Alcohol dependence is absolutely bad for a person, so everyone needs to know what happens if they suddenly stop drinking, in addition to their usual rhythm of life and general condition of the body. None of us are safe from alcoholism, as the addiction to it develops gradually and unnoticed, starting with a pleasant time with friends. But the simple happiness of communication quickly becomes the death of a vicious circle from which it is very difficult to get rid of.
True, there is such a possibility today thanks to innovative methods of addiction correction that can help overcome alcohol dependence for any reason.
It is impossible to predict exactly how this will happen, as the split will have a number of consequences depending on a number of factors. The following are considered to be the main ones:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Gender and age.
- The quality of the alcohol consumed.
- Doses.
- Duration of ethanol use.
- Human psychomotor abilities.
In fact, all the changes that take place in the body can be divided into: somatic (physical) and psychological.
A diary of a thirsty man: what is it?
Psychologists say that for a person who stops drinking, a special online diary on the site that can be used to combat addiction can be a lifeline.
We run it daily and it is open to anyone who has similar problems. Support from sufferers greatly increases your chances of success. Electronic records record everything that happens to a person who is addicted to alcohol every day: aggravation, failure, improvement. There, the relationship between the strength of the drinks and the withdrawal symptoms can be clearly traced, the material component of the process of alcohol aversion can be calculated, and the amount of alcohol consumed can be viewed.
Most importantly, keeping a diary will help you find the starting point when the most dangerous section of the path to sobriety, the so-called "point from which there is no going back, " is over and confirms the correctness of one’s actions every new day.
In addition, the diary stimulates the analytical activity of the brain, helps to restore the concentration of brain activity, and accelerates the recovery process. Keeping daily records, evaluating the actions of the addicted person by others, by doctors, provides reliable support and assistance in the decision to divorce alcohol.
It should be understood that the path chosen is long. Treatment for alcoholism is complex, involving both inpatient treatment and outpatient visits to a narcologist for one to two years (each individually) because one does not know how to live without ethanol.
The anonymous society of the alcoholic can help in the process of sobriety, there, according to a clear program of 12 steps leading to sobriety, it is possible to really acquire and consolidate the skills necessary for a normal life, to restore its social component. The public discussion of the diary can play a crucial role in its transparency in this case.
Consequences of daily cessation of alcohol consumption
This chart is a good help for the diary. It clearly presents the main periods of alcohol withdrawal, in light of the body’s response to this.
It should be understood that the process of refusing alcohol is difficult and even a fatal outcome is possible if the steps of execution fail.
It all depends on the duration of the alcohol abuse, the doses of ethanol, the condition of the body it is destroying, and the adequacy of the therapy. It must not be forgotten that a sharp rejection is always hard to bear.
| Period | Symptoms | Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | Suppression of the most important functions of the body: hangover, tremor, headache, tachycardia, pressure surges, poisoning, loss of appetite, depression, insomnia. | The home patient is provided with an abundant drink with detoxifying agents and sorbents. Analgesics, antihypertensives, sedatives, and antidepressants to support heart and kidney function are used - on medical advice. In a hospital setting, and sometimes in resuscitation, support for major systems of detoxification and therapy becomes the basis. |
| 48 hours | Poisoning continues with nausea and vomiting, headache, tremors, nightmares, loss of appetite, bitterness in the mouth and dryness of the mucous membranes, and a strong desire to drink. Constipation or diarrhea is associated. | Detox therapy continues with basic, cardiotonic, antihypertensive, and antiarrhythmic drugs that add drugs that normalize the work of the digestive system while restoring water-electrolyte metabolism with copious drinking and multivitamin complexes. They continue to relieve headaches, calming the central nervous system. |
| 72 hours | Frustration, aggression, irritability, nausea, dizziness. Medical care is required when joining hallucinations. | On the third day, along with ongoing detoxification therapy, recovery of central nervous system and PNS functions begins - nootropics are added. Take care to restore liver function - hepatoprotectors. Regulation of urinary excretion. Normal myocardial function, the absence of arrhythmia, remains important. |
| Fifth day | The hangover recedes, appetite appears, symptoms of poisoning melt. All alcohol is removed from the blood. | Strong detoxification therapy is replaced by sorbents, sugar levels are regulated, and diuresis is considered. It supports the condition of the liver and pancreas. He continues to take antidepressants, nootropics, hepatoprotectors. There is a risk of collapse as the desire for alcohol increases as a compensatory psychological reaction to complete cleansing of the body. Ethanol supplies light carbohydrates to the brain. This is a habit and leaving alcohol can cause hypoglycaemia. This should also be considered and stopped with glucose in a timely manner. |
| One Week | Appetite and digestion normalize, sleep will be deep, no nightmares, dry mouth will disappear, liver will be pain free. Heartburn is possible. Potential impotence is particularly uncomfortable. | Particular attention is paid to the recovery of the immune system. Immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory therapy are combined. You are still taking symptomatic medications. Detox therapy is interrupted. Heartburn is relieved with antacids. |
| Two weeks | Consciousness clears. | In the context of symptomatic therapy, a daily regimen, a balanced diet, dosing regimen, and phasing out of medications are developed in conjunction with a physician. Automatic training is connected. |
| Month | The patient begins to think properly, realizes that he has stopped drinking, and regains emotional life and sexual function. The paste disappears, the teeth whiten, the bruises under the eyes disappear. | In this case, a special wallet is useful, where you can put money that can be spent on a bottle, spend more time in the fresh air, try the exercise exercise. At this moment, there is a danger that another genesis will fail: if a former alcoholic suddenly sees a bottle or an old drinking companion. |
| 60 days | Immunity is restored. | This is the period of the complete clinical and laboratory examination to identify weak points in the body to correct the pathology. Sometimes it takes a long time to treat impaired features. |
| 90 days | Psychosomatics have normalized, irritation has disappeared, the body is functioning normally, and health is good. | It is extremely useful for a former alcoholic to have an interesting hobby, a pet, autotrain is still important. At this time, you need to rethink your attitude toward others, rule out communication with the drinking company, spend more time with your family. |
| Half a year | The person regains his or her previous psycho-emotional and social state. | The most important things in this case are continuous self-education, hobbies, family and a clear and unambiguous purpose in life. The program on the 30th day of quitting alcohol is still up to date. Currently, the family's financial situation is improving by saving money on alcohol and increasing the efficiency of former alcohol users. Career growth is possible. |
| Year | All organs and systems are functioning normally. | Return to a full life without alcohol. Psychological and material well-being. |
Recovery period
This is a very difficult time. For the healing period to be successful, you need to understand one simple thing: alcohol is a poison, so there is no need for non-standard treatments except for intense detoxification and the fastest removal of ethanol toxins from the body.
In fact, every poison is special, and every toxic substance has an antidote without which one would die. Yes, and everyone has their own characteristics of the organization. However, poisoning must always be stopped for successful treatment. Then clean and repair all systems.
If the detoxification of the body is done according to general rules, there is no single method of recovery, all purely individual. You need to know exactly how toxic you are (alcohol brand), the dose of toxin you ingest, the condition of your internal organs. That’s why it’s always better to start drinking under medical supervision.
Especially if the body's condition deteriorates sharply after stopping ethanol intake. Only a doctor can select the right antidote and, if necessary, perform resuscitation measures.
The same is true of the process of cleansing the body. All individual. Someone is fed up with their own compensatory abilities. After stopping alcohol consumption, self-healing processes begin, and ethanol is completely depleted without the use of drugs.
However, if the amount of accumulated alcohol metabolites is too high, external help is needed: the introduction of detoxification solutions that dilute the concentration of toxins, stimulate their excretion, maintain the function of the kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas.
The most difficult period of recovery awaits those who have been drinking more than once. They have the maximum depletion of nerve power, their energy credit. This is the state where the chemical activator of your energy abilities constantly enters the body, for which you have to pay with nervous exhaustion: you have to pay interest.
The analogy of those who stop drinking is very appropriate for those who are accustomed to living in debt and suddenly refuse credit. It is very heavy, unpleasant and unusual. But when one slips off this financial and credit needle, after a short time he feels spiritual comfort and confidence in the future.
So it is with alcohol. It's hard to quit, but the future is worth it. You can imagine a calm, happy, prosperous life at the foot of the emotional-energetic staircase and on the upper levels. You just have to take a few steps towards it.
The myth of physical addiction
There is a strong idea among people that it is a mistake to stop drinking suddenly. You have to do this gradually, it will get easier. But this is just another myth.
Sudden withdrawal from alcohol is the only correct way to solve the problem of alcohol dependence. Gradual separation from ethanol will inevitably lead to a return, as the point will come when stress relief or the desire to prove beyond the ability is most easily achieved with an additional dose of alcohol.
In order to facilitate getting rid of addiction, it must be understood and accepted that the desire for alcohol develops only at the level of the psyche and never at the level of the physical needs of the body.
Life without alcohol
A person who has stopped drinking has difficulty socializing in daily life, so psychologists and narcologists recommend several simple rules that can greatly facilitate this process.
Non-alcoholic feast
It turns out that you can share the fun with others at the festive table without ethanol. Keep in mind that energy drinks have a negative effect on the heart and blood vessels, and non-alcoholic beer contains about 1% alcohol.
Even kvass is not safe for someone who stops drinking, it contains alcohol.
It’s better to use delicious tea with lemon, rosehip honey, smoothie - all in the piggy bank of sobriety and good mood at the table.
Relieve stress
Here, everything is simple: workouts relieve stress. By loading the muscles, the head is relieved. You can turn to physiotherapy: high-oxygen cocktails also use energy to combat stress and relieve the nervous system.
Yoga helps many. It replaces smoking and stress pills. The sweet tooth helps to make honey, jam, sweets and ice cream cakes. Sugar will play as an activator of the enjoyment center and can create the illusion of total well-being.
Cook food
Many recipes contain alcohol: barbecue marinades, cognac in cake cream, steaming meat in wine sauce. But all this can be easily replaced without loss of taste and unnecessary complications.
Grape vinegar or Isabella juice is the analogue of wine, the broth cube - beer, ginger - champagne, cherry liqueur - has the same taste as the cold mineral water syrup.
In addition, you can use the following knowledge:
- Self-hypnosis is the guarantee that you will not return to alcohol.
- If you feel like drinking, drinking anything other than alcohol will help you 100%.
- Keep filling in the air, preventing hypoxia.
- If you have digestive problems, try to normalize naturally: a diet high in vegetables, fiber, prunes at night with kefir.
- Drink 10 glasses of clean water daily.
- The morning shower tones and creates a good atmosphere.
- Avoid unnecessary feasts, watch comedies with your family more often, pamper yourself with your favorite sweets - all this will ward off depression.
- Share your experiences with loved ones.
And then living without alcohol is a joy.