I have prepared this document for anyone who wants to quit drinking on their own or to help a loved one. I'm speaking in simple, non-medical language to give you an understanding of what to do and where to go.
Millions of people are addicted to alcohol. This number is higher than for people with other diseases. Alcoholism not only destroys the family, but also destroys the personality of each person. Alcohol dependence is one of the most difficult disorders to treat and, moreover, can be quite dangerous. Therefore, it is important that we work to prevent and treat alcohol use disorders.
We believe 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 full article and don't get distracted by thinking about some of the topics below.
So! What is alcohol addiction?
Alcoholism is "a disease of mind, body, and spirit. " Because this state includes both physical and psychological desires. And also forced to use alcohol to change mood. And recovering from alcoholism 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 to say, from this definition, alcoholism is a disease on a psychological level. Physical dependence comes much later, when a person transforms into a creature that needs only one thing: a full drink of alcohol. And it doesn't matter that it is an alternative, tincture or something else.
The psychological level of the disease is completely self-resolving. Method of how to quit drinking, I will analyze further. But with physical addiction, you need to see a doctor - an narcissist who has medically treated himself for alcoholism.
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, you are still an alcoholic and you may not be an alcoholic, but there is a problem.
If:
- you have been invited to a party and immediately note that the event will be "dry". And you refuse to go because you don't know how you can have fun and relax without alcohol;
- more and more often you start to retire with alcohol, no matter how strong it is. But you're more comfortable sipping a beer alone than at work;
- only by drinking can you cope with feelings of anxiety and nervousness;
- It is very difficult to deal with the urge to drink, you are not stopped by the circumstances of tomorrow's work. Either you have an important exam, or you need to pass some kind of analysis;
- condemning people who don't drink, something is definitely wrong with this person;
- I'm so drunk that it's hard to remember what I'm doing in the morning.
Next, we'll look at what you can do about it and how to overcome alcoholism.
Stop drinking and change your life for the better!
Initiation of alcoholism and stages of alcoholism
Gradually, an alcoholic begins to abuse it, and it is very difficult not to drink for several days in a row. You're waiting for Friday so you can spend the weekend drinking. After that, the habit of drinking passed into the weekday, and no longer kept it until tomorrow because of work. If before that you were looking for some reason, cat birthday, Bastille day, buying new socks, then drinks will have no excuses, just because I want to. And the question "what to drink" disappears by itself.
Reasons to drink alcohol
They are quite different. They drink because:
- life difficulties appear: a loved one suffers or dies;
- unresolved financial problems: they were fired from work and could not find a new one; "strangulation" loans or mortgages, v. v. ;
- There is no place to stay at home: the wife saw her, her mother-in-law did not rest, the neighbor sharpened his teeth. . ;
- forced by someone;
- not wanting to be different from everyone else;
- for some, this is a sign of adulthood;
- someone just relaxes this way;
- remove your shyness.
It's worth noting that alcoholism starts out differently for everyone. Some people can start from 15-16 years old. Others start at 25-30 years old.
Moreover, drinking becomes a habit, and without it, a person simply cannot feel relaxed. In alcohol we begin to drown our problems, because a drunk person is not interested in what is going on around. And readydrunkenness becomes a disease. . . Because it is bad for a person to be sane to accept the world and fully perceive the situation. Alcohol turns into a "medicine" that heals our only illusions.
Stages of alcoholism
There are several stages of alcoholism:
- The early stages of alcoholism: It's hard to stop drinking, friends come with a bottle of wine, how to refuse? And it doesn't matter that tomorrow is very important. The first stage can be cured without outside help. Desire and work on yourself is important;
- The second stage of alcoholism: when a person drinks a lot, but is not drunk. And without alcohol, there simply cannot be a person. This is the beginning of physical addiction;
- The third stage of alcoholism: is different from the second. When you've had a drink and you can hardly stand on your feet. And this situation is permanent. You need urgent medical treatment.
The most important thingYou have to understand that alcoholism doesn't happen overnight. It involves a complex, ongoing process that takes place in an area of the brain known as the "reward center". Being in the same place regulates and enhances the natural needs that are vital to our existence. This is why the alcoholic brain pursues alcohol and other drugs as if they were essential to our survival. And that's why active people put the pursuit of alcohol or other drugs above almost any other priority.
Scientists have also identified a variety of social, psychological, genetic and other factors that make some people more susceptible to alcoholism than others. In any case, it is important to understand that no one chooses to develop alcoholism. Two people can start drinking, with one being an alcoholic and the other not developing symptoms.
Also remember that people who are already addicted should never use alcohol or other addictive drugs that are not dangerous to their health. Their brain chemistry has changed in such a way that it can be rebalanced through rehabilitation, but this balance will always be vulnerable to being re-used.
Ways and methods of alcohol withdrawal
Effective ways that you can use to combat alcohol. Don't let it turn off until tomorrow. Start right now.
Then follow all the methods described below and you will be able to quit drinking once and for all!
The First Way to Quit Alcohol: "Fear Yourself"
Although they say reading articles about the dangers of alcohol is useless and useless, in the end, no one reads it carefully. If you feel you want to drink more and more often, do not be lazy and read our article again. Better keep it to yourself. And also read about the harmful effects of alcohol. Set aside 15 minutes a day to read small articles. So let's just say, educate yourself and always remember the dangers of alcohol. Think of your liver, of your youth, of your beauty. And also about how hard it is to fight alcoholism. Especially if you do it yourself.
The second way to quit drinking: "Be the actor of your movie"
Another very interesting way to think about giving up alcohol is to film yourself getting drunk. Just put the camera or ask someone. Usually, not everyone can watch their drunken adventures even until mid-shoot. And a sense 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 quit drinking: "Find an ecological substitute"
Finding ways to relax, replacing alcohol with something else is extremely important. Sports, dancing, singing, finding your talent. Reassure yourself that it is important for you to stop drinking. We wanted a drink in the evening, but instead we went for 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 can replace alcohol, for example, with pills. Everyone has willpower, you just have to find it in you and replace alcohol not with another substance that dulls the spirit, but with something that will delight you.
Fourth way to quit drinking: "Clean up your friends list and update your social media. "
If there are people in your social network who drink alcohol and they always push you, cut off communication with such friends. Understand that it's not friends, and keep in mind the lyrics of the song "Without friends, you don't, when you drink up, you run out". The alcoholic social circle is a black hole, from which it is very difficult for you to get out of it with every bottle of wine you drink. And with every bottle you drink, you take a step toward becoming alone.
Moreover, today there are many opportunities to renew your social circle: parks, gyms, hobby clubs. . .
Fifth Way to Quit Alcohol: "Become Your Own Personal Accountant"
Keep a diary to record your alcohol spending. And write down how much you didn't spend on this useless bribe today.
Go to the store and buy yourself a gift with this money, such as 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 to Stop Beating: "Memory Won't Let You Drunk"
Over time, you will learn to control yourself, and a glass of champagne that symbolizes the New Year will not entail drinking a pint of vodka. You'll know your limit: after how many sips you'll want to drink more, or which glasses aren't worth drinking.
Remember how you called "gin out of the toilet" the next morning after drinking and it sounded like your head was going to burst with pain and that would be the ideal choice for you. By the way, if you feel nauseous after heavy drinking, this is a huge bell, it has called you an alcoholic.
Seventh Way to Quit Alcohol Well: "Alcohol's Friend is a Cigarette"
We decided to quit drinking, then we should quit smoking. If this habit is on your list of harmful habits. After all, a cigarette calls for a drink, after another, a cigarette seems more "tasty". But this is an illusion. And so much has been said about the dangers of smoking that it is not worth mentioning here.
Eighth Way: "Analyze Their Actions"
Don't blame yourself for falling in love with this viper. And feel free to talk about not drinking. Sometimes you just need to analyze everything that has happened to you in life. When you drink alcohol, when you feel nauseous, when you want to drink.
You can even split a piece of paper in half and write, in one column, what good wine did for me, in the other column, what troubles it caused. I bet the column with a good score is not necessarily full. But to analyze the impact of alcohol on your life, the data is enough.
Close and dear ones make us official!
Ninth way: "Nearby relatives"
It is very important to admit to yourself that you are addicted. It's not necessary to shout at every corner and introduce yourself: "Hi, my name is Vasya and I'm an alcoholic" No! Just admit it to yourself. Then, if you want, you can notify your loved ones, your wife, your parents, your children, people with whom you live or communicate regularly to let them know your intention to quit drinking.
And native speakers certainly won't tell you that you're stupid or crazy. They are close, close to help and most importantly understand. The support of loved ones is fundamental when it comes to starting your journey to quit drinking. Don't be afraid to say, withdrawing without giving up is more dangerous.
The Tenth Way to Fight Alcoholism: "Provocation is a Failure"
There is an unshakable rule that if a person has decided not to drink, there is no need to provoke himself. For example, don't go to a liquor store, or at least avoid departments with inviting bottles of wine.
At first, try until you form the habit of not drinking, not participating in alcohol events. Skip a friend's birthday or a nephew's christening. You can ignore this important event, then you will catch your sober attention on them.
The path 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: "Dinner by yourself . . . "
A very important aspect in the fight against alcoholism is eating well. Yes Yes. After all, most often you want to drink on an empty stomach, so try to eat a hearty dinner the night you get home from work, and the thought of drinking will definitely go away.
Street:"Stress is a reason to drink"
Try to avoid stressful situations, which is certainly difficult in our day, but possible. Nowadays, on the Internet, you can find many methods to get rid of depression, such as meditation. Not everyone gets them, but it's worth a try. Remember for yourself a truth, alcohol does not solve problems, alcohol adds new problems!
When a person refuses alcohol, it is as if he is missing something. Emptiness and discomfort appear. At these times, it is necessary to find something to do for yourself, to fill the void, so to speak. For example, instead of going on a date night with bottles and glasses, go to the movies tonight. Buy a ticket to a rock concert and scream it out loud at it. By the way, screaming works, they come home angry, no longer have the energy to drink, because life is completely "damn", shut the door in the bathroom or room and scream, make noise, even have a bad time. May be broken voice, but go for it. And life won't seem so unfair anymore. And chances are, in the process of shouting, you will find the right solution to a problem.
If desired, you can consult a psychologist or consult an narrator. The help of a professional is often crucial during these pitching moments. A good doctor can even find out the cause of your addiction, find out what caused it to start, and this is an important truth on the road to alcohol withdrawal.
There is a lot of literature out there on the topics of "How to Stop Drinking", "How to Sober Up" or "Easy Ways to Stop Drinking". Read them. Maybe they won't bring about the expected effect, but certainly won't bring any harm. And you'd be better off sitting in the evening reading these advice books than filling your problems with fluid of ambiguity.
Street:"Look at yourself like in a mirror"
Try to put yourself in the shoes of the people who suffer your antics when you are drunk. Imagine, for example, your spouse in your place. Your lover is drunk and misbehaving. If it's a party, then you should at least be ashamed of your couple. Or if at home, drunk, he or she created a scuffle? Obstructing sleep? Are you satisfied with this?
Now imagine that your children see you in this state. As a child, would you like to see your father or mother in the guise of a Neanderthal? Almost no one answered yes. Now, imagine that you are sitting at your workplace, and your colleague at the next table smells of smoke, or even worse, "fresh". Or you go to the doctor, and he has a headache after the party yesterday and doesn't know how to cure you. Or a drunk teacher teaching your child a lesson?
Imagine what situations you might encounter when alcohol upsets you, the people who use it, its consequences.
Folk ways to combat alcohol: Use or better fear them?
But in no case should you resort to methods that can harm your health. Many people, in order to quit drinking, turn to women to let them "speak", "talk" from their drinking habits. It's good if she just whispers to you, and if she gives you herbal medicine or tinctures. . . And you can turn an alcoholic patient into a poisoned patient. If you really feel that you cannot cope on your own, contact a medical condition specialist who will prescribe the correct treatment that will not harm your health.
Make sure to analyze your life when you drink and this week when you don't. Or no alcohol this year. Trust me, alcohol-free times are a lot more colorful, exciting, and happy. At least try to put this theory into practice. If you don't like living without alcohol products, you can always come back to hangovers, blackouts, failures, debt. . Alas, there's alcohol here.
The main question is: is it realistic to quit drinking?
Millions of people around the world are proof that resilience is stronger than alcoholism. And they are proof that treatments are working, families are getting better, and lives are getting better.
As with other chronic diseases, addiction to alcohol or other substances can be successfully treated. 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 substances, but also improve their occupational, social, and psychological health.