteriorate and problems begin at work.
Any one of these factors, or a combination of them, may play a dominant role in a person's decision to give up alcohol.The decisive factor may be the woman's filing for divorce, her 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 doesn't matter what exactly a person refuses.Stopping drinking wine is as difficult as stopping drinking vodka.
Quitting Drinking Is Not As Easy As It Seems
Despite what many coaches promise, there is no easy way to quit drinking on your own.Stopping drinking alcohol, especially after prolonged abuse, is always stressful for the body and the psyche.
If physical dependence has already formed, the person will first suffer from poor health.Thus, the body will need the usual dose of ethanol, which it has already managed to integrate into metabolic processes.
In addition, studies have proven that some time after a person stops drinking, he begins to experience mental disorders (increasing anxiety, irritation, sharp deterioration in mood).Such symptoms are one of the main reasons why many people relapse.The main thing is to be patient and respect the withdrawal deadline.
How to stop drinking correctly?
There are two main ways to stop drinking.The first, gentler, suggests gradually giving up alcohol.It consists in the fact that alcohol doses are gradually reduced until they become acceptable or reach zero.The advantages of the method include a low likelihood of withdrawal symptoms.But the huge downside is that the risk of failure is very high.
The second method involves a sudden and complete cessation of alcohol consumption.The advantage of the method can be considered its high efficiency due to the absence of relaxing factors in the permitted dose form.Disadvantages include a high likelihood 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.
Eliminate the causes of alcoholism
Having identified the factors that provoked the development of addiction, those who quit drinking should eliminate them in order to stop drinking alcohol as quickly as possible.If alcoholism is caused by constant stress and anxiety, you should try to find a solution to existing problems and reduce the risk of stressful situations to a minimum.
If the main reason for your drinking is the company of persistent friends, you should change your social circle.The usual evening pastime with a bottle on the sofa in front of the TV can be replaced by a walk or a workout.
Help from a narcologist, taking medications
One of the most effective ways to stop drinking alcohol is to take special medications.According to their principle of operation, they are divided into three groups:
- eliminate hangover symptoms;
- reduce alcohol cravings;
- causing an aversion to alcohol.
These tools are quite effective in helping to overcome addiction, especially in the early stages, but there are situations where coding is essential (especially if the disease is advanced).
Recently, in addition to medications, dietary supplements that reduce the desire for alcohol and help you quit drinking are gaining popularity.
Help from a psychotherapist
Those who wish to stop drinking without coding should consult a psychotherapist as soon as possible.Many techniques have been developed to rid a person of their addiction.Some are based on hypnotic influence, while others use the principle of emotional stress therapy.
But you should not hope that a single session with a specialist will guarantee 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 those who find themselves in a similar situation and are trying to get rid of their addiction will be very helpful.It's much easier to force yourself not to drink alcohol when you know you're not alone and you can always get support from people who understand you like no one else.
Such 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, hormones of happiness.For someone quitting drinking, physical activity will not only help improve their mood, but also help them get fit, improve their health, and tighten their muscles.
The main thing is to act step by step and not to overload an already weakened body.A good place to start is swimming, running, 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 alcohol and other bad habits on your own.Smoking, gambling, gluttony, all these addictions often accompany alcoholism.
Alcohol and nicotine addiction are particularly common.After drinking alcohol, it is difficult to do without smoking, and smoking arouses in many a habitual desire to drink.Therefore, to prevent a person from drinking, it is necessary to eliminate all provoking factors, including cigarettes.
Additional help with folk remedies
It is very difficult to quit 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:
- the sabot;
- lovage;
- mugwort;
- knapweed;
- thyme;
- St. John's wort.
Decoctions and infusions of these herbs cause an aversion to alcoholic beverages.Some of the listed plants have a fairly powerful effect, so they should be used with caution, following the indicated recipe and dosage.It is better not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor.
What are the benefits of quitting alcohol?
Recovery from alcoholism helps to restore lost health, normalize the functioning of internal organs and improve the condition of the nervous system.Additionally, a person who decides to quit alcohol reduces their stress level, improves their relationships with people and restores damaged social bonds.
Health
After a person completely stops drinking alcohol, some time passes until all toxic substances are completely removed from the body.Then the recovery process will begin, which will take a long time, but the first results will be visible quite quickly.
After stopping alcohol:
- immunity becomes stronger, a person suffers from diseases less often and more easily;
- the functioning of internal organs (liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys) is improved;
- the condition of blood vessels improves;
- brain functions are restored;
- the appearance improves (condition of the skin, hair, teeth, nails), the person appears younger and healthier.
Personal life
Quitting alcohol also has a hugely positive effect on your personal life.The opportunity presents itself:
- restoring family and friendships;
- gain serenity and self-confidence;
- engage in self-realization;
- find new goals in life.
Company
After giving up alcohol consumption, a person's social life also changes and they gradually reintegrate into society.This can be expressed as follows:
- the appearance of new knowledge;
- the possibility of obtaining a new job or a promising promotion;
- topics of communication with people not related to alcohol gradually appear;
- the person once again feels like a full and respected member of society.
How to refuse to drink in company?
Anyone who stops drinking sooner or later asks themselves the question of how to stop drinking in company.It's important to understand that your own health comes first and there's nothing weird or shameful about saying no when asked to drink.This should be done politely but confidently so that the nominator understands and accepts the answer.If someone continues to insist, despite the expressed refusal, you must exclude all communication with this person.
You can justify your decision and avoid unnecessary questions under the pretext of taking antibiotics, getting tested quickly or having to drive.
You need to learn to firmly refuse alcohol and over time such offers will come less and less often.In addition, vacations are most often spent in the company of relatives 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 to stop being an alcoholic;no one can do it for him.But this decision is the first, and perhaps most important, step on the path to recovery.All other difficulties can be overcome if you firmly pursue your goal.The main thing to remember is that there will definitely be a safe way to get rid of the addiction.