Treatment of any form of alcoholism involves the patient's complete refusal of alcohol. The success of the therapy is reduced to zero if the patient does not want a person to live in a state of sobriety. On the contrary, a person's awareness of his own disease is already the first step towards remission. Such awareness is the result of very complex work on oneself and requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, in order to stop drinking, it is better for a person to consult a doctor.
Reasons to quit drinking alcohol
There are many reasons why a person stops drinking. Among the most significant are:
- the desire to be healthy;
- deterioration of the state of health and the development of chronic diseases;
- more attractive appearance in people who do not have alcohol problems;
- a sober, lively and unblemished mind, the desire to adequately perceive the surrounding reality;
- high efficiency;
- good work attitude and impeccable reputation;
- saving money (financial expenditure on alcohol is always a significant part of an alcoholic's budget);
- high sexuality, no problems with potency in men or with the menstrual cycle in women;
- the presence of strength and time (after all, the life of a person who is in an alcoholic web is guided by one desire - to drink);
- excellent state of mind, good mood;
- healthy atmosphere at home;
- full, bright and healthy life;
- healthy offspring.
The road to a sober life is very long and difficult. However, a person has a chance to get rid of addiction by following the advice of doctors. The most important thing for this is to have a strong desire to be healed and an iron will.
Can a person stop drinking on their own?
The doctors warn: there are no former alcoholics. Alcoholism is an incurable disease. However, the patient still has a chance to achieve stable remission and stop drinking alcohol. The length of the sobriety period is variable and can range from a few months to several decades.
Methods of mental influence on the patient are effective in stopping alcohol consumption. They allow you to inspire the patient with a negative attitude towards alcohol and thereby avoid relapses. Subject to a positive result, a strong belief is formed that he can lead a healthy and fulfilling life without drinking a single drop of alcoholic beverages.
The success of alcoholism treatment depends on a large number of factors. The most important thing is that the person decides for himself whether or not to drink alcohol.
Spontaneous remission
Rarely does a person stop drinking spontaneously. A certain factor drives this: there is an acceptance of one's own illness, then a decision that something needs to be changed in one's life.
The main disadvantage of spontaneous remission is indeterminate persistence and spontaneity.
Motivational remission
In this case, a person consciously refuses to drink alcohol. More often this happens if there is a threat to a person's life. Consciously refusing alcohol, a person also raises a number of financial problems, and also solves the problem of preserving the family.
Gradually, a person comes to the conclusion that a complete rejection of alcohol will allow him to achieve his goals in life and consolidate his success. In remission, he is fully convinced that his choice is the right one and a priority, despite the presence of temptations. Moreover, each victory over alcohol and the approval of the people around him further reinforces a sober position.
Forced remission
A person does not always voluntarily strive for a sober lifestyle. Many people who are addicted to alcohol do not always understand how harmful their bad habit is. However, circumstances take over. For example, if the director is at work or the spouse, the child puts a person before a choice, he must obey. Otherwise, it will be displayed throughout an alcoholic's life.
Forced remission is usually not long-lasting. Moreover, a person is constantly in a state of tension, as he experiences difficulties and inconveniences due to such coercion. A breakdown after such a remission usually has very serious consequences.
Somatogenic remission
If a person learns of a sharp deterioration in his health, he usually stops drinking alcohol. The most common situation is when a patient has to give up alcohol against the background of delirium tremens.
In addition, alcoholics are afraid of the consequences of a serious illness experienced (for example, a heart attack or a stroke). Against the background of negative emotions, they completely lose their attraction to alcohol. Awareness of the harms of alcohol, although belated, forms a new attitude: survival is a higher priority than alcohol consumption and short-term intoxication.
Psychogenic remission
This variant of alcohol withdrawal is associated with somatogenic remission. When a person finds out what they did while drunk, they experience a huge shock. In a state of shame for his actions, he decides to stop drinking.
There can be many such reasons. These are most often:
- traffic accidents due to drunkenness;
- an attempt on the lives of their own children;
- violence.
Such remission is unstable and short-lived. Sometimes a strong trigger works in the opposite direction and the person starts drinking even more. In a state of alcoholic forgetfulness, suicide is not excluded.
Post-intoxication remission
The nature of this remission could not be fully established. It is typical of people who chronically abuse alcoholic beverages. One day they stop drinking and they don't challenge that decision.
Doctors suggest that at some point poisoning with ethyl alcohol and its decay products reaches a critical limit. At this time, the biochemical processes of the brain change, and an aversion to alcoholic beverages appears. It is worth noting that the taste, the smell of alcohol suddenly becomes unpleasant. Even small doses cause nausea and vomiting.
Post-intoxication remission is relatively stable. However, relapses are not excluded when, against the background of a sober lifestyle, a person's state of health noticeably improves.
Advice for people who want to quit drinking
Not all people who have ever abused alcoholic beverages can easily endure a sober state. Some have a craving for alcohol, a desire to immediately skip a "drink or two. "For those who have firmly and confidently set out on a sober path, such advice can help.
- You need to contact a specialized clinic. Here, specialists will select an individual treatment plan, prescribe effective drugs if necessary. Psychologists and rehabilitation specialists will help you get out of the binge, cleanse your body and develop a persistent negative attitude towards the use of ethanol.
- If you want to quit drinking, that's half the battle. The patient must recognize the presence of the disease. If possible, the problem of alcohol should be discussed with relatives.
- The patient must cease all ties with the people with whom he drank and who tolerate his addiction.
- Throw away all alcoholic beverages at home. Thus, it will be much easier to avoid temptation. If there is a calm reaction in people who drink alcohol, then this is already a success.
- You need to be prepared for the fact that withdrawal symptoms will develop when refusing alcohol. At the same time, various psychophysiological disorders will be tormented. The urge to remove them can be very strong. At this point, it is important not to succumb to weakness. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms on your own is very difficult, so you have to trust the experts.
- You should read the literature on various aspects of alcoholism. It is important to avoid sources of dubious origin. All questions can be discussed with the doctor.
- The daily routine should include different types of physical activity. It is important to eat well and rest. It is ideal for learning to avoid stress, or at least not to react to it.
- Some can be helped by moving around, by communicating with other people.
- An interesting hobby will improve the emotional background. Some people are helped by changing jobs, volunteering and outdoor activities.
- At meetings, vacations, you need to look for an alternative to alcoholic beverages, which, unfortunately, have become traditional. Even a cocktail party can derail all previous efforts.
There is no one way to stop drinking. Every alcoholic should look for the most suitable option. To avoid relapses and achieve a positive effect, it is important to contact specialists.