There is no single piece of advice on what to do to get someone to stop drinking.Each organism and each situation are 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 alcoholism begins the moment a person realizes they are sick.Many alcoholics are sure they can stop at any time and deny the existence of their addiction, but in fact they continue drinking.And it's not even that people don't have willpower.They simply cannot adequately assess the harm they cause to themselves, their health and their relationships with others.
For these people, warnings from loved ones or arguments from experts are empty words.Even if they are persuaded to undergo treatment, everything will end, at best, with a brief abstinence from alcohol, and then the situation will return to its previous course.
Therefore, the basis for successful treatment of alcoholism is the alcoholic's understanding of the problem and his strong desire to change his life.
Finding 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, habits, hereditary predisposition.
Most often, a person, after 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 started.This will also help to properly structure further therapy.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 about frequent family quarrels.
Little by little, the habit becomes more and more entrenched, and now alcohol is consumed more and more frequently, and on weekends the dose doubles.
Situation today
Most of the time, people come to the conclusion 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 at work begin.
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 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.
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.Giving up 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 health problems.Therefore, the body will need the usual dose of ethanol, which it has already managed to integrate into metabolic processes.
Furthermore, studies have shown that some time after a person stops drinking, they begin to experience mental disorders (increasing anxiety, irritation, sharp deterioration in mood).Symptoms like these are one of the main reasons many people relapse.The main thing is to be patient and go through the abstinence period.
How to stop drinking correctly?
There are two main ways to stop drinking.The first, as it is milder, 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 probability of withdrawal symptoms.But the big disadvantage is that the risk of failure is very high.
The second method involves an 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 authorized dose form.Disadvantages include a high probability of developing withdrawal symptoms.The method is not recommended for people who drink too much.
It is highly recommended that the choice of technique be entrusted to a narcologist, who will make the decision based on the patient's condition.
Eliminating the causes of alcoholism
Once the factors that caused the development of addiction have been identified, anyone who stops 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 reduce the likelihood of stressful situations to a minimum.
If your 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 a trip to 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:
- eliminating hangover symptoms;
- reducing cravings for alcohol;
- causing aversion to alcohol.
These tools are very good for helping to overcome addiction, especially in the early stages, but there are situations in which coding is indispensable (in particular, if the disease is advanced).
Recently, in addition to medications, dietary supplements that reduce cravings for alcohol and help stop drinking are gaining popularity.
Help from a psychotherapist
Anyone who wants 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 one should not expect that a session with a specialist will guarantee a cure.Most likely, you will need a rather 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 get rid of 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 count on the support of people who understand you like no one else.
Such communication can be found in Alcoholics Anonymous clubs or on special sites on the Internet.There people exchange useful techniques, opinions, share their achievements and mistakes.
Physical activity
Physical activity promotes the production of endorphins – happiness hormones.For a person who stops drinking, physical activity will help not only improve mood, but also get in shape, improve health and strengthen muscles.
The main thing is to act step by step and not overload an already weakened body.A good place to start is swimming, running, skating, 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 vices often accompany alcoholism.
Addiction to alcohol and nicotine is especially common.After drinking alcohol, it is difficult to stay without smoking, and smoking gives rise to many habitual desires to drink.Therefore, to prevent a person from drinking, it is necessary to remove all provoking factors, including cigarettes.
Additional 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:
- weed;
- love;
- mugwort;
- centaur;
- thyme;
- St. John's Wort.
Decoctions and infusions of these herbs cause aversion to alcoholic beverages.Some of the plants listed have a very 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 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 restores damaged social connections.
Health
After a person stops drinking alcohol, a certain amount of time passes until all toxic substances are completely eliminated from the body.The recovery process will then begin, which will take a long time, but the first results can be seen quickly.
After giving up alcohol:
- immunity becomes stronger, a person suffers from illnesses less frequently and more easily;
- improves the functioning of internal organs (liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys);
- 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
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-realization;
- find new goals in life.
Society
After giving up alcohol consumption, the person's social life also changes and they gradually return to society.This can be expressed as follows:
- the appearance of new acquaintances;
- the opportunity to get a new job or promising promotion;
- topics for communicating with people who have no relationship with alcohol gradually appear;
- the person again feels like a respected and full-fledged 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's important to understand that your health comes first and there is nothing strange or shameful about saying no when asked to drink.This must be done politely, but with confidence, so that the proposer understands and accepts the answer.If someone continues to insist despite express refusal, communication with these people should be excluded.
You can motivate your decision and avoid unnecessary questions under the pretext of taking antibiotics, getting tested quickly or needing to drive.
It is necessary to learn to firmly refuse alcohol, and over time such offers will come less and less.In addition, most often holidays are spent in the company of relatives and friends, and these people often know that a person is quitting drinking and will not offer him alcohol.
Conclusion
A person makes the decision to stop being an alcoholic on their own;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 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.