Is it possible to abruptly quit drinking - certainly, especially with a firm decision to give up daily alcohol intake. Yes, it will not be easy, but the "pluses" of a healthy lifestyle will be assessed much faster. Narcologists compare the gradual reduction in the amount of alcoholic beverages to cutting off the tail in parts. At a certain stage, a regularly drinking person can simply break loose. In order not to start all over again, it is advisable to endure a temporary deterioration in well-being.
Abrupt refusal of alcohol - interesting reactions of the body
Alcoholism is both physical and psychological dependence on ethyl alcohol. Therefore, when it abruptly ceases to enter the body, an immediate reaction follows from almost all systems of vital activity. Not surprisingly, they now have to operate in a modified mode. But do not pay attention to the temporary deterioration of health, because "friendship" with ethanol is expensive for the body. Here are the expected consequences of quitting alcohol in the first few days:
- weight loss due to suppression of appetite;
- insomnia followed by drowsiness;
- dull migraine-type headaches;
- psychoemotional instability - irritability, causeless anxiety, apathy;
- mild migrating joint pain, tremor of the fingers.
It sounds intimidating, but these withdrawal symptoms are more common in older alcoholics. If a person uses a little, but every day, then the physical condition practically does not deteriorate. There is only psychological discomfort without the usual bottle of beer, glass of wine or 50-100 grams of vodka.
What are the reasons for such a violent reaction of the body to a sharp refusal to drink? The fact is that ethanol is incorporated into biochemical reactions, becoming their equal participant. When you try to remove it from there, a temporary failure occurs in the body. Now he will have to establish nervous regulation, come to grips with the production of the optimal amount of digestive enzymes, and restore damaged liver and urinary organs. He copes with these tasks in about 1-1. 5 months.
Typical signs of alcohol withdrawal
How to give up alcohol forever - full mobilization of willpower is required only with systematic domestic drunkenness. In such cases, a person drinks a lot, often, constantly experiences all the "delights" of a hangover. After, during the next binge, he has problems with the psyche, heart and liver, he firmly decides to "quit". What lies ahead for the alcoholic:
- 1 day. Withdrawal symptoms are immediately manifested by nausea and vomiting, headaches, severe tremors and, of course, an intolerable desire to hang over. Actually, the first day of sobriety becomes an alcoholic's test of strength. If he can withstand it without alcohol, then his chances of defeating addiction are skyrocketing;
- 2-7 days. During this period, the alcoholic feels bad - the body requires the usual share of alcohol, punishing the "owner" with a headache, visual and auditory hallucinations, tremors of the arms and legs. Digestion and peristalsis are upset, and the prospects for a healthy lifestyle seem not so bright to the alcoholic. Do not give up at this stage; medications and sleep will help you go all the way to the end;
- Day 8. To become a little easier, the improvements are noticeable to the naked eye. The severity of the withdrawal syndrome decreases, the body adapts well to the changed conditions of existence. Now he is busy with the restoration of organs and tissues, learning to work fully without ethanol. Headaches, nausea and irritability recede, because ethyl alcohol and its toxic metabolites no longer circulate in the blood;
- 30-40 days. That's all - now a person himself can give advice on how to give up alcohol. Lightness appears in the body, physical and mental performance improves, seemingly lost professional skills return. All vital systems function perfectly, the body works like a clock. But you should not relax - even a sip of beer during this period can cause a breakdown.
And now a small fly in the ointment. If a person drank a lot and often, then his internal organs were constantly exposed to ethanol. In a state of intoxication, cells were destroyed without subsequent recovery. Chronic diseases developed, of which the alcoholic did not even suspect. After all, he suppressed all the alarming symptoms with another portion of alcohol. But outside the state of euphoria, it will not be possible not to notice them. It's time for a full medical examination. After the diagnosis, the doctor will draw up a competent therapeutic regimen and prescribe medications.
The sad consequences of a long alcoholic experience are fatty degeneration of the liver, hepatitis, nephrosis, atrophic gastritis or with high acidity. All pathologies are severe, but completely curable, so the prognosis is favorable. So a sharp refusal from alcohol sometimes avoids disability and even death. After all, while the alcoholic is trying to "quit" by lowering the dose, dangerous diseases develop, progress and recur in his body.
We will help you in any way we can - advice for those who decide to "tie up" quickly
The decision to quit drinking is often made spontaneously when a person suddenly realizes that a stroke, heart attack, or cirrhosis is just around the corner. Therefore, he does not have time to prepare for the upcoming alcohol withdrawal after a binge. Unlike relatives, family members who are able to quickly find all the information they need. A person must be helped to quit drinking, supporting, substituting a shoulder in a difficult life period for him.
A breakdown is more than real in the first two weeks, so it makes sense to seek professional medical attention. The transition to a sober lifestyle will be easier with pharmacological support. Parenteral administration of saline solutions, B vitamins, sedatives and anticonvulsants, respiratory analeptics, antiarrhythmic drugs, nootropics will help. The results of medical intervention are obvious:
- cardiac activity and respiration are normalized;
- sleep and appetite will be restored;
- nausea and vomiting will cease after the next meal.
How to stop drinking abruptly - only by combining willpower, the use of medications and psychological support. The latter is very important, since the state of the central nervous system changes dramatically. As long as she adjusts to work without ethanol, the person overcoming the addiction suffers from hallucinations. He discusses with imaginary interlocutors, withdraws into himself for several hours and even sings. It is not worth focusing attention on this - the psyche will recover after the evacuation of harmful substances from the body.
Correct rehabilitation - learning to live anew
How to completely give up alcohol is a burning question. Narcologists note that the likelihood of long-term remission increases significantly with the active desire of a person to refuse to take alcohol. Therefore, making an important decision to quit drinking, an alcoholic must understand that now everything that contains ethanol is strictly prohibited.
It is difficult to part with alcohol forever without preparation. Having overcome the most difficult early days of withdrawal symptoms, you need to look for additional resources to alleviate the physical and psychological condition:
- Eliminate fatty and fried foods, foods saturated with salt and spices from the usual diet.
- Walk in the fresh air for 1-2 hours at least once a day.
- They will return to their old hobbies, to that which gave interest to immersion in unrestrained drunkenness.
The transition to a sober lifestyle occurs gradually. A person often falls into despondency, sees the future only in black. And then he pulls himself together, persuades not to give up, again takes part in resolving family problems. Narcologists advise to speed up recovery through physical activity. You don't have to go straight to the gym or run long distances. A great way to quickly recover is gentle physical therapy.