Alcoholism is a serious disease. Addiction to alcoholic beverages undermines the human psyche, and regular consumption of ethyl alcohol gradually destroys all organs and systems. He who drinks a lot literally destroys himself from within. And at the same time, it makes the life of relatives and friends unbearable. How to get someone to stop drinking? How to protect it from the negative effects of strong drinks? What can be done to bring peace and tranquility back to the family?
We note right away that it will not work to cure an alcoholic without his desire. So if you decide to secretly add some kind of "miracle cure" to his food at home, then know that your idea is doomed in advance. Nothing good comes from compulsory treatment. Moreover, it is not so easy to hand over a drinker to a hospital without his consent. Therefore, this article will mainly focus on how to persuade an alcoholic to seek treatment, how to get him to give up alcohol on his own.
Recognition of the problem
As a rule, if a person drinks a lot, he does not consider it a disease. Often the alcoholic won't even admit that there has been too much hard liquor lately. He thinks he drinks as much as usual, no more than everyone else. In addition, you may encounter another difficulty: the drinker agrees that there is too much alcohol in his life.
Maybe he was even tortured by a constant hangover. However, at this point, he doesn't want to quit yet, he doesn't understand that he is already addicted. Such a person believes that alone and without outside help at home, he will be able to wean himself from alcohol, but not now, but a day later. It's just that "later" never comes.
Therefore, the answer to the question "how to get an alcoholic into treatment" should begin with convincing him that he is ill. This is often one of the most difficult steps. To cope with this task, you can use several tricks. Draw the patient's attention to the dangers of alcohol to health. Focus on the deterioration in well-being that the drinker has recently experienced (and it's likely to be to some degree or another in any case).
Try to draw the alcoholic's attention to the fact that he is already drinking too much, that alcohol has caused changes in his behavior. Tell us that you can cope with it completely, you just need to start treatment as soon as possible. And finally, try to convince the drinker that it's not a shame to call yourself an alcoholic, it's a shame not to admit the obvious.
Denial of the charges
If you're wondering how to help someone who's drinking, always remember that you want to help, not blame. This is very important, because alcohol changes the psyche in such a way that a person becomes very vulnerable and even capricious. If you start scolding him like a delinquent child, he will shut down, turn away from you, and it will only get worse. It is necessary to convince the alcoholic of your benevolent attitude. The patient should see you as a friend and ally.
Let go of scandals and shouting. The key to success is endless patience. Even if it's incredibly difficult for you, if you want to get rid of your emotions, you have to do it so that no one sees it. Don't let strangers (like neighbors) throw accusations at the drinker. Never scold him in front of others.
Help with alcoholism involves maximum gentleness. Of course, you can point out to a person that their addiction to alcohol is having a bad effect on them and those around them, but this should be presented as a fact, not as an accusation. Remember that no one wants to be reprimanded. Don't try to offend or anger the drinker: it will only make them angry and they'll drink even more to upset you. Understand that alcohol speaks in a person and you need to "wake them up".
Choose the right time
To help fight alcoholism, you need to choose the right time. This should be a period when a person does not drink. Talking to a drunk is absolutely useless. Of course, anyone who wants to can try, but it will be extremely difficult to achieve something, you can only get upset in vain. Please note that at home you will not be able to pull a person out of excessive drinking on your own, so you need to be patient and wait. The "bright" period will come sooner or later, and then it will be necessary to think about how to help an alcoholic.
Help to get rid of alcoholism should begin with a serious conversation that will provide the patient with the necessary motivation. This conversation should be conducted in a quiet environment, preferably at home. For it to succeed, two conditions must be met. First, the alcoholic himself must be sober (this has already been mentioned above).
Second, you need to be mentally prepared yourself. Think ahead about how persuasive the words you choose will be. Think about how to help the alcoholic understand you better, select the necessary examples. Be calm and confident. Remember that the first conversation, most likely, will not work. Never give up. It can always be repeated again and again, until the first successes appear.
Set the right goals
To wean a person from drinking strong drinks, you need to give them the right motivation. Therefore, if you are wondering "how to help an alcoholic", then you should find an alternative to alcohol for him. He must understand that life is beautiful even without alcohol, that the world is full of wonderful opportunities. If you stop, you can find a good job… You will meet a suitable girl… You will start talking with friends again… Tell the patient what he liked in his past life. Give him hope to get what he wants (besides booze).
Emphasize that his health will improve significantly, that you can still restore steadiness of hand and clarity of mind. The right motivation should be the guiding star on the road to recovery.
Alcohol addiction is so strong that only a great goal is able to overcome it and wean the patient from a drink. He must be aiming for something other than alcohol. And that desire must eventually prevail. He should lead the alcoholic to a doctor and further support him on a difficult path.
When looking for an answer to the question "how to make a person stop drinking", do not be afraid to turn to a psychologist. You are not always able to manage on your own. A professional will tell you how to act to wean a loved one from alcoholic beverages, tell you what it is better to talk about, how to behave. If you do not feel the strength to have a serious conversation with an alcoholic, you can invite a psychologist to your home. He will be able to get an idea of the extent of the problem at home, talk to the patient and, with a high probability, after a few sessions he will direct him on the right path.
Forbidden to lie
Lying is the worst influence tool. Never try to deceive an alcoholic. Of course, he wants to hear that the treatment will be simple and pleasant. But it's not. Several serious symptoms await:
- nausea,
- To vomit,
- headache,
- weakness,
- dizziness,
- limb tremor,
- unrestrained desire to drink.
Warn the patient that this will need to be treated. A person must be mentally prepared for possible difficulties. Your task is to convince him that temporary problems can be solved, you just need to be patient for a while. Explain that full treatment at home is not possible. It will be necessary for some time to go to the hospital. The alcoholic must know what he is about to face.
Do not tell fairy tales about impossible possibilities, such as, for example, that after recovery you can drink strong drinks on vacation. There is not a single alcoholic who, after undergoing treatment, drinks a little. There are either those who don't drink at all or those who go back to their old binges. You cannot set unrealistic goals. All should be real, at least a little. Otherwise, you can expect the strongest disappointment and another breakdown.
How to help a drunk person? Do not try to wean him off alcohol at home or secretly from him. Try to explain the need for hospital treatment. Do not scold the alcoholic or blame him for the problems that have arisen. Find the right motivations for him, something he wants besides alcohol. Only tell the truth. Never give up. If the first attempts at help did not work, it is necessary to repeat them again and again.
Do not try to solve the problem yourself at home. If there is such a need, you can consult a psychologist or narcologist. Remember that you don't have to carry all the responsibility on your shoulders. Entrusting the case with persuading an alcoholic to seek professional treatment is a perfectly acceptable solution. Your main task is to help the patient in any way to want to regain health. Then the alcoholic will gradually begin to help himself.