I made this material for those who want to quit drinking themselves or want to help their loved ones. I speak simple, non-medical language to understand what to do and where to go.
Millions suffer from alcoholism. This is much more than for those suffering from other diseases. Alcoholism destroys not only families but also a person’s personality. Alcohol dependence is one of the most serious diseases and can be quite dangerous. Therefore, it is important to work on the prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorders.
We believe that you can get used to drinking! And most importantly, we are ready to help you do it yourself or with the help of experts. Read the article to the end and do not distract yourself from the following topics.
So! What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is "a disease of the soul, body, and soul. " Because this condition involves a physical and psychological desire.
To put it as an expression, according to the great Soviet lexicon, it sounds like this: alcoholism is a chronic mental illness. That is, it follows from this definition that alcoholism is a disease at a psychological level. Physical addiction occurs much later when a person becomes a being who needs one thing to fill himself with alcohol. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a substitute, a tincture or something else.
You can completely overcome the psychological level of the disease on your own. I further analyze the methods of stopping drinking. But if you have a physical addiction, you need to see a doctor - a narcologist, and you already have to treat yourself to an alcohol addiction.
How do you understand that there is a problem and it needs to be solved?
Below I analyze some of the situations that are familiar or close to you. If you have at least one of the signs listed below, you are still addicted to alcohol and you may not be an avid alcoholic yet, but there is a problem.
If:
- they were invited to a party and immediately remarked that the event would be "dry. "And you refused to go because you had no idea how you could have fun and relax without alcohol;
- he is increasingly retiring with alcohol, no matter how strong the alcohol. But sipping beer alone is more comfortable than in company;
- you can only cope with feelings of anxiety and anxiety by drinking;
- it is very difficult to cope with the urge to drink, do not stop the conditions to work tomorrow. Either you have an important exam or you need to go through some sort of analysis;
- condemn those who do not drink at all, something is certainly wrong with this man;
- so drunk that in the morning it is very hard to remember what you did.
We will then look at what you can do about it and how you can overcome your alcohol addiction.
Stop drinking and change your life for the better!
The onset of addiction and the stages of alcoholism
Gradually the alcohol addict will start abusing him and it will be very difficult not to drink for several days in a row. You are waiting for a Friday to spend the whole weekend with a drink. After that, the habit of drinking goes into everyday life and you don’t keep it to work tomorrow. If you’ve been looking for something for a reason before, the cat’s birthday, Bastille Day, bought new socks, the drink will be for no reason, just because I want to. And the question of "what to drink" disappears in itself.
Reasons for drinking
Quite different. They drink because:
- difficulties have arisen in life: a loved one has suffered or died;
- financial issues are not resolved: they have been fired and no new ones can be found; loans or mortgages "stifle", etc . ;
- no rest at home: the wife saws, no rest from the mother-in-law, the neighbor sharpens a tooth. . ;
- someone forced it;
- he does not want to be different from everyone else;
- for some, it is a sign of adulthood;
- someone just relaxes;
- he eliminates his shyness.
It’s worth noting that alcohol addiction starts differently for everyone. Someone can start at the age of 15-16. Others start at the age of 25-30.
Furthermore, alcohol consumption becomes a habit and without it one simply does not feel at ease. We start to stifle our problems with alcohol because the drunk man doesn’t care what happens around us. And alreadysobriety becomes a disease. . . Because it is bad for a sober person to accept the world and perceive the situation adequately. Alcohol becomes a "medicine" that only heals our illusions.
Stages of alcoholism
Alcoholism has several stages:
- The first stage of alcoholism: it is difficult to refrain from drinking, a friend came with a bottle, how to reject it? And it doesn’t matter that there will be very important things tomorrow. The first stage can be cured without outside help. Desire and work on yourself is important;
- The second stage of alcoholism: when one drinks a lot but is not drunk. And without alcohol, it is simply impossible for man to exist. This is the beginning of physical addiction;
- The third stage of alcoholism: is different from the second. When he drank it with a glass and could barely stand on his feet. And this condition is constant. You urgently need medication.
The most important thing, you need to understand that alcohol dependence does not occur overnight. It involves a progressive, complex process that takes place in an area of the brain known as the "reward center. " It also regulates and enhances the natural needs that are vital to our existence. This is why the addicted brain chases alcohol and other drugs as if they werethe substances would be necessary for our survival, and that is why active addicts put the pursuit of alcohol or other drugs above almost any other priority.
Scientists have also identified a number of social, psychological, genetic and other factors that make some people more vulnerable to the development of alcoholism than others. In any case, it is important to understand that no one chooses to develop alcoholism. Two people may start drinking, one will be addicted to alcohol and the other will have no symptoms.
Also keep in mind that people who become addicted should never use alcohol or other addictive drugs without endangering their health. Their cerebral chemistry has changed in such a way that it can be rebalanced through rehabilitation, but this balance always remains vulnerable to re-use.
Ways and methods to stop drinking
Effective methods in the fight against alcoholism. Don't put off until tomorrow. Get started now.
Then follow all the methods described below and you can stop drinking once and for all.
The first way to stop drinking: "Scare yourself"
Although it is said that it is unnecessary to read articles about the dangers of alcohol, it does not help, but in the end no one reads it carefully. If you feel like you want to drink more and more often, don’t be lazy and read our article again. Keep it to yourself. And read about the harmful effects of alcohol as well. Take 15 minutes each day to read small articles. So suppose you intimidate yourself and always remember the dangers of alcohol. Think about your liver, your youth, your beauty. And how difficult it is to fight alcoholism. Especially if you do it yourself.
The second way to stop drinking is "Be your movie actor"
Another very interesting way to think about quitting alcohol is to film ourselves drunk. Just put on a camera or ask someone. Often, not even in the middle of filming, not everyone can watch their drunk adventures. And shame is the hallmark of man and animal. You will also understand how difficult this is for your loved ones.
The third way to stop drinking: "Find an organic substitute"
It is very important to find a way to relax, to replace alcohol with something else. Play sports, dance, sing, find your talent. Reassure yourself that it is important to stop drinking. We wanted to drink in the evening, but we jogged in the fresh air instead. Or he went to the gym.
The point is that this is an environmentally friendly solution, under no circumstances replace alcohol with, for example, tablets. Everyone has willpower, you just have to find it in yourself, and you can’t replace alcohol with another substance that obscures the mind, but with something that brings joy.
The fourth way to stop drinking is to "Clear your friends list and update your community circle. "
If there are people in your social circle who drink and are constantly pushed, get rid of communicating with such friends. Understand that these are not friends, and remember the lyrics to the song, "A friend won’t tell you to drink to the bottom. " The alcoholic social circle is a black hole from which it is very difficult to get out alone with every bottle you eat. And with every bottle you eat, you take a step to be alone.
Moreover, today there are plenty of opportunities to renew the social circle: parks, gyms, hobby clubs. . .
The Fifth Way to Stop Drinking: "Have Your Own Personal Accountant"
Keep a diary in which you record your alcohol consumption. And write down how much you didn’t spend on this useless wash today.
Go to the store and buy yourself a gift of that money, like good quality clothes, a new phone. Reward yourself for stopping drinking! Better yet, save money. See how much you will have in a month and what you can buy instead of alcohol.
The sixth way to stop beating: "Remember not to get drunk"
Over time, you’ll learn to control yourself, and a symbolic glass of champagne for the new year doesn’t mean drinking a liter of vodka. You’ll already know your limits: after how many sips you’ll want to drink more, or which glass isn’t worth drinking.
Remember to remember the next morning after drinking how you called the "gin from the toilet" and how it seemed that your head would now explode in pain, and that would be the ideal solution for you. Anyway, ifafter a hangover or heavy drinking, it’s a very loud bell that you already call an alcoholic.
The seventh way to stop drinking forever is "A friend of alcohol is a cigarette. "
We decided to stop drinking, then we had to stop smoking. If this habit is on the list of harmful ones. After all, a cigarette calls for a drink, one glass after another, a sniff seems "tastier. "But this is an illusion. And there has been so much talk about the dangers of smoking that it is not worth mentioning here.
Eighth Way: "Analyzing Their Actions"
Under no circumstances blame yourself for loving this green snake. And feel free to talk about not drinking. Sometimes you just have to analyze everything that has happened to you in life. When he drank, when he hung out, when he longed to drink.
You can even split a sheet of paper in two and write in one column what good alcohol has given me and in the other what trouble it has caused. I bet a column with good points is unlikely to fill up. But to analyze the impact of alcohol on your life, the data is enough.
The near and dear ones make us full people!
The Ninth Way: "Relatives Are Close"
It is very important that you admit to yourself that you are addicted. It is not necessary to shout and introduce yourself around every corner: "Hello, my name is Vasya and I am an alcoholic" No! Just admit it to yourself. Then, if you want, you can initiate your loved ones, wife, parents, children, those you live with or communicate with often to find out your intentions to stop drinking.
And the natives are definitely not going to say you’re crazy or crazy. They are close enough to help and most importantly to understand. Supporting our loved ones is essential at the beginning of the journey to get rid of the drinking habit. Don’t be afraid to tell, it’s more dangerous to retreat and not give up.
Tenth Way to Fight Alcoholism: "Provocation Fails"
There is an unshakable rule that if someone has chosen not to drink, they do not have to provoke themselves. For example, don’t go to a store where there’s a drink, or at least avoid the compartments with inviting bottles.
Try it first until you have a habit of not drinking or attending events where there is alcohol. Miss a friend’s birthday or nephew’s baptism. You can skip this important event, it will catch your sober attention to them.
The road to salvation will require sacrifices, but they are insignificant compared to what we can bring if you continue to drink.
Eleventh Way: "Have dinner. . . "
Wholeness is a very important aspect in the fight against alcoholism. Yes Yes. After all, you most often want to drink on an empty stomach, so try to have a hearty dinner in the evening when you get home from work, and your thoughts on drinking are sure to be pushed into the background.
Beat:"Stress is a cause of drinking"
Try to avoid stressful situations, this is certainly difficult to do in our time, but it is possible. Now you can find many ways to get rid of depressive situations on the internet, such as meditation. Not everyone gets them, but it’s worth a try. Remember a truth, alcohol doesn’t solve problems, alcohol causes new problems!
If someone refuses to drink alcohol, it’s like losing something. Emptiness and discomfort appear. It is necessary to find something in these moments to occupy yourself, so to speak, to fill the space. For example, instead of an evening date, go to the movies with a bottle and a glass for an evening show. Buy a ticket to a rock concert and shout there from the heart. Anyway, the way of shouting is effective, they came home angrily, no strength to drink, because life is ready to "shit", lock yourself in the bathroom or room and shout, loudly, you can even disturb your voice, but go for it. And life no longer seems so unfair. And it’s very likely that you’ll find the right solution to some problem while screaming.
If you wish, consult a psychologist or narcologist. The help of a professional is often very important in such moments of throwing. A good doctor can even find the cause of the addiction, pull out what it all started with, and that’s an important fact on the road to getting rid of the booze.
There is a lot of literature these days on "How to Stop Drinking, " "The Road to Sobriety, " or "Easy Ways to Stop Drinking. " Read them. They may not have the expected effect, but they certainly won't hurt. And better, if you read these counseling books in the evenings rather than fill your problems with dubious fluids.
Beat:"Look at yourself like in the mirror"
Try to put yourself in the place of people who suffer drunk from your antics. Imagine, for example, your wife or husband in your place. The other party will be drunk and misbehaving. If you’re at a party, at least be ashamed of your partner. Or if you did a scandal at home while drunk? Do you disturb your sleep? are you happy with that
Now imagine your children seeing you in this state. Want to see your mom or dad as a kid in a Neanderthal mask? Hardly anyone will answer yes. Now imagine that you are sitting at your workplace and smelling steamy, or worse, fresh from a colleague at the table next door. Or you come to the doctor and he sits with a headache after yesterday’s feast and has no idea how to cure it. Or is a drunk teacher teaching your child?
Imagine how you can create situations where alcohol is uncomfortable for you, the people who consume it, and the consequences.
Folk methods to fight alcohol: to use or better to be afraid of them?
But under no circumstances should you resort to methods that could harm your health. Many people go to their grandmothers to "whisper" and "talk" about their drinking habits to stop drinking. It’s good for Grandma to just whisper about you and give herbs or tinctures. . . And you can be a poisoned patient from an alcoholic patient. If you really feel you can’t cope alone, consult a narcologist who will prescribe the right treatment and not harm your health.
Be sure to analyze your life when you drank and this week when you didn’t drink. Or without alcohol this year. Believe me, time spent without alcohol is much more colorful, interesting and fun than with it. At the very least, try to put that theory into practice. Anyone who does not like to live without alcohol can always return to a hangover, fainting, failure, debt. . . unfortunately alcohol is available here.
The main question is: is it realistic to quit drinking?
Millions of people around the world are proving that recovery is stronger than alcohol dependence. And this is evidence that treatments are working, families are getting better, and life is getting better.
Like other chronic diseases, alcohol or other drug addiction can be successfully treated. It allows you to live a meaningful and full life.
If you have difficulty coping on your own, contact a drug treatment center. Most people participating in treatment programs not only stop using alcohol or other drugs, but also improve their professional, social, and psychological well-being.