I have prepared this material for those who want to quit drinking on their own or help a loved one. I am speaking in simple, non-medical language so that you have an understanding of what to do and where to go.
Millions suffer from alcoholism. This is much more than people suffering from other diseases. 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 that it is possible to quit 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 do not distract yourself by thinking about some of the topics underneath.
So! What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is "a disease of the mind, body and spirit. "Since this state includes physical and psychological desire. And also coercion into the use of mood-altering alcohol. And recovery from alcohol dependence includes physical, psychological, and emotional healing.
If we speak as a term, then, according to the great Soviet encyclopedia, it sounds 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 turns into a being who needs only one thing, to fill himself with alcohol. And it doesn't matter that it is a surrogate, tincture or something else.
The psychological level of the disease is quite possible to overcome by yourself. Methods for how to quit drinking, I will analyze further. But with physical addiction, you need to consult a doctor - a narcologist and already medically treat yourself for alcohol addiction.
How to understand that there is a problem and it needs to be solved?
Below I will analyze a few situations that may be familiar or close to you. If you have at least one of the signs listed below, then you still have an alcohol dependence, and you may not be an avid alcoholic yet, but there is a problem.
If:
- you were invited to a party and immediately noted 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 begin to retire with alcohol, no matter how strong it is. But you are more comfortable sipping beer alone than in the company;
- only by drinking can you 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 need to pass some kind of analysis;
- condemn those who do not drink at all, something is definitely wrong with this person;
- get drunk to such an extent that in the morning it is very difficult to remember what you were doing.
Next, we'll look at what you can do about it and how to overcome alcohol addiction.
Stop drinking and change your life for the better!
The beginning of addiction and 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 are waiting for Friday so that you can just spend the whole weekend on drink. After that, the habit of drinking passes into weekdays, and no longer keeps that tomorrow for work. If earlier you were looking for some reasons, the cat's birthday, Bastille day, bought new socks, then then the drink will be for no reason, just because I want to. And already the question "for what to drink" disappears by itself.
Reasons for drinking
They are quite different. They drink because:
- difficulties in life appeared: a loved one suffered or died;
- financial issues are not being resolved: they were fired from work and it is impossible to find a new one; loans or mortgages "strangle", etc . ;
- there is no rest at home: the wife saws, there is no rest from the mother-in-law, the neighbor sharpens a tooth . . ;
- forced by someone;
- does not want to be different from everyone else;
- for some, this is a sign of adulthood;
- someone just relaxes in this way;
- removes his shyness.
It is worth noting that alcohol addiction starts differently for everyone. Someone can start at 15-16 years old. Others start at 25-30 years old.
Further, alcohol consumption turns into a habit, and without it a person simply cannot feel relaxed. In alcohol, we begin to drown our problems, because a drunk does not care what is happening around. And alreadysobriety becomes a disease. . . Because it is bad for a sober person to accept the world and adequately perceive the situation. Alcohol turns into a "medicine" that heals only our illusions.
Stages of alcoholism
There are several stages of alcoholism:
- The first stage of alcoholism: it is difficult to restrain yourself 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 may well be cured without outside help. Desire and work on oneself is 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 beginning of physical addiction;
- The third stage of alcoholism: different from the second. When you drank a glass and you can hardly stand on your feet. And this condition is permanent. You urgently need drug treatment.
The most important thing, you must understand that alcohol dependence does not occur overnight. It involves a progressive, complex process that takes place in an area of the brain known as the "reward center. "In the same place that regulates and enhances 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 active addiction put the pursuit of 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 the development of alcoholism. In all cases, it is important to understand that no one chooses to develop alcoholism. Two people may start drinking alcohol, with one person becoming addicted to alcohol and the other not developing symptoms.
Also keep in mind that people who become addicted can never use alcohol or other addictive drugs without endangering their health. Their brain chemistry has changed in such a way that it can be rebalanced through rehabilitation, but this balance will always remain vulnerable to renewed use.
Ways and methods to stop drinking
Effective ways that you can use to combat alcohol. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Get started now.
Then follow all the methods described below and you will be able to stop 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 that you want to drink more and more often, do not be lazy and re-read our article. Better keep it for yourself. And also read about how harmful alcohol is. Take 15 minutes of time every day to read small articles. So let's say, intimidate yourself and always remember about the dangers of alcohol. Think about your liver, about your youth, about your beauty. And also about how difficult it is to fight alcoholism. Especially if you do it yourself.
The second way to stop drinking: "Become the actor of your movie"
Another very interesting way to think about giving up alcohol is to film yourself drunk. Just put a camera or ask someone. Often, not everyone will be able to watch their drunken adventures even until the middle of the shooting. And the feeling of shame is the distinguishing mark 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, replace alcohol with something else. Sports, dancing, singing, find your talent. Reassure yourself that it is important to you to stop drinking. We wanted to have a drink in the evening, but instead we did a jog in the fresh air. Or went to the gym.
The main thing is that this is an environmentally friendly solution, in no case replace alcohol, for example, with pills. Everyone has willpower, you just need to find it in yourself and replace alcohol not with another substance that cloudes the mind, but with 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 drink and they push you all the time, get rid of communication with such friends. Understand that these are not friends, and remember the words from the song "A friend will not tell you, drink to the bottom. "The alcoholic social circle is a black hole, from which it is very difficult to get out of it on your own with every bottle you drink. And with every bottle you drink, you take a step to be alone.
Moreover, today there are a lot of opportunities to renew your social circle: parks, gyms, hobby clubs . . .
The fifth way to quit drinking: "Become your own personal accountant"
Keep a diary where you record your alcohol spending. And write down how much you didn't spend on this useless swill today.
Go to the store and buy yourself a gift with this money, for example, high-quality clothes, a new phone. Reward yourself for quitting drinking! Better yet, save up. See how much you will have in a month, and what you can buy instead of alcohol.
The sixth way to stop beating: "Memory will not let you get drunk"
Over time, you will learn to control yourself, and a symbolic glass of champagne for the new year will not entail 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 no longer worth drinking.
Be sure to remember how you called "gin out of the toilet" the next morning after drinking, and how it seemed to you that your head would burst from pain now and that would be the ideal option for you. By the way, if you are hungover after heavy drinking, this is 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, then we must quit smoking. If this habit is on your list of harmful ones. After all, a cigarette calls for a drink, after a glass of another, a puff seems more "tasty". But this is an illusion. And so much has already been said about the dangers of smoking that it is not worth mentioning it here.
Eighth way: "Analysis of their actions"
Do not in any way blame yourself for loving this green serpent. And feel free to talk about not drinking. Sometimes you just need to analyze everything that happened to you in life. When you drank, when you were hungover, when you had the urge to drink.
You can even divide a piece of paper into two halves and write, in one column, what good alcohol gave me, in the other, what troubles it caused. I bet the column with good points is unlikely to fill up. But in order to analyze the impact of alcohol on your life, the data is enough.
Close and dear ones make us full-fledged 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 at every corner and introduce yourself: "Hello, my name is Vasya and I am an alcoholic" No! Just admit it to yourself. Then, if you want, you can initiate your loved ones, your wife, parents, children, those with whom you live or communicate often, so that they know your intentions to quit drinking.
And native people will definitely not tell you that you are a fool or crazy. They are close and close to help and, most importantly, to understand. The support of loved ones is fundamental in the beginning of the journey to get rid of the drinking habit. Do not be afraid to tell, it is more dangerous to withdraw and not quit.
The tenth way to fight alcoholism: "Provocation is a failure"
There is an unshakable rule that if a person has made a decision not to drink, there is no need to provoke oneself. For example, do not go to a store that has liquor, well, or at least avoid the departments with inviting bottles.
Try at first, until you have developed a habit of not drinking, not attending events where there is alcohol. Skip a friend's birthday or nephew's christening. You can skip this important event, then you will catch up with your sober attention to them.
The road to deliverance will require sacrifices, but they will be insignificant compared to the sacrifices that can be made if you continue to drink.
Eleventh way: "Eat dinner yourself . . . "
A very important aspect in the fight against alcoholism is to be full. Yes Yes. After all, most often you want to drink on an empty stomach, so try to have a hearty dinner when you come home from work in the evening, and thoughts of drinking will definitely fade into the background.
Way:"Stress is a reason to drink"
Try to avoid stressful situations, this is certainly difficult to do in our time, but possible. Now on the Internet you can find many methods of getting rid of depressive situations, for example, meditation. Not everyone gets 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 he is losing something. Emptiness and discomfort appear. It is necessary at these moments 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 glass, go to the movies for an evening show. Buy a ticket to a rock concert and shout there heartily. By the way, the way to shout is effective, they came home angry, there is no strength to drink, because life is complete "shit", close yourself in the bathroom or room and shout, loudly, you can even disrupt your voice, but go for it. And life will no longer seem so unfair. And it is quite possible that during the screaming, you will find the right solution to some problem.
If you wish, you can consult a psychologist or consult a narcologist. The help of a specialist is often very important during these moments of throwing. A good doctor can even find the cause of your addiction, pull out the very thing from which it all began, and this is an important fact on the way to getting rid of booze.
There is now a lot of literature on the topics "How to Stop Drinking", "The Way to Sobriety" or "The Easy Way to Stop Drinking". Read them. Maybe they will not have the expected effect, but they certainly will not bring harm. And it is better to occupy yourself in the evening reading these advice books than to fill your problems with dubious liquid.
Way:"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 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 couple. Or if at home, having drunk, he or she made a scandal? Interfere with sleep? Are you pleased with this?
Now imagine that your children see you in this state. As a child, would you like to see your mom or dad in the guise of a Neanderthal? Hardly anyone will answer yes. Now imagine that you are sitting at your workplace, and your colleague at the next table smells of fumes, or even worse, "fresh". Or you came to the doctor, and he sits with a headache after yesterday's feast and has no idea how to cure you. Or is a drunk teacher teaching your child a lesson?
Imagine how you can situations when alcohol is unpleasant for you, people who use it, the consequences of it.
Folk ways to combat alcohol: to use or is it better to be afraid of them?
But in any case, do not resort to methods that can harm your health. Many, in order to quit drinking, go to grandmothers, so that they "whisper" and "talk" from the habit of drinking. It's good if the grandmother just whispers over you, and if she gives you herbs or tinctures . . . And you can turn from an alcoholic patient into a poisoned patient. If you really feel that you cannot cope on your own, then contact a narcologist who will prescribe the correct treatment and will not harm your health.
Be sure to analyze your life when you were drinking and this week when you are not drinking. Or this year without alcohol. Believe me, the time spent without alcohol is much more colorful, interesting and happier than with it. At least try to put this theory into practice. If you do not like living without alcoholic products, you can always return to hangovers, blackouts, failures, debts . . alas, alcohol is available for sale here.
The main question is: is it realistic to quit drinking?
Millions of people around the world are proof that recovery is stronger than alcohol dependence. And they are proof that treatments are working, families are getting better, and life is getting better.
As with other chronic illnesses, addiction to alcohol or other drugs can be successfully dealt with. This will allow you to live a fulfilling and fulfilling life.
If you find it difficult to cope on your own, contact a drug treatment center. Most people who attend treatment programs not only stop using alcohol or other drugs, but also improve their professional, social and psychological well-being.