I have prepared this material for those who want to quit drinking on their own or help a loved one. I speak in simple, non-medical language so you know what to do and where to go.
Millions of people suffer from alcoholism. It is much more than people with other illnesses. Alcoholism destroys not only families, but also a person's personality. Alcohol dependence is one of the most difficult disorders and, moreover, can be quite dangerous. Therefore, it is important that we work to prevent and treat alcohol use disorders.
We believe it is possible to stop drinking! And most importantly, we are ready to help you do it yourself or with the help of specialists. Read the article to the end and don't distract yourself by thinking about some of the topics below.
So! What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is "a disease of the mind, body and spirit". Since this state includes physical and psychological desire. And also the coercion to the use of psychotropic alcohols. And recovery from alcohol addiction includes physical, psychological and emotional healing.
If we speak as a term, then, according to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, it looks like this: Alcoholism is a chronic mental illness. That is, from this definition, it follows that alcoholism is a disease at the psychological level. Physical dependence comes much later, when a person transforms into a being who only needs one thing, to fill up with alcohol. And it doesn't matter if it's a substitute or a tincture or something else.
The psychological level of the disease is quite possible to overcome on your own. Methods to stop drinking, I will analyze further. But with physical addiction, you need to see a doctor - a narcologist and already medically treat yourself for alcohol addiction.
How do you understand that there is a problem and that it needs to be resolved?
Below, I will analyze some situations that may be familiar or close to you. If you have at least one of the signs listed below, you still have an alcohol addiction and may not yet be an avid alcoholic, but there is a problem.
Yes:
- you have been invited to a party and immediately noticed that the event will be "dry". And you refused to go because you have no idea how you can have fun and relax without alcohol;
- more and more often you start to retire with alcohol, no matter how hard it is. But you are more comfortable sipping beer alone than in company;
- it is only by drinking that you can cope with feelings of anxiety and anxiety;
- it is very difficult to cope with the urge to drink, you are not stopped by the circumstances that tomorrow to work. Either you have an important exam or you have to pass a test;
- condemn those who don't drink at all, something is seriously wrong with that person;
- get drunk to such an extent that in the morning it is very difficult to remember what you were doing.
Then we will see what you can do about it and how to overcome alcohol addiction.
Stop drinking and change your life for the better!
The onset of addiction and the stages of alcoholism
Gradually, a person addicted to alcohol begins to abuse it, and it becomes very difficult not to drink for several days in a row. You wait until Friday to spend the whole weekend drinking. After that, the habit of drinking shifts to weekdays, and does not keep it the next day for work. If earlier you were looking for reasons, the cat's birthday, Bastille Day, bought new socks, then the drink will be for no reason, just because I want it. And already the question "for what to drink" disappears on its own.
Reasons to drink
They are quite different. They drink because:
- difficulties in life arose: a loved one suffered or died;
- the financial problems are not solved: they have been made redundant and it is impossible to find a new one; loans or mortgages "choke", and so on. ;
- there is no rest at home: the wife saws, there is no rest for the mother-in-law, the neighbor sharpens a tooth. . ;
- forced by someone;
- does not want to be different from others;
- for some, it is a sign of adulthood;
- someone just relaxes that way;
- takes away his shyness.
It should be noted that alcohol addiction starts out differently for everyone. Someone can start at 15-16 years old. Others start at 25-30 years old.
Moreover, drinking alcohol becomes a habit, and without it a person simply cannot feel relaxed. In alcohol we start to drown our problems, because a drunkard does not care what is going on around. And alreadysobriety becomes a disease. . . Because it is bad for a sober person to accept the world and perceive the situation correctly. Alcohol turns into a "medicine" that only cures our illusions.
Stages of alcoholism
There are several stages of alcoholism:
- The first stage of alcoholism: it is difficult to refrain from drinking, a friend came with a bottle, how to refuse? And it doesn't matter that tomorrow there are very important things. The first stage can very well be cured without outside help. Desire and work on oneself are important;
- The second stage of alcoholism: when a person drinks a lot, but does not get drunk. And without alcohol, it is simply impossible for a person to exist. This is the start of physical dependence;
- The third stage of alcoholism: different from the second. When you've had a drink and can barely stand. And this condition is permanent. You are in urgent need of drug treatment.
The most important thing, you need to understand that alcohol addiction does not happen overnight. This is a gradual and complex process that takes place in an area of the brain known as the "reward center". In the same place that regulates and strengthens the natural needs that are vital to our existence. This is why the addicted brain pursues alcohol and other drugs as if these substances are necessary for our very survival. And that's why people with an active addiction place the search for alcohol or other drugs above almost any other priority.
Scientists have also identified many social, psychological, genetic, and other factors that make some people more vulnerable than others to developing alcoholism. Either way, it's important to understand that no one chooses to develop alcoholism. Two people can start drinking alcohol, one person becoming addicted to alcohol and the other not having symptoms.
Also, keep in mind that people who become addicted can never use alcohol or other addictive drugs without putting their health at risk. Their brain chemistry has changed in such a way that it can be rebalanced through rehabilitation, but that balance will always remain vulnerable to renewed use.
Ways and methods to stop drinking
Effective Ways You Can Use To Fight Alcohol. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Start now.
Then follow all the methods described below and you can quit drinking once and for all!
First way to stop drinking: "Scare yourself"
Although they say that it is useless to read articles about the dangers of alcohol, it does not help, but after all, no one reads them carefully. If you feel like you want to drink more and more often, don't be lazy and read our article again. Better keep it for yourself. And also find out how harmful alcohol is. Take 15 minutes of time each day to read small articles. So let's say intimidate yourself and always remember the dangers of alcohol. Think about your liver, your youth, your beauty. And also on the difficulty of fighting against alcoholism. Especially if you do it yourself.
The second way to stop drinking: "Become the actor of your film"
Another very interesting way to think about quitting alcohol is to film yourself drunk. Just put on a camera or ask someone. Often, not everyone will be able to watch their drunken adventures, even until the middle of filming. And the feeling of shame is a hallmark of a person from an animal. You will also understand how difficult it is for your loved ones.
The third way to stop drinking: "Find an ecological substitute"
It is very important to find a way to relax, to replace alcohol with something else. Sports, dancing, singing, find your talent. Make sure that it is important for you to stop drinking. We wanted to have a drink in the evening, but instead we took a jog in the great outdoors. Or went to the gym.
The main thing is that this is an environmentally friendly solution, in no case do not replace alcohol, for example, with pills. Everyone has willpower, you just need to find it within yourself and replace alcohol with not some other substance that clouds the mind, but something that will delight you.
The fourth way to stop drinking: "Clean up your friends list and update your social circle. "
If there are people in your social circle who are drinking and pushing you all the time, get rid of communication with those friends. Realize that these are not friends and remember the lyrics to the song "A friend won't tell you, drink to the bottom". The social circle of alcoholics is a black hole, which it is very difficult to get out of it alone with every bottle you drink. And with every bottle you drink, you take a step to be alone.
In addition, today there are many opportunities to renew your social circle: parks, gymnasiums, leisure clubs. . .
The Fifth Way to Stop Drinking: "Become Your Own Personal Accountant"
Keep a journal where you record your alcohol expenses. And notice how much you didn't spend today on that useless porridge.
Go to the store and buy yourself a gift with that money, for example, high-quality clothes, a new phone. Reward yourself for quitting drinking! Better yet, save. See how much you'll have in a month and what you can buy instead of alcohol.
The sixth way to stop beating: "Your memory won't let you get drunk"
Over time, you will learn to control yourself, and a symbolic glass of champagne for the New Year will not involve drinking a liter of vodka. You will already know your limit: after how many sips you will want to drink more and more, or which glass is not worth drinking.
Remember to remember what you called "Gin out of the WC" the next morning after drinking, and how it seemed like your head was going to burst in pain now and this would be the perfect option for you. By the way, if you have a hangover after heavy drinking, it's a very loud bell, which already calls you an alcoholic.
The seventh way to quit alcohol for good: "A friend of alcohol is a cigarette"
We decided to quit drinking, so we had to quit smoking. If this habit is on your list of bad habits. After all, a cigarette calls for drinking, after a drink of another, a puff seems more "tasty". But it is an illusion. And so much has already been said about the dangers of smoking that it is not worth mentioning here.
Eighth way: "Analysis of their actions"
Do not blame yourself for loving this green snake in any way. And don't hesitate to talk about not drinking. Sometimes you just need to analyze everything that has happened to you in life. When you drank, when you had a hangover, when you wanted to drink.
You can even divide a sheet of paper into two halves and write, in one column, what the good alcohol has given me, in the other, what trouble it has caused. I bet the column with good points is unlikely to fill. But to analyze the impact of alcohol on your life, there is enough data.
Those near and dear make us whole people!
The ninth way: "Relatives are near"
It is very important to admit to yourself that you are addicted. It is not necessary to shout around every corner and introduce yourself: "Hello, my name is Vasya and I am an alcoholic" No! Just admit it to yourself. Then, if you wish, you can initiate your loved ones, your wife, your parents, your children, those with whom you live or communicate often, so that they know your intentions to stop drinking.
And the natives certainly won't tell you that you are a fool or a fool. They are close and close to help and, above all, to understand. Support from loved ones is essential at the start of the journey to get rid of the habit of drinking. Don't be afraid to say it, it's more dangerous to just walk away and not give up.
The tenth way to fight alcoholism: "Provocation is a failure"
There is an unshakeable rule that if a person has made the decision not to drink, there is no need to provoke oneself. For example, don't go to a store that has alcohol, well, or at least avoid the shelves with inviting bottles.
First, try not to drink, until you have gotten into the habit of not attending alcoholic events. Forget about a friend's birthday or a nephew's christening. You can skip this important event and then catch your sober attention to them.
The path to deliverance will require sacrifices, but they will be insignificant compared to the sacrifices that can be made if you keep drinking.
Eleventh way: "Dine yourself. . . "
A very important aspect in the fight against alcoholism is to be full. Yes Yes. After all, more often than not you want to drink on an empty stomach, so try to have a heavy supper in the evening when you come home from work, and the thoughts of drinking will definitely subside.
Path:"Stress is a reason to drink"
Try to avoid stressful situations, admittedly difficult to do in our time, but possible. Now on the Internet you can find many methods to get rid of depressive situations, for example meditation. Not everyone understands them, but it's worth a try. Remember one truth for yourself, alcohol does not solve problems, alcohol adds new problems!
When a person refuses alcohol, it is as if they are losing something. Emptiness and discomfort appear. At such times you have to find something to do for yourself, so to speak, to fill the void. For example, instead of an evening date with a bottle and a drink, go to the movies for an evening show. Buy a ticket to a rock concert and shout it out. By the way, the way of screaming is effective, they came home angry, there is no strength to drink, because life is complete "shit", close in the bathroom orthe room and shout out loud you may even disturb your voice but go ahead. And life won't seem so unfair anymore. And it is quite possible that during the screaming, you will find the right solution to a problem.
If you wish, you can consult a psychologist or consult a narcologist. The help of a specialist is often very important in these times of launching. A good doctor can even find the cause of your addiction, extract the very thing that it all started from, and this is an important fact on how to get rid of alcohol.
There is now a lot of literature on the subject of "How to stop drinking", "The road to sobriety" or "The easy way to stop drinking". Read the. Maybe they won't have the desired effect, but they sure won't hurt. And it's better to occupy yourself in the evening reading these advice books than to fill your problems with questionable liquid.
Path:"Look at yourself like in a mirror"
Try to put yourself in the shoes of those people who suffer from your antics when you are drunk. Imagine, for example, your wife or your husband in your place. Your significant other gets drunk and misbehaves. If it's at a party, then you should at least be ashamed of your relationship. Or if at home, having drunk, he or she caused a scandal? Interfere with sleep? Are you satisfied with this?
Now imagine that your children see you in this state. As a child, would you like to see your mom or dad as a Neanderthal? Almost no one will answer yes. Now imagine that you are sitting at your workplace and your colleague at the table next door smells of fumes, or worse yet, "fresh". Or you came to the doctor, and he sits with a headache after yesterday's feast and has no idea how to heal you. Or is a drunk teacher teaching your child a lesson?
Imagine how you can deal with situations where alcohol is unpleasant for you, the people who drink it, the consequences of it.
Popular ways to combat alcohol: consume it or is it better to be afraid of it?
But in any case, do not resort to methods that can be harmful to your health. Many, to stop drinking, go to grandmothers, so that they "whisper" and "talk" out of habit of drinking. It's good if the grandma is just whispering about you, and if she gives you herbs or tinctures. . . And you can go from an alcoholic patient to a poisoned patient. If you really feel that you cannot cope on your own, contact a narcologist who will prescribe the appropriate treatment for you and will not harm your health.
Be sure to analyze your life when you were drinking and this week when you were not drinking. Or this year without alcohol. Believe me, time spent without alcohol is much more colorful, interesting, and happier than it is. At least try to put this theory into practice. If you don't like living without alcohol, you can always come back to hangovers, power cuts, failures, debt. . alas, alcohol is available for sale here.
The main question is: is it realistic to stop drinking?
Millions of people around the world are proving that recovery is stronger than alcohol addiction. And they're proof that treatments work, families get better, and lives get better.
As with other chronic illnesses, addiction to alcohol or other drugs can be treated successfully. This will allow you to live a fulfilling and fulfilling life.
If you're struggling to cope on your own, contact an addiction treatment center. Most people in treatment programs not only stop using alcohol and other drugs, but also improve their professional, social and psychological well-being.