I have prepared this material for those who want to quit drinking themselves or helping a loved one. I am speaking in a simple, non-medical language, so that you understand what to do and where to go.
Millions of people 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 to work to prevent and treat alcohol use disorders.
We believe it is possible to give up 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 following topics.
So! What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is "a disease of the mind, body and soul. "Since this condition involves physical and psychological desire. And also restraint in the use of alcohol that changes mood. And healing from alcohol addiction involves 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 on a psychological level. Physical addiction comes much later, when a person turns into a being who needs only one thing, to be filled with alcohol. And it does not matter if it is a substitute, tincture or something else.
The psychological level of the disease is quite possible to overcome on its own. The methods on how to quit drinking, I will analyze further. But with physical addiction, you need to see a doctor - a narcologist and already treat yourself to alcohol addiction.
How do you know if a problem exists and needs to be addressed?
Below I will analyze some 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 addiction and may not yet be an avid alcoholic, but there is a problem.
If:
- you were invited to a party and you immediately noticed that the event would 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 start to get addicted to alcohol, no matter how strong it is. But you are more comfortable drinking beer alone than in company;
- only by drinking can you cope with feelings of anxiety and distress;
- it is very difficult to cope with the urge to drink, the circumstances do not prevent you from working tomorrow. Either you have an important exam, or you have to pass some kind of analysis;
- punish those who do not drink at all, something is 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 will look at what you can do about it and how to overcome your alcohol addiction.
Stop drinking and change your life for the better!
The onset of addiction and the 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 looking forward to Friday in order to spend the whole weekend with drinks. After that, the habit of drinking passes into the days of the week and no longer keeps it tomorrow for work. If you used to be looking for some reason, cats birthday, Bastille day, you bought new socks, then the drink will be for no reason, just because I want to. And now the question "what to drink" disappears by itself.
Reasons to drink
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 and it is impossible to find a new one; loans or mortgages "drown", etc. ;
- there is no rest at home: the sawmill woman, 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, it is a sign of adulthood;
- someone just relaxes this way;
- removes his shyness.
It is worth noting that alcohol addiction starts differently for everyone. One can start at the age of 15-16. Others start at the age of 25-30.
Further, alcohol consumption becomes a habit, and without it a person simply can not feel at ease. In alcohol, we start drowning out our problems because a drunk does not care what is going on around him. And alreadyprudence becomes disease. . . Because it is bad for a sober person to accept the world and perceive the situation adequately. Alcohol turns into a "medicine" that only cures our illusions.
Stages of alcoholism
There are several stages of alcoholism:
- The first stage of alcoholism: it is difficult to refrain from drinking, a friend came with a bottle, how to refuse? And it does not matter that tomorrow there are very important things. The first stage can be cured without outside help. Desire and work for 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: unlike the second. When you drank a glass and could barely stand. And this condition is permanent. You urgently need medical treatment.
Most important thing, you need to understand that alcohol dependence does not happen 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 dependent brain pursues alcohol and other drugs as if these substances are necessary for our very survival. And that's why people with active addictions put the pursuit of alcohol or other drugs above almost every 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 can start drinking alcohol, where one person becomes addicted to alcohol and the other shows no 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 a way that can be rebalanced through rehab, but this balance will always remain vulnerable to renewed use.
Ways and methods to stop drinking
Effective ways you can use to fight alcohol. Do not postpone it for tomorrow. Start now.
Then follow all the methods described below and you will be able to stop drinking once and for all!
The first way to stop drinking: "Fear yourself"
Although they say that it is useless to read articles about the dangers of alcohol, it does not help, but in the end, no one reads them carefully. If you think you want to drink more and more often, do not be lazy and reread our article. Better keep it to yourself. And also read how harmful alcohol is. Take 15 minutes each day to read small articles. So let’s say, scare yourself and always remember about the dangers of alcohol. Think about your liver, about your youth, about your beauty. And also how hard 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 set up a camera or ask someone. Often, not everyone will be able to watch their drunken adventures even up to 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, to replace alcohol with something else. Sport, dance, singing, find your talent. Reassure yourself that it is important for you to stop drinking. We wanted to have a drink in the evening, but instead 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 do not replace alcohol, for example, with pills. Everyone has the will, you just have to find it in yourself and replace alcohol not with another substance that disturbs the mind, but with something that will satisfy you.
The fourth way to stop drinking: "Clear your friends list and update your social circle".
If there are people in your social circle who drink and 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 does not mean to you, drink to the end". The social circle of alcohol is a black hole, from which it is very difficult to get out of it yourself with every bottle you drink. And with every bottle you drink, take a step to be alone.
Moreover, today there are many opportunities to renovate your social circle: parks, gyms, hobby clubs. . .
The fifth way to quit drinking: "Become your personal accountant"
Keep a journal where you record your alcohol expenditure. And write down how much you did not spend today for this useless drink.
Go to the store and buy a gift with this money, for example, high quality clothes, a new phone. Reward yourself for quitting drinking! Better yet, save. See how much you will have in a month and what you can buy instead of alcohol.
Sixth way not to beat: "Memory does 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 require you to drink a liter of vodka. You will already know your limit: after a few sips, you will want to drink more and more, or which glass is not worth drinking.
Be sure to remember how you called "gin from the toilet" the next morning after you had drunk and how it felt like your head would burst with pain now and that would be the ideal option for you. By the way, if you are hungry after heavy drinking, this is a very noisy bell, which already calls you an alcoholic.
The Seventh Way to Quit Alcohol Forever: "A friend of alcohol is a cigarette"
We decided to quit smoking, then smoking should be quit. If this habit is on your list of harmful ones. After all, a cigarette requires a drink, after another glass, a bloat looks more "delicious". But this is an illusion. And so much has already been said about the dangers of smoking that it is not worth mentioning here.
The eighth way: "Analysis of their actions"
Do not blame yourself in any way that you love this green snake. And do not hesitate to talk about not drinking. Sometimes you just have to analyze everything that has happened to you in life. When you drank, when you were hungry, when you had the desire to drink.
You can even split a piece of paper in half and write, in one column, what good alcohol gave me, in the other, what trouble it caused. I bet the column with good points is unlikely to be filled. But data is enough to analyze the impact of alcohol on your life.
Relatives and loved ones make us people with full rights!
The ninth way: "Relatives are close"
It is very important to admit to yourself that you are addicted. It is not necessary to shout in every corner and introduce yourself: "Hello, my name is Vasya and I am an alcoholic" No! Just accept yourself. Then, if you wish, you can initiate your loved ones, wife, parents, children, those with whom you live or communicate often, so that they know your intentions to quit drinking.
And local people will definitely not tell you that you are stupid or crazy. They are close and close to help and, most importantly, to understand. Supporting loved ones is essential at 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 give up.
The Tenth Way to Fight Alcoholism: "Provocation is a Failure"
There is an unwavering rule that if a person has decided not to drink, there is no need to provoke himself. For example, do not go to a store that has alcoholic beverages, or at least avoid departments with invitation bottles.
Try first, until you have established a habit of not drinking, not attending events where there is alcohol. Skip a friend's birthday or grandchild's baptism. You can skip this important event, then you will catch your sober attention to them.
The road to liberation will require sacrifices, but they will be insignificant compared to the sacrifices that can be made if you continue to drink.
The 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 eat a hearty dinner in the evening when you return from work and thoughts of drinking will definitely fade into the background.
Ways:"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 to get rid of depressive situations, for example, meditation. Not everyone gets them, but it's worth a try. Remember one truth about yourself, alcohol does not solve problems, alcohol adds new problems!
When a person refuses alcohol, it is as if something is being lost. Emptiness and discomfort appear. It is necessary in these moments to find something to do for yourself, so to speak, to fill the gap. For example, instead of an evening meeting with a bottle and a glass, go to the movies for an evening show. Buy a ticket to a rock concert and shout with all your heart. By the way, the way to shout is effective, they came home angry, there is no strength to drink, because life is full of "shit", shut up in the bathroom or room and shout, out loud, you can evenspoil the voice, but go for it. And life will no longer seem so unfair. And it is very possible that during the screaming you find the right solution to any problem.
If you wish, you can consult a psychologist or consult a narcologist. The help of a specialist is often very important in these casting moments. A good doctor can even find the cause of your addiction, remove exactly where it all started, and this is an important fact on the way to getting rid of alcohol.
There is now a lot of literature on the topics "How to stop drinking", "The road to sobriety" or "The easy way to stop drinking". Read them. They may not have the expected effect, but they certainly will not do any harm. And it is better to engage in the evening reading these books with tips than to fill your problems with dubious juice.
Ways:"Look at yourself as in a mirror"
Try to put yourself in the place of those people who suffer from your scams when you are drunk. Imagine, for example, your wife or husband in your own country. Your important other gets drunk and misbehaves. If it's at a party, then at least you should be ashamed of your couple. Or if at home, after drinking, he or she made a scandal? Interfere with sleep? Are you happy with that?
Now imagine your children seeing you in this state. As a child, would you like to see your mother or father in the guise of a Neanderthal? Hardly anyone will answer yes. Now imagine sitting at your workplace and your colleague at the next table smelling of smoke, or worse, "fresh. "Or you came to the doctor, and he sits down with a headache after yesterday's party and has no idea how to cure you. Or does a drunk teacher teach your child a lesson?
Imagine how you can overcome situations where alcohol is unpleasant for you, the people who use it, its consequences.
Popular ways to fight alcohol: to use or is it better to be afraid of them?
But in any case, do not use methods that could harm your health. Many, to quit drinking, go to grandmothers, so that they "whisper" and "talk" out of drinking habit. It is good if the grandmother just whispers to you, and if she gives you herbs or tinctures. . . And you can turn from an alcoholic patient into a poisoned patient. If you really think you can not afford it yourself, then contact a narcologist who will prescribe the right treatment and will not harm your health.
Be sure to analyze your life when you drink and this week when you do not drink. Or this year without alcohol. Believe me, the time spent without alcohol is much more lively, interesting and happier than with it. At least try to apply this theory in practice. If you do not like living without alcohol, you can always get back hangovers, interruptions, failures, debts. . alas, alcohol is available for sale here.
The key 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 improving and life is getting better.
As with other chronic diseases, addiction to alcohol or other drugs can be successfully treated. This will allow you to live a full and complete life.
If you find it difficult to cope on your own, contact a drug treatment center. Most people who follow treatment programs not only stop using alcohol or other drugs, but also improve their professional, social, and psychological well-being.