There is no single piece of advice on what to do to convince 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 the moment a person realizes that he is sick.Many alcoholics are confident that they can quit 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 fail to adequately assess the damage they cause to themselves, their health, and relationships with others.
For these people, admonitions from loved ones or arguments from specialists are empty words.Even if they are persuaded to undergo treatment, everything will end, at best, with short-term abstinence from alcohol, and then the situation will return to its previous course.
So the basis for effective 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 occurrence.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.This is the influence of the environment, numerous stresses, habit, 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 useful to remember how the addiction began.This will also help to properly structure the subsequent 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 perhaps alcohol helped you forget about frequent family arguments.
Gradually, the habit becomes more and more ingrained, and now alcohol is consumed more and more often, and on weekends the dose doubles.
Situation today
Most often, people understand that it's 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, and problems at work begin.
One of these factors or a combination of them can play a dominant role in a person's decision to give up alcohol.The decisive factor could 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.Quitting wine is as difficult as quitting vodka.
Quitting drinking is not as easy as it seems
Despite what many coaches promise, there is no easy way to stop drinking on your own.Stopping alcohol, especially after prolonged abuse, is always stressful for the body and psyche.
If physical dependence has already been formed, at first the person will suffer from poor health.Therefore, 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 (increasing anxiety, irritation, 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 get through the withdrawal period.
How to stop drinking correctly?
There are two main ways to stop drinking.The first, softer, suggests gradually abandoning alcohol.It consists in the fact that doses of alcohol are gradually reduced until they become acceptable or reach zero.The advantages of the method include a low probability of withdrawal symptoms.But the huge disadvantage is that the risk of failure is very high.
The second method involves abrupt 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 an authorized dose.The disadvantages include a high probability of developing withdrawal symptoms.The method is not recommended for people who have an alcohol binge.
It is strongly recommended to entrust the choice of technique to the narcologist, who will make a decision based on the patient's condition.
Eliminate the causes of alcoholism
Having identified the factors that caused the development of addiction, those who stop drinking must eliminate them 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 minimize the likelihood of stressful situations.
If the main reason for 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 with a walk or the gym.
Help from a narcologist, taking medications
One of the most effective ways to stop drinking alcohol is to take special medications.Based on their operating principle they are divided into three groups:
- eliminate hangover symptoms;
- reduce cravings for alcohol;
- causing aversion to alcohol.
These tools are quite effective in helping overcome addiction, especially in the early stages, but there are situations where coding is indispensable (particularly if the disease is in an advanced stage).
Recently, in addition to drugs, food supplements that reduce alcohol cravings and help you stop drinking are also 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 free a person from addiction.Some are based on hypnotic influence, while others use the principle of emotional stress therapy.
But you should not hope 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
Communication with those who are in a similar situation and are trying to free themselves from addiction will be very useful.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, the hormones of happiness.For a person who stops drinking, physical activity will help not only lift mood, but also get into shape, improve health and strengthen 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 abandon both alcohol and other bad habits on your own.Smoking, gambling, gluttony - all these addictions often accompany alcoholism.
Particularly widespread is alcohol and nicotine addiction.After drinking alcohol, it is difficult to do without smoking, and smoking gives rise to the habitual desire to drink in many.Therefore, to prevent a person from drinking, it is necessary to remove all provoking factors, including cigarettes.
Further help with folk 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 treating alcoholism:
- hoof;
- lovage;
- mugwort;
- centaury;
- thyme;
- St. John's Wort.
Decoctions and infusions of these herbs cause an aversion to alcoholic beverages.Some of the listed plants have a rather strong 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.Furthermore, a person who decides to give up alcohol reduces stress levels, improves relationships with people and restores damaged social connections.
Health
After a person stops drinking alcohol altogether, a certain period of time passes until all toxic substances are completely eliminated from the body.After that the recovery process will begin, which will take a long time, but the first results can be seen quite quickly.
After you stop drinking alcohol:
- immunity becomes stronger, a person suffers from diseases less often and more easily;
- the functioning of internal organs (liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys) improves;
- the condition of blood vessels improves;
- brain functions are restored;
- appearance improves (condition of skin, hair, teeth, nails), the person appears younger and healthier.
Personal life
Quitting 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-realization;
- find new goals in life.
Society
After stopping drinking alcohol, a person's social life also changes and he gradually returns to society.This can be expressed as follows:
- the appearance of new knowledge;
- the opportunity to get a promising new job or promotion;
- topics for communication with people that do not concern alcohol gradually appear;
- the person feels like a full and respected member of society again.
How to refuse to drink in company?
Anyone who stops drinking sooner or later faces the question of how to stop drinking in company.It's important to understand that your health comes first and there's nothing strange or shameful about saying no when asked to drink.This must be done in a polite but confident manner so that the proposer understands and accepts the response.If someone continues to insist, despite expressed refusal, you should exclude communication with such individuals.
You can justify your decision and avoid unnecessary questions under the pretext of taking antibiotics, undergoing rapid tests or the need to drive.
It is necessary to learn to firmly refuse alcohol, and over time such offers will come less and less often.In addition, very often holidays are spent in the company of relatives and friends, and these people usually know that a person stops drinking and will not offer him alcohol.
Conclusion
A person makes the decision to stop being an alcoholic on his own;no one can do it for him.But this decision is the first and, perhaps, the most important step on the road to recovery.All further difficulties can be overcome if you steadfastly pursue your goal.The main thing to remember is that there will definitely be a safe way to get rid of the addiction.