Alcoholism is a disease characterized by dependence on alcohol. It, on the other hand, consists of two main components: mental and physical, so before answering the question "How to stop drinking alcohol on your own? ", it is important to consider the causes and factors in the formation of addiction.
Causes of excessive alcohol consumption
- Genetic factor.Despite the fact that it exists, studies of alcohol dependence show the following statistics: the risk of developing alcoholism in children of alcohol-dependent parents increases on average by ¼. This allows us to affirm that the primary role in the formation of the disease is given to social and psychological factors, and heredity acts as a favorable "background" that predisposes the progression of alcoholism.
- Social factorsrepresent a set of reasons and life circumstances that prompt a person to drink alcohol.
- pressure from others - in this case, a person begins to drink "socially" in order not to differ from the rest of the team members, in order to preserve traditions or fit better into the team, etc. ;
- unsatisfactory or complex professional activity - having a lot of time, boredom, incorrectly chosen work that does not correspond to personal needs and interests, as well as a profession that involves excessive physical and mental stress, high risks and responsibilities;
- unsatisfactory quality of life - unfavorable living conditions or unpleasant neighborhoods, financial difficulties, poor nutrition, lack of stable income.
- Psychological reasonsBasically, they represent an inability to adapt to the realities of life, a lack of self-confidence and strengths. They mainly consist of the following factors:
- demonstrative behavior - deliberately attracting the attention of the public or a narrow circle of people;
- lack of trusting relationships, the opportunity to talk about "painful issues";
- internal discrepancy with the images of the Ideal Self - low self-esteem, self-accusation and self-reproach;
- impossibility of personal self-realization - lack of family, difficult relations with parents ("I'm a bad boy", etc. );
- drinking as a way to remove psychological "barriers" - timidity, shyness, anxiety;
- fear, phobia, increased anxiety, doubt;
- the need to relieve tension, the inability to independently overcome stress and psycho-emotional stress.
So, the list of factors is quite extensive, and before you start looking for answers on how to quit alcohol, you need to understand what may have caused your alcohol addiction. However, not every alcoholic is ready to analyze the background of the problem and determine the cause of addiction; moreover, during the existence of alcohol, it has acquired a large number of myths that "justify" the harmful desire for the bottle. The main ones are presented below.
Myths about alcohol
Alcohol is the best helper in the fight against diseases
This is a common misconception about many diseases and conditions of the body. It is believed that a glass of alcohol can help fight colds and hypothermia, "disinfect" the intestines, relieve headaches and lower blood pressure. Moderate consumption of alcohol in a variety of sources is also allowed for pregnant women - it is allowed to drink a glass of red wine from time to time to increase tone, relieve stress on the cardiovascular system and improve mood. However, even in cases where alcohol temporarily stabilizes the condition, it in no way helps to overcome the disease, moreover, it is a toxic substance and only worsens the disease. It must be remembered that there are no therapeutic doses, but there is always the risk of complications and the formation of a stable addiction.
Alcohol relieves stress
In fact, drinking alcohol not only does not solve problems and does not eliminate the source of stress, but also adds new difficulties. Moreover, a person forgets how to relax himself, regulate his mental state and loses the ability to cope with life's troubles. The destruction of the nervous system leads to an even greater sensitivity to external factors, reduced resistance to stress, which creates a vicious circle from which it becomes increasingly difficult for the drinker to get out.
Alcohol is not a drug
Despite the legality of alcohol and its general availability, the mechanism of development of addiction to it is the same as with hard narcotic substances. The only difference is the period during which a continuous addiction is created. The withdrawal syndrome is also somewhat different, but it occurs in both cases when the body stops taking the usual substance. In addition, the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction also has the most similar stages: the detoxification procedure, the work of a narcologist, psychological and social rehabilitation.
Occasional drinking is normal
Events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, corporate parties, etc. are always accompanied by collective drinking of alcohol. However, they are not a reason to drink, but a reason to justify one's weakness and inability to withstand the crowd. Traditionally, there is no direct link between certain events and alcohol consumption; this connection for most people is due to the example of authoritative adults - however, this does not mean that you should blindly follow such a "tradition" and set an appropriate example for your children.
Rare drinking is normal
Features of the culture, as mentioned above, presuppose quite frequent consumption of alcohol - an abundance of holidays, ceremonial holidays, the traditional "Friday" that precedes the weekend. . . Against the background of the frequency of alcohol consumption by friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, a person may seem to drink extremely rarely. As a person gets used to alcohol, the personal norm changes - the person still believes that he is not subject to the habit and rarely drinks.
I drink alcohol "for courage"
Often people drink in order to feel safe, decide to take a certain action or meet a nice person, or have a spiritual conversation with friends or acquaintances. But the joy of communication does not lie in a shared alcoholic intoxication - in cases where an inferiority complex, a prejudiced attitude towards oneself, a lack of confidence in its attraction and strength does not allow the formation of social contacts, it must be done deeply. work on yourself and don't use a glass.
So we see that real and imaginary causes of alcoholism differ significantly, which can lead to confusion for a drunkard. However, if he wants to overcome his desire for alcohol, he should adhere to the following tips and rules.
Tips on how to stop drinking on your own
The first and most important recommendation is a strong desire to overcome the desire for alcohol. However, in order for it to be formed, certain conditions must be met.
right time
Most often, the desire to quit a dangerous habit comes after a good "party" - a person feels so bad that he often makes a promise not to drink alcohol again.
Stimulus
How to stop drinking alcohol if there is nothing or no one to do it? As a rule, a convincing argument in favor of a sober life is needed.
Taking care of your health
Few drinkers are aware of the harm they are causing themselves - they understand that drinking alcohol is harmful, but they do not understand what exactly alcoholism entails. Perhaps documentaries, articles, books about the dangers of alcohol, as well as negative personal experiences of friends can help achieve this goal.
Caring for loved ones
It is no secret that excessive alcohol consumption affects not only the addict's psyche, but also the psychological state of those around him. It is important to remember about your loved ones - parents, spouse, children - it is the closest circle that often asks the question of how to convince a loved one to stop drinking. This is a good incentive to start a sober life.
The desire to maintain social status, profession, wealth
Many alcoholics realize that a process of degradation is beginning: the quality of work deteriorates, efficiency decreases, and soon you may simply lose your job. Alcohol is also an obstacle to career growth.
In fact, everyone can have their own motivation - someone has experienced a moral shock, someone is afraid to divorce a spouse who has categorically given an ultimatum, someone does not want to lose their moral character. You need to determine which areas of life are most important and understand how alcohol affects them.
Acceptance of change
It happens that the main question is not "How to stop drinking alcohol? ", but "What to do when I quit? ". What to do on Friday night? How to go fishing with friends or girlfriends for "reunion"? What should you do at a wedding or birthday? In this case, you need to remember the pleasant changes - moderate entertainment, a pleasant pastime, no need to "get sick" after the holidays, etc. , And a new way of life will be formed naturally and easily.
The ability to relax
Learning relaxation techniques is required not only for those who have become accustomed to drinking due to stress, but also for all those who are determined to get rid of the addiction. Withdrawal syndrome, stress from life changes, pressure from others - all this can require the ability to self-regulate in the right way. This can be done by:
- meditation;
- self-massage;
- breathing exercises etc.
Some people find it helpful to simply count to 10 and take deep breaths; others need deep spiritual practices and serious exercises. You need to find something that will help you.
Exercise helps take your mind off things
Physical activity not only takes up most of your time, but also contributes to the overall health of the body, releases "hormones of happiness", diversifies life and allows you to feel the joy of sobriety. This can be facilitated by yoga, running, swimming, skiing, horseback riding, etc.
Hobbies bring interest back into life
In order for a person to realize his potential, strong family relationships and a favorite job are not enough. It is also important to do something you like - creativity not only promotes relaxation, but also strengthens self-confidence and in some cases leads to success. Reading books, crafts, wood carving, writing poetry, or even writing your own blog, including one that covers the question "How to stop drinking? " – you need to find the hidden potential in yourself andgive him a way out.
Psychological work on oneself - advice for drunkards
In fact, every alcoholic has a number of psychological problems: guilt, self-doubt, embarrassment, inability to build trusting relationships with others, a feeling of "abandonment" - just a significant part of the list of characteristic feelings and states. . You need to work on it: perhaps completing a 12-step treatment program or psychocounseling sessions will help overcome the barriers that have arisen; maybe you can do it yourself. However, this point is mandatory, because eliminating the root of the problem is the key to success.
Other methods of alcohol treatment
Traditional medicine also helps in the treatment of alcoholism. It seems, how can folk remedies help you stop drinking alcohol? However, there are some common methods by which the desire for alcohol is weakened.
How to help yourself with a boil?
A decoction of thyme herb induces vomiting and aversion to alcohol. 15 g of dry herbs are boiled with 2 cups of boiling water, boiled for 10-15 minutes, then a little boiled water is added until the original volume is obtained. It is taken twice a day in the proportion of 50ml/15ml vodka.
Tea as part of treatment for alcohol addiction
Ivan tea is mixed with thyme in proportions 5: 1, boiled with boiling water and brewed for 15-20 minutes. After the tea has cooled to the desired temperature (it should not be scalding), a little honey is added. It should be consumed when the desire to drink arises, the permitted amount is up to 5 glasses per day.
Despite the abundance of advice on how to stop drinking alcohol on your own, a small percentage of people who crave alcohol succeed. In most cases, for full recovery it is necessary to visit a drug treatment center to receive drug treatment, and then undergo social and psychological rehabilitation.