Alcoholism is a serious disease. Dependence on alcoholic beverages undermines the human psyche, and regular use of ethyl alcohol gradually destroys all organs and systems. The one who drinks a lot literally destroys himself from the inside. And at the same time, it makes the life of relatives and friends unbearable. How can you make someone stop drinking? How to protect him 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 you should know that your idea is doomed to failure in advance. Nothing good comes from forced treatment. In addition, it is not so easy to hand over a drinker to a hospital without his consent. Therefore, this article will focus mainly on how to persuade an alcoholic to be treated, how to make him give up alcohol himself.
Recognition of the problem
As a rule, if a person drinks a lot, then he does not consider it a disease. Often, the alcoholic won't even admit that there's been too much hard liquor lately. He believes that 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.
Perhaps he was even already tortured by a constant hangover. However, at this stage, he does not want to quit yet, he does not understand that he is already addicted. Such a person believes that on his own and without outside help at home he will be able to wean himself from alcohol, but not now, but sometime 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 sick. 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 for health. Focus on the deterioration in well-being that the drinker has recently experienced (and it is likely to be to one 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 this completely, you just need to start treatment as soon as possible. And finally, try to convince the drinker that it is not a shame to call yourself an alcoholic, it is a shame not to admit the obvious.
Denial of accusations
If you are wondering how to help a drinking person, then never forget 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 chastising him like a delinquent child, he will close, turn away from you, and it will only get worse. It is necessary to convince the alcoholic of your kind attitude. The patient must see you as a friend and ally.
Give up scandals and screams. The key to success is endless patience. Even if it is insanely difficult for you, if you want to throw out your emotions, then you need to do it so that no one sees. Don't let outsiders (such as neighbors) hurl accusations at the drinker. Never scold him in front of others.
Help for alcoholism implies maximum softness. Of course, you can point out to a person that his addiction to alcohol has a detrimental effect on him and on those around him, but this should be presented as a fact, and not as an accusation. Remember that no one wants to be scolded. Do not try to offend or anger the drinker: this will only make him angry and will drink even more to spite you. Understand that alcohol is talking in a person, and you need to "wake up" him.
Choosing the Right Moment
To help with 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 fray your nerves in vain. Please note that at home you will not be able to get a person out of hard drinking on your own, so you need to be patient and wait. The "bright" period will come sooner or later, and then it is necessary to raise the question of how to help an alcoholic.
Help in getting 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 calm environment, preferably at home. For it to succeed, two conditions must be met. Firstly, the alcoholic himself must be sober (this has already been mentioned above).
Secondly, you yourself must be mentally prepared. Think in advance how you will convince what words you will choose. Think of how to help the alcoholic understand you better, select the necessary examples. Be calm and confident. Do not forget that the first conversation, most likely, will not work. By no means give up. It can always be repeated again and again, until the first successes appear.
Setting the right goals
To wean a person from drinking strong drinks, you must give him the right motivation. Therefore, if you wondered "how to help an alcoholic", 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 quit, you can find a good job… You will meet a decent girl… You will start talking with friends again… Tell the patient about what he liked in his past life. Give him hope to get what he wants (besides alcohol).
Emphasize that his state of health will improve significantly, that you can still restore the firmness of the hand and clarity of mind. The right motivation should be the guiding star on the path to recovery.
Dependence on alcohol is so strong that only a great goal is able to overcome it and wean the patient from a glass. He must aim for something else besides liquor. And this desire must eventually win. It 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 cope on your own. A professional will tell you how to act in order to wean a loved one from alcoholic beverages, tell you what is better to talk about, how to behave. If you do not feel the strength in yourself to have a serious conversation with an alcoholic, then you can invite a psychologist to your home. He will be able at home to get an idea of the scale of the problem, talk to the patient and, with a high degree of probability, after a few sessions, he will direct him on the right path.
Forbidden to lie
Lying is the worst tool of influence. Never try to fool an alcoholic. Of course, he wants to hear that the treatment will be simple and enjoyable. But it's not. A number of severe symptoms await him:
- nausea,
- vomit,
- headache,
- weakness,
- dizziness,
- limb tremor,
- unbridled desire to drink.
Warn the patient that this will have to be dealt with. A person must be mentally prepared for possible difficulties. Your task is to convince him that temporary troubles can be dealt with, you just need to be patient for a while. Explain that full-fledged treatment at home is impossible. It will be necessary for some time to go to the hospital. The alcoholic must know what he is about to face.
Don't tell fairy tales about impossible possibilities, such as that after your recovery you can drink strong drinks on holidays. There is not a single alcoholic who, after undergoing treatment, drinks a little bit. There are either those who do not drink at all, or those who return to their former binges. You can't set unrealistic goals. All of them should be real, at least a little. Otherwise, you can expect the strongest disappointment and a new breakdown.
How to help a drunk person? Do not try to wean him from alcohol at home or in secret from him. Try to explain the need for inpatient treatment. Do not scold the alcoholic and do not blame him for the problems that have arisen. Find the right motives for him, something he wants besides alcohol. Speak only the truth. Never give up. If the first attempts to 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 do not have to bear all the responsibility on your shoulders. Entrusting the case of persuading an alcoholic to be treated by professionals is a completely acceptable solution. Your main task is to help the patient in any way to want to become healthy again. Then the alcoholic will gradually begin to help himself.