Alcoholism is a disease characterized by dependence on alcohol. This, in turn, consists of two main components: mental and physical, which is why the "How to stop drinking alcohol on your own? "before answering the question, it is important to consider the causes and factors of the development of addiction.
Reasons for excessive alcohol consumption
- Genetic factor.Despite its existence, studies on alcohol addiction show the following statistics: children of alcoholic parents have an average ¼ increase in the risk of developing alcoholism. This allows us to state that social and psychological factors play a primary role in the development of the disease, and heredity acts as a favorable "background" that predisposes to the progress of alcoholism.
- Social factorsthey represent a group of reasons and life circumstances that encourage people to drink alcohol.
- pressure from others - in this case, a person begins to drink "socially" in order not to differ from other members of the team, to maintain traditions or to fit in better with the team, etc. ;
- unsatisfactory or complex professional activity - a lot of time, boredom, incorrectly chosen work that does not meet 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 neighborhood, financial difficulties, poor nutrition, lack of stable income.
- Psychological reasonsBasically, they mean the inability to adapt to the reality of life, the lack of confidence in ourselves and our strengths. They mainly consist of the following factors:
- demonstrative behavior - deliberately arouses the public or a narrow circle of people;
- the lack of trusting relationships, the possibility of raising "painful questions";
- internal inconsistency with images of the Ideal Self - low self-esteem, self-blame 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 "limitations" - shyness, shyness, anxiety;
- fears, phobias, increased anxiety, suspicion;
- 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 looking for an answer on how to quit alcohol, you need to understand what may have caused alcohol addiction. However, not all drinkers are ready to analyze the background of the problem and reveal the cause of addiction, moreover, during the existence of alcohol, many myths have accumulated that "justify" the desire for harmful glass. The main ones are presented below.
Myths about alcohol
Alcohol is the best assistant 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 from many sources is allowed even for pregnant women - an occasional glass of red wine can bedrink to increase the voice, relieve cardiovascular stress and improve mood. However, even in cases where alcohol temporarily stabilizes the condition, it does not help in any way to overcome the disease, in fact, it is a toxic substance and only makes it worseIt should be remembered that there are no therapeutic doses, but there is always the risk of complications and the development of 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 creates new difficulties. In addition, a person forgets how to independently relax, regulate his mental state, and loses the ability to withstand life's difficulties. The destruction of the nervous system leads to an even greater susceptibility to external factors, a decrease in resistance to stress, which creates a vicious circle from which the drinker finds it increasingly difficult to escape.
Alcohol is not a drug
Despite the legality and general availability of alcohol, the mechanism of addiction is the same as that of hard drugs. The only difference is the period during which permanent dependence is established. The withdrawal syndrome is also slightly different, but in both cases it occurs when the body does not receive the usual drug. In addition, the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction has the most similar stages: the detoxification process, the work of a narcologist, psychological and social rehabilitation.
Occasional drinking is normal
Events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, company parties, etc. , always accompanied by shared alcohol consumption. However, these are not reasons to drink, but to justify one's own weakness and inability to stand up to the majority. Traditionally, there is no direct connection between certain events and alcohol consumption, this association for most people is only due to the example of authoritative adults - but this does not mean that you should blindly follow such a "tradition" and set the right example for your children.
Infrequent drinking is normal
The specifics of the culture, as mentioned above, presuppose fairly frequent alcohol consumption - an abundance of holidays, festive feasts, the traditional "Friday" before the weekend. . . Friends, acquaintances and colleagues may seem like someone drinks extremely rarely. 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"
People often drink to feel confident, to decide to do a certain action, or to make an acquaintance with a nice person, or to have a spiritual conversation with friends or acquaintances. However, the joy of communication does not lie in a shared alcoholic intoxication - in cases where the inferiority complex, the prejudiced attitude towards oneself, the lack of confidence in one's own attractiveness and strength do not allow the development of social relations, it is necessary to do it deeply. work on yourself and don't resort to a glass.
So we see that the real and imaginary causes of alcoholism differ significantly from each other, which can confuse the drinker. However, if you want to beat your alcohol cravings, you should follow the following tips and rules.
Tips to stop drinking on your own
The first and most important recommendation is a strong desire to overcome the desire for alcohol. However, certain conditions must be met for this to occur.
The right time
Most often, the desire to quit a dangerous habit comes after a good "feast" - a person feels so bad that he often promises to stop drinking alcohol.
Stimulus
How to stop drinking alcohol when there is nothing or no one to do it? In general, a compelling argument is needed in favor of sober living.
Taking care of your health
Few drinkers are aware of the harm they are doing to themselves - they understand that alcohol consumption is harmful, but they do not know what alcoholism entails. Perhaps documentaries, articles, books about the dangers of alcohol, as well as the personal negative experiences of friends can help you achieve this goal.
Caring for loved ones
It is no secret that excessive alcohol consumption affects not only the psyche of the addict, but also the psychological state of those around him. It is important to remember that the closest circle of loved ones - parents, spouse, children - often asks how to get their loved ones to stop drinking. This is a good incentive to start a sober life.
The desire to preserve social status, profession, wealth
Many drinkers realize that a process of degradation begins: 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 has their own motivation - someone experienced a moral shock, someone is afraid of getting divorced from a spouse who gave a categorical ultimatum, someone does not want to lose their moral character. You need to determine which areas of your life are most important and understand how alcohol affects them.
Accepting change
It happens that the main question is not "How do I stop drinking alcohol? "", but "What should I do if I stop? ". What to do on Friday night? How to go fishing with friends or girlfriends for "get-togethers"? What to do at a wedding or birthday? In this case, you need to remember pleasant changes - sober fun, pleasant pastime, no need to be "sick" after feasts, etc. , and a new lifestyle develops naturally and easily.
Ability to relax
Learning relaxation techniques is necessary not only for those who are addicted to drinking due to stress, but also for everyone who has decided to get rid of addiction. Withdrawal syndrome, stress caused by life changes, pressure from others - all of these can require the ability to properly self-adjust. This can be done by:
- meditation;
- self-massage;
- breathing exercises etc.
Some people find it helpful to simply count to 10 and take a deep breath; 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 "happy hormones", makes life diverse and allows you to experience the joy of sobriety. This can be facilitated by yoga, running, swimming, skiing, riding, etc.
Hobbies bring back interest in life
For a person to realize his potential, strong family ties and a favorite job are not enough. It's also important to do something you enjoy - creativity not only promotes relaxation, but also boosts self-confidence and, in some cases, even leads to success. Reading books, doing crafts, wood carving, writing poetry or even writing your own blog including "How to stop drinking? " question. – you have to find the hidden potential in yourself and give it a way out.
Psychological work on yourself - tips for drinkers
In fact, all drinkers have a range of psychological problems: guilt, self-doubt, shame, the inability to form trusting relationships with others, the feeling of "abandonment" - this is only a significant part of the list of characteristic feelings and states. going through psycho-counseling sessions will help you overcome the obstacles that have arisen, maybe you can do it yourself. But this point is mandatory, because eliminating the root of the problem is the key to success.
Other methods of treating alcohol
Traditional medicine also helps in the treatment of alcoholism. How folk remedies seem to help you stop drinking alcohol? However, there are several common methods by which the desire for alcohol is weakened.
How to help yourself with a potion?
A decoction of the thyme herb causes vomiting and an aversion to alcohol. Boil 15 g of dried herbs with 2 cups of boiling water, cook for 10-15 minutes, then add a little boiled water until the original volume is reached. It should be taken twice a day in the ratio of 50 ml/15 ml of vodka.
Tea as part of alcohol addiction treatment
Mix Ivan tea with thyme in a ratio of 5: 1, boil with boiling water and cook for 15-20 minutes. After the tea has cooled to the desired temperature (it must not boil), a little honey is added. It should be consumed when the desire to drink arises, the maximum permitted amount is 5 cups per day.
Despite the abundance of advice on how to quit drinking on your own, only a small percentage of people who crave alcohol succeed. In most cases, full recovery requires visiting a drug treatment center for drug treatment, followed by social and psychological rehabilitation.