If a person who drinks is wondering how to stop drinking alcohol on his own, then this is already the first step in the fight against alcohol addiction. A psychiatrist-narcologist shares his professional experience on how to help a person solve this problem and achieve success in an independent fight against the green snake.
Is it always possible to stop drinking on your own and how not to miss this opportunity?
If we talk about the stages of development of alcoholism, then it is possible to give up drinking forever at its first stage, when only a psychological dependence on alcohol is formed. In the second stage, the problem worsens and is complicated by the integration of ethyl alcohol into metabolic processes with the formation of physical dependence. It is possible at this stage for the patient to stop drinking alcohol, but it is extremely difficult. In the third and final phase of alcoholism, the patient does not even face the question of how to stop drinking alcohol on his own. He is no longer able to adequately assess the situation, the craving for alcohol becomes irresistible, has a physiological character and is complicated by the development of a number of mental, neurological and somatic disorders. In this case, you will have to resort to forced alcoholism treatment.
Therefore, it is important not to ignore the first signs of the development of alcohol dependence, analyze the situation and aim to overcome the craving for alcohol. One should be careful about the following points:
Change from occasional drinking to regular drinking. If you used to drink only on holidays and no more than once a week, but now you regularly drink in "warm" company every Friday after the end of the work week, you should think about it and try to stop this dangerous tradition. Harmless Friday alcoholic gatherings cansoon to continue with Saturday drinking, Sunday hangovers and the development of alcoholism on the weekend. And this is a shortcut to intense alcoholism of the body with all the resulting negative consequences for mental and physical health, problems with loved ones and work.
Increased volume of alcohol consumed and difficulty in controlling it. The lack of a sense of proportion does not allow a person to stop drinking alcohol in time and becomes the cause of severe alcohol intoxication.
Change in social circle and free time. Old friends become uninteresting, the addict prefers the company of drinking friends, former hobbies are replaced by a search for ways to satisfy a more attractive alcoholic hobby.
A rather ominous sign of the beginning of the transition from stage 1 to stage 2 alcoholism is the increase in tolerance to alcohol, when an increasing amount of alcohol is required to achieve the effect. It manifests itself in the fact that the patient can drink a lot of alcohol without obvious intoxication and a subsequent hangover. Many even brag about this "superpower" of theirs, without suspecting that this is a sign of the progression of alcohol addiction.
Celebrating with only alcohol and inventing new occasions to drink. The most typical is stress relief, for which there are more than enough reasons in our daily lives. Any holiday or sad date, even a minor event, can become an occasion to celebrate with alcohol.
Difficulties in communicating with relatives, friends and work colleagues. Without the usual dose of alcohol, a person becomes irritable, suspicious, restless, aggressive, his autonomic nervous system suffers, and inadequate mental reactions to the actions and words of others appear.
In addition, it is possible that ethyl alcohol has a negative effect on the liver, resulting in nausea, vomiting and indigestion. In practice, damage can occur to any organs, especially those that were initially affected by some disease. For example, in hypertensive patients, blood pressure problems worsen; with weakened pancreatic function, alcoholic pancreatitis may develop; the kidneys suffer due to the constant diuretic and toxic effects of alcohol.
What should be the psychological atmosphere conducive to solving the problem of how to stop drinking alcohol on your own?
Paraphrasing this question, we can formulate it as follows: how to stop drinking alcohol alone at home? Naturally, this can only happen in a favorable psychological environment at home and at work. The main thing that is required from others is:
Minimizing all temptations. You should not mention alcohol in conversations about parties and corporate events, keep a supply of it at home, combine holidays and picnics with drinking alcoholic beverages and visit wine and vodka stores. It is also necessary to avoid drinking company.
It is mandatory to reward the achievements of a drinker, even if he has abstained from drinking for only one day. The difficult path of self-healing from alcoholism requires the full cooperation of his family and friends.
Maximum involvement of the addict in family free time, collective events for a healthy lifestyle. These include games with children, family walks and outings in nature, sports, hikes with non-drinking friends. You can even get a pet, especially a dog, that needs to be walked regularly and thus teach the drinker self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.
Creating such an atmosphere will contribute to the return of the taste for life without alcohol, the ability to get joy from a previously favorite activity, simple human communication, the beauty of nature and a breath of fresh air without the admixture of alcohol fumes.
What are your specific recommendations on how to stop drinking?
I can offer the following practical advice on how to stop drinking alcohol:
Before you begin to give up alcohol on your own, outline an action plan that analyzes the causes of your addiction. Before doing this, it is still advisable to consult a psychiatrist-narcologist, who will tell you the most optimal way to get rid of a dangerous addiction. You may be able to stop drinking immediately and forever, or you may be better off gradually reducing your alcohol intake. Try to strictly follow the developed plan regarding the amount and frequency of drinking alcohol. At the same time, the number of sober days per week should be greater than the number of "drunk" days.
To control the entire process of self-treatment, keep a diary in which you carefully monitor what you drink, note all your achievements and moments of stressful situations. Pay special attention to the situations in which you had the desire to solve problems with the help of alcohol and how you courageously refused this opportunity.
You can visualize your desires by hanging posters in your apartment with catchphrases about the dangers of alcohol, your photos before and after alcohol abuse, drawings or photos on the topic of your ideas of happiness - a family photo with the happy faces of loved ones, a modela car you would like to buy, a paradise outside the city, delighted work colleagues, etc.
Avoid companies where alcohol is an essential part of the entertainment. Drinking buddies will never be your allies.
Do not relax with alcohol on weekends, it is better to get your dose of pleasure while communicating with loved ones or on the sports field. Physical activity promotes the production of the hormone of happiness, which can completely replace the alcoholic euphoria. Feeling confident in your strength and fitness will help you cope with any stress and increase your sense of self-sufficiency.
Take up a job or hobby you love. This will benefit your intellect and take your mind off the constant thoughts of drinking. Do something nice for yourself at least 3 times a day - for example, buy your favorite fruit from the market, buy an interesting book from the bookstore, buy a new fishing hook or bait from the sporting goods store. Do not save money on this, believe me, a bottle of vodka will not cost less, but it will do much more harm.
Try to discuss your problem with people around you who have already given up alcohol. Do not hesitate to ask them for advice, usually such people are ready to share their successes and methods of dealing with alcohol addiction with their fellows.
Adjust your daily routine, get enough sleep and eat right. Avoid foods that used to be a favorite snack while drinking - spicy, salty, dried, etc. For example, dried gobies can be a reason to drink beer.
The morning and the process of waking up should always be pleasant - the usual sweet "stretches", invigorating water treatments, delicious breakfast, favorite music and even "hugs" with your faithful dog.
Drink a lot of water - it will intensively remove the remains of alcohol and its breakdown products from the body.
Don't get tired of bragging about every sober day or resisting the temptation to drink. "Oh, well done! "This will help create a positive emotional background and increase self-esteem.
In addition, learn to say "no" to persistent offers to drink. Of course, you cannot completely abandon parties or corporate events, the conditions of modern life often require such communication. Just remember that you do not need to drink alcohol just because youis suggested. Be diplomatic, polite, but firm in your refusal to drink. Don't be afraid to look like a black sheep, because it is better than depending on the next dose of alcohol and becoming an avid alcoholic. Then society will definitelyturn his back on you.
Keep in mind that it is not always possible to achieve a positive result on the first try. But this should not stop you from trying to get rid of alcohol addiction. The key to quitting alcohol for good is methodical and persistent. In no case do not be disappointed, in any case, on the second or third attempt, you will be able to lead a completely sober lifestyle. You may need professional psychological support, but this is only if you have a weak will and an unstable nervous system. Accept help in any form - there's nothing wrong with that, you'll just have a wider field of effective ways to self-heal from addiction.