In the life of every thinking person who is in a prolonged situation of alcohol abuse, there comes a limit phase when he asks the questions, what is next and how to stop drinking? In order for radical changes to take place, doubts and thoughts alone are not enough, they must be supported by a firm determination to carry out our plans. If it were that simple, then the question of how to stop drinking hard alcohol forever, or even just how to stop drinking beer, would not be so acute in front of millions of people. However, this is possible and the examples of the lucky ones who managed to get out of this vicious circle serve as confirmation.
What is alcoholism?
Experts say that alcoholism is not only an addiction, but also a serious disease. It has a somatic character, which is why both psychological and physiological addiction to strong drinks is formed. Furthermore, alcoholism is a personal, social and even economic problem that affects many. The disease paralyzes not only the fate and body of alcoholics, but also the lives of their loved ones.
Separately, it must be said about the alcoholism of beer, as too many are wondering how to stop drinking beer. Although this drink is weak, it is quite insidious. Since it rarely leads to severe alcoholism, most do not consider it dangerous, but it is often not possible for many to stop drinking beer.
This beer contains a sedative hop extract. This is why many people crave this drink during times of stress. But do not forget that this is still an alcoholic drink, additionally rich in phytoestrogens (an analogue of female sex hormones). And since beer lovers are often men, this hobby does not pass without a trace for them. They usually show signs of feminization (muscle weakening, breast enlargement, distribution of female body fat), so it is important to stop drinking beer before these problems appear.
Causes of the disease
Despite the opinion of scientists that in some cases alcohol addiction is due to a hereditary predisposition, but no one who is born is destined to become an alcoholic. After all, drunkards are not born, they become. And everyone has their own way of falling into this trap. Thus, someone faces the problems of personal life, the loss of a loved one, and someone who enters this vicious circle "helps" a cheerful company of drinking companions.
Some people drink out of boredom to kill time, others out of courage, to get rid of some fears or to relax with friends. But whatever the reason that pushes a person to consume alcohol, the result is always the same: ruined life, health, ruined relationships with loved ones, broken families, careers, moral and mental degradation of the individual.
Depression can also cause alcoholism.
Stages of the disease
There are several stages in the development of alcohol addiction.
- A person who drinks, although he feels an increased craving for alcohol, has not yet developed a physical dependence, which means that there is no withdrawal syndrome. But it is difficult for him to fight the urge to drink, as he does not understand why he should give up something that brings a lot of pleasure. Also, at this stage, many still think they are in complete control of the process, but this is far from true. People have a higher tolerance to alcohol and this often bolsters their confidence that they "know how to drink". It is at this stage that people drink to the point of losing their memory or completely unconscious.
- In the second stage, physical dependence on alcohol begins to form, and attempts to stop drinking are accompanied by a severe withdrawal syndrome, reminiscent of drug withdrawal. Also, during this period, tolerance reaches its peak, that is, alcohol drinks and does not get drunk. At this stage, the person already needs medical assistance to overcome the addiction.
- The third stage is characterized by a complete lack of control, mental and mental degradation of a person, when intoxication occurs from even the smallest doses of alcohol. A similar phenomenon is associated with the fact that in the phase of increased tolerance, a person drank alcohol in quantities capable of bringing a normal person into a coma and eventually led to the liver having stopped producing enzymes that break down alcohol. .
Since it is possible to stop drinking alcohol on your own only in the first phase of addiction, which many "escape" without understanding the impending problem, you should not feed yourself with illusions and immediately seek help from specialists.
The nuances of female alcoholism
Alcoholism is often considered a male problem, but that's not the case at all. Yes, female alcoholism is not such a common phenomenon, which is explained by the specifics of the psyche of women - they are more resistant to stress. In addition, society also imposes certain stereotypes and alcohol often becomes a status drink, a kind of sign of masculinity. Therefore, the motivation for drinking strong drinks in men is stronger. Under these conditions, women are less likely to sleep.
But it is much more difficult for a woman to stop drinking, especially on her own. This is facilitated by female physiology: ethanol is degraded a little worse by the liver and is absorbed much faster in the intestine. Due to these body characteristics, strong drinks harm women much more. First of all, the reproductive function suffers: women who systematically consume alcohol are more often diagnosed with infertility and children with physical and mental disabilities are born. And since it is very difficult for a woman to stop drinking, it is best for any woman in her right mind to abstain from drinking alcohol altogether.
Dependency Removal Tactics
There are several strategies to eliminate alcohol addiction. Some experts believe that it is necessary to gradually "tie up" by lowering the alcohol dose to acceptable levels or to zero. And the obvious advantage of this method is the absence of withdrawal symptoms. But in practice, this method is rather difficult to apply due to the high risk of exhaustion and a return to heavy drinking. Therefore, the technique is rarely used.
Another technique is a complete, one-step refusal of alcohol. Its indisputable advantage is that it is much less tempting for the patient to return to the previous lifestyle. However, it is not recommended to apply this technique if a person is binging because of the increased risk of withdrawal. In this case, the experts first take the person out of the binge and only then introduce a complete taboo on alcohol. It is very important that the choice of this or that method is made by a narcology specialist and not by the patient himself or his relatives. Since it is not that easy to stop drinking at home, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor.
Avoiding alcohol completely is a technique to stop drinking.
Ways to deal with a harmful disease
Fighting a destructive habit will be useless until the person realizes they are sick and need help. Only these people stop drinking once and for all. But most alcoholics do not properly evaluate their behavior and believe that there is no problem and that they can "quit" alcohol at any time. Since the problem is obvious to the environment, loved ones can force them to stop drinking forever by pressing morally or trying to heal them in secret.
But no matter what drugs are given to such a person, no matter how good psychologists work with them, the result will be predictable: the patient will not be able to stop drinking for a long time and sooner or later will collapse, returningto addiction. Without an internal attitude to change everything, any action will be useless.
There are many ways to help those who are determined to stop drinking get rid of alcoholism. But there is no universal method suitable for everyone. Since all people are different and come to addiction in different ways, they come out of this trap in different ways. Of course, willpower cannot be underestimated, as there are those who have been able to stop drinking on their own. But there are not many of them, since it is mainly people who do not have an iron will who slip into alcoholism.
Also, do not forget that the decision to stop drinking is the result of clear thinking and for many years of alcoholism, ethanol disrupts the natural processes in NS and many of these people do not have the purely physical ability to takesuch a decision. But this is only one side of the coin. The other is that alcohol is physically addictive and sudden refusal of alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological techniques
They will be useful to anyone who has quit alcohol, regardless of whether they have taken this path alone or with the help of a narcologist. The first thing a person should do is analyze the factors that led to addiction. The first priority is to avoid such provocative factors. So you need to focus on the following.
Find your call
Often a person starts drinking to smooth out the contrast between the real state of affairs and his expectations, ambitions and inability to fully realize himself. This is another reason why men are addicted to alcohol. After all, questions about self-realization and status are top of mind for them.
A change of business or job can help. But don't underestimate hobbies and hobbies. It is necessary to find such a hobby that completely captures, leaving almost no free time not only for drinking, but also for thinking about it. The options for hobbies are endless, but in this matter it is important to understand that successes in any field do not appear immediately, therefore, satisfaction from the process itself is very important.
Reject the previous circle and minimize temptations
Of course, there should be no alcohol in the home of an addict. Drinks and supplies cannot be left for guests. Plus, you shouldn't be tempted by beer either, as most of them can't stop drinking beer. The problem is that many people don't take their beer addiction seriously.
Furthermore, there should be no empty bottles in the home of a person who stops drinking, as nothing should remember the past. All these nuances should be remembered by his environment. Relatives are obliged to help the quitting drinker in every possible way, and if he himself sees that they or his friends are driving him back to addiction, then it is worth changing the circle of friends or limiting the interaction with these people at least temporarily. .
To quit drinking, you need to throw all alcohol out of the house.
The addict should not visit places where alcohol can be offered (banquets, parties) and it is better to bypass alcohol outlets at first. In the first stage of the fight, the pitcher's will is still very weak, so he doesn't need unnecessary temptations.
Self Promotion
It is also important to reward yourself for giving up alcohol. Instead of buying another bottle, you can settle for something that simply wasn't enough money before. You can also have a separate piggy bank and refill it whenever you want to buy a drink. As a rule, after a month of such an experiment, a person is literally overwhelmed by the amount saved.
Communication
Harmony with other people and comfortable communication are an excellent tool against alcoholism. Sometimes it is enough to realize how much easier and more constructive it is to communicate with people in a sober state, rather than in an altered state of consciousness, for things to go well. That's why there are many groups that support alcoholics, where you can not only share your story, but also get the support you need.
Drugs
Pharmaceutical companies systematically supply the market with remedies for alcohol addiction. But you need to understand that these are not magic pills, from the intake of which alcoholism disappears by itself. They are only an auxiliary tool for those who have embarked on a difficult path of self-healing, and they help not to stray from it.
There are two types of drugs used: some cause an aversion to alcohol and others help to get rid of physical addiction to alcohol. The first group of drugs is suitable for people who have never had a particularly pronounced hangover syndrome and that is why they quickly became addicted to alcohol.
In the second case, with a strong physical dependence on alcohol, benzodiazepines are assigned, which act on the same receptors as ethanol. But the course of taking them should be short, as instead of alcohol addiction, an even more dangerous addiction to psychotropic drugs may appear.
Folk remedies
The most popular remedy for cleansing the body of alcoholic toxins is the infusion of oats. To prepare it, pour 1 cup of oats with 5 cups of boiling water and leave it for at least 3 hours. Drink 0. 5 cups before meals, 5 times a day.
Aversion to alcohol helps to induce such a simple remedy as thyme tea. To obtain the product you need 15 g of aromatic herbs, pour 500 ml of boiling water and let it rest for 15 minutes. Use the infusion at the rate of 50 ml of product for 15 ml of vodka.
The decoction of St. John's wort has the same properties. It is prepared according to the following scheme: 4 tbsp. L. the aromatic herbs are poured with 500 ml of hot water and the product is left in a bain-marie for at least half an hour. The finished broth is taken twice a day, over a 2-week course.
The influence of diet and lifestyle in the disease
Nutrition and physical activity are equally important during the period of alcohol withdrawal. It is important for a thirsty person to adhere to the drinking regime (water helps detoxify the body) and drink 2-2. 5 liters of water per day. It is also worth paying attention to the diet and introducing products that stimulate the synthesis of endorphins and serotonin (fresh fruit, chocolate, meat), containing vitamins of group B (legumes, fish, eggs). At the same time, it is necessary to adhere to moderation in food and limit fatty, spicy and salty, since long-term alcohol consumption is associated with the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system.
The introduction of sport into the life of such a person is no less important. Even a simple walk will stimulate the release of endorphins, and if you add exercise, yoga, jogging, this will significantly strengthen not only the body, but also the nervous system. However, when choosing physical activity, the general state of human health must be taken into account - in some cases, sport may be contraindicated.