Many who are familiar with the problem of alcoholism do not know how to stop drinking alcohol on their own, considering the task impossible. Every person is able to make a choice whether to drink or quit this bad habit, regaining their health and happiness. The only problem is that not everyone wants to return to normal life.
Alcoholism in modern world- a huge problem for many people. Passion for alcoholic beverages leads to loss of health, work, and family. Falling into the trap of alcohol, a person loses the opportunity to enjoy life in a sober state.
Quitting drinking is not easy, but it is still possible. Very often, the reason that a person decides to stop drinking is the fear of death. For example, when doctors warn that if you do not get rid of this addiction, the outcome can be disastrous.
Many alcoholics try to overcome their bad habit without the help of doctors. But not everyone knows how to stop drinking alcohol on their own without negative consequences for the body.
Harm of alcohol to the body
Alcoholism is very difficult to treat. The human body actively produces hormones that are responsible for feelings of happiness and joy, causing a state of euphoria, and suppressing pain. To speed up the production of such hormones, the alcoholic constantly increases the dose of alcohol. The result of this is the development of withdrawal syndrome (psycho-emotional disorder caused by stopping drinking alcohol). The patient needs immediate treatment already in the first stages of the disease.
Alcohol destroys all human organs. Under the influence of acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, chronic intoxication occurs. The negative effect on blood vessels, liver, and brain provokes the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, hepatitis, encephalopathy, etc. Often, addiction to alcohol becomes the cause of personality degradation.
Why do people drink?
Very often a person, finding himself surrounded by people who like to drink, drinks with them for company. This is mainly characteristic of young people who try to imitate adults. The child watches his parents drinking at home and considers this behavior to be the norm.
Another reason for becoming addicted to alcohol is the desire to forget about problems and get distracted. Unfortunately, the effect is the opposite: when you try to get rid of problems with the help of alcohol, their number only grows.
Due to the fact that alcoholic drinks give a person a feeling of euphoria and improve mood, many people drink them for this very purpose. But sometimes drinking alcohol has the exact opposite effect. Instead of the expected feeling of happiness, a person becomes irritable, experiences fear, anger, and is tormented by a feeling of guilt.
Sometimes a person drinks simply out of habit. Psychological dependence on alcohol appears, and with regular use, physiological dependence also occurs.
Many people use alcohol to solve the problem of their integrity. Without alcohol, a person feels incomplete. Others thus try to avoid responsibility for their lives by shifting it onto other people.
Often the cause of alcoholism is a feeling of guilt that a person needs. In order to get it, a person turns to alcohol. In addition, addiction to alcoholic beverages can be explained by a feeling of guilt for some action, and this interferes with living a peaceful life.
If you're wondering how to stop drinking alcohol on your own, regardless of your reason for drinking, here are some tips to consider.
Where to begin?
There is no single answer to the question of how to quickly stop drinking alcohol. Be prepared that the struggle will not be easy and long.
First of all, it is necessary to cleanse the blood of alcohol toxins. This can be done with oat decoction (3-5 glasses per day).
Talk to your doctor. If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, it can be very Negative consequences. If you experience symptoms such as anxiety, rapid heartbeat, trembling, or panic attacks, consult your doctor immediately. Such conditions can result in delirium tremens, which is often fatal. It is often much easier for a person to cope with addiction with the help of a qualified specialist than alone. The doctor will tell you how to stop drinking alcohol on your own and will suggest some medications that will help alleviate the symptoms.
Try to change your attitude towards what you are about to do. Do not forget that you are parting with an enemy who can destroy your entire life. Try to understand that no one can solve this problem for you. Tune in, be patient, constantly convince yourself that getting rid of addiction it is vital for you to stay healthy and remain human.
Get rid of all alcohol supplies. Even if you have guests, it is not at all necessary to treat them to beer, wine or vodka. You can offer tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, etc.
Listen to your feelings. If you want to cry or laugh, don't hold back. Eat and sleep when you feel the need.
Try to avoid situations where you will definitely have to drink. To do this, you will have to break off relations with drinking buddies and stop visiting places of drinking. If you always get drunk when visiting a certain person, don't come to him. At this moment, it is very important to maintain your sobriety without worrying about what others think of you.
The right strategy for achieving sobriety
How to stop drinking alcohol correctly to avoid unpleasant consequences?
First of all, it is necessary to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. Don't expect to recover from addiction quickly. Try to first turn from an alcoholic into just drinking man- this will be the first step in overcoming addiction.
Imagine that overuse Alcohol causes you to vomit and cause unbearable headaches. If you are familiar with such conditions, refresh your memory.
Even if the amount you drink has decreased slightly, this is already a plus. But don’t stop there, continue to work on yourself and reduce your alcohol consumption. Make sure that the amount of alcohol you drink this week is less than the previous week.
Before drinking, be sure to eat, this will reduce your interest in alcohol. In addition, it is more difficult to achieve intoxication on a full stomach. Drink about 2.5 liters of water per day to flush out toxins and improve your well-being.
If you drink alcohol regularly, change your daily routine. Perhaps you have a tradition of drinking when you come home after work. IN next time At the end of the working day, visit friends or just take a walk. Plan activities around the time you usually drink. Meeting other people or visiting places will make it more difficult to get drunk.
Don't give up. Often a person justifies his reluctance to quit drinking by claiming that he won’t succeed. Even if you've tried to quit alcohol many times, you can try again. It's never too late to get rid of addiction.
Useful little things
Start a “sobriety piggy bank.” The next time you are going to drink, it is better to put money in it. This method will help you see the material benefits of a sober lifestyle. Then this cash can be spent on things that bring health to the body - massage, spa, fitness, or spent on other pleasant little things. Treat yourself to small gifts for drinking-free days.
Be prepared to struggle with addiction on a daily basis. Keep a small notebook in which you will note each small achievement in this struggle and the means to help you get distracted.
In the first days without alcohol, take vitamin B, as its deficiency can lead to serious problems.
Try to experience the psychological benefits of sobriety. Notice how nice it is to fall asleep instead of passing out and waking up with a terrible headache and dry mouth. Evaluate the benefits of sober communication with people, think how pleasant it is to remember all the moments of communication and the joy of meeting.
Think about how many reasons you have to stop drinking. Set a goal for yourself, find an important incentive that will help you stick to it. This could be feelings for a person of the opposite sex, or caring for children or parents. Everyone has their own reason to think about how to quit drinking alcohol forever.
Don't try to avoid all the situations in which you would normally drink. Try to have a pleasant time in the same position without alcohol. But if you suspect that it will be difficult to resist, it is better not to risk it.
Do yoga and try meditation. This is a great way to calm your mind and cope with stress. Once you have learned to achieve a calm state of mind, return to it whenever the urge to drink arises.
Recourse
Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for help, even though this may be the most difficult part of your healing journey. It is very difficult to fight alcoholism alone.
Tell family and friends when they need to intervene. You can ask them to take away your alcohol if they notice that you are about to drink.
Joining an Alcoholics Anonymous group can be an effective way to overcome addiction. Regular attendance is very important. The programs of such clubs teach complete abstinence from alcohol. In addition, such programs provide a sponsor, that is, a mentor. This is the person who will help you complete the group program and prevent relapse when you are about to break abstinence. Having a caregiver makes it much easier to maintain a sober lifestyle.
Notice how your life changes without alcohol. After 90 days, changes will occur in your outlook, your body will begin to recover, and more energy will appear.
Don't be afraid to share your experience. In difficult times, turn to someone you trust. Try sharing your achievements with those who need advice on how to stop drinking alcohol. Convincing even one person will bring enormous benefits.
How to help a person get rid of addiction?
Relatives of an alcoholic are tormented by the question: how to force a person to stop drinking alcohol? In fact, it is impossible to force; it is necessary to make sure that the patient himself expresses a desire to get rid of addiction. Each drinker has his own reasons for leading such a lifestyle, and they need to be dealt with individually.
To convince a person to stop drinking, you need to stop criticizing him for his addiction. Even if you do not completely understand the reasons why a person became an alcoholic, this does not mean that they do not exist.
Treat the patient with understanding, do not try to resist, this can only embitter the person. Be sincere, tell your loved one about your feelings and desires, but do not impose them. Try to boost his self-esteem with your words. Show the benefits of life without alcohol, how full and rich it can be without alcohol. Try to find out what a person values most, explain to him that addiction to alcohol will lead to the loss of everything valuable that he has in life.
Female alcoholism
This phenomenon is becoming more common every year. More often female alcoholism begins to develop due to severe stress, problems in the family, when the best way Alcohol helps you forget and escape from problems. Probably everyone has heard that it is much more difficult for a woman to get rid of addiction than for a man.
How can a woman stop drinking alcohol? Can this be done at home or does professional help be needed?
If we are talking about a serious addiction, doing treatment at home is stupid, to say the least. After all, the fight against alcoholism is not only about taking medicines, but also in psychological assistance, which only a professional psychologist can provide. The doctor will not only explain to the woman the dangers of drinking alcohol, but will also help relatives choose the right tactics in this situation.
The decision about whether or not to get rid of addiction to alcohol must be made by the woman herself. If she does not start thinking about how to stop drinking alcohol herself, then any methods and techniques will be useless. But if a woman has already decided to give up alcohol, she cannot do without the help and support of loved ones.
Representatives of the fairer sex have a very developed maternal instinct. And if a woman is made to understand that her behavior has a very negative impact on her children, this can be a good incentive to get rid of addiction. You cannot shame a woman and reproach her, this will only make the situation worse. Convince her that getting rid of addiction to alcohol is a real victory that you can be proud of. When the desire to get rid of a bad habit becomes stronger than the need to drink, the woman will begin to think about how to stop drinking alcohol herself.
How to help yourself?
First of all, it is necessary to recognize that addiction to alcohol exists. As long as you deny the problem, it is impossible to get rid of it.
The reasons that incline a person to drink alcohol may be loneliness, inability to sleep, stress, and companies in which it is customary to drink. In all these cases, you should try to replace alcoholic drinks with something more healthy. For example, in order to get rid of problems with falling asleep, you need to take a walk before bed, take a bath with a soothing herbal mixture, drink milk with honey.
Quitting alcohol is accompanied by sharp deterioration health. When the body lacks the usual dose of alcohol, it goes on strike. During this period, you need to drink a lot, wash your face often, and take a bath or shower. Water will be an excellent remedy that will help get rid of the unpleasant symptoms that accompany withdrawal symptoms.
Don't forget about food, which will give you the strength you need to fight. Over time, the taste of food will begin to return, and the desire to try your favorite dishes will return.
And most importantly: you need to learn to respond with a categorical refusal to an offer to drink. At first it will be very difficult, but without this all efforts will be useless.
Treatment in a hospital setting
If it is very difficult to cope with addiction on your own, you should not be upset. One of the most effective methods is hospital treatment. Doctors have all the necessary means to quickly bring a person back to normal. But there are also negative aspects of this treatment - many people in the ward, poor nutrition. In addition, among those undergoing treatment there may well be a person who will persuade others to violate the regime. One more important point is that if a person does not want to be treated himself, then this method is unlikely to help him.
Coding using the Dovzhenko method
This is the treatment of addiction using suggestion. The method is absolutely harmless and works best for easily-suggested people. Although some argue that such treatment has a negative effect on a person. He becomes nervous and irritable, but this happens only because the person was not psychologically ready to get rid of his addiction to alcohol and went to treatment under pressure from loved ones.
Medicinal methods of treatment ("Esperal", "Torpedo")
The treatment consists of the following: a substance incompatible with alcohol is introduced into the patient’s body. When drinking alcohol after such treatment, a person becomes ill, feels nauseous, feels weak, lacks air, fear and panic appear.
But we should not forget about contraindications to the use of such drugs, so you should only contact specialists. Another disadvantage of this type of treatment is that it does not cure addiction forever. When the drugs expire, failure is possible.
Folk remedies for the treatment of alcoholism
In folk medicine there are also various ways stop drinking alcohol. But in any case, you must first consult a doctor.
As maintenance therapy, you can use herbal decoctions (centaury, thyme, wormwood, St. John's wort), which reduce cravings for alcohol. Herbs can be found at any pharmacy, brewed according to instructions and drunk instead of tea.
Aromatherapy using birch firewood has a good effect. The firewood must be allowed to burn out, after sprinkling it with sugar. A person suffering from alcoholism must breathe such smoke. According to traditional healers, the very first glass of alcohol after such a procedure produces an unpleasant effect, and an aversion to alcohol arises.
Do not forget that your health and the health of your descendants is the most valuable gift received at birth. And it is up to you to save it or exchange it for alcohol. Once again, as you reach out for a glass, think: do you really need this momentary pleasure, for which you will have to pay a high price?
Every Friday I'm shit, and every Monday I'm a cucumber. Semyon Slepakov
Of course, everyone knows that it is better to quit drinking completely, but rarely does anyone do it. Where is the fine line between healthy person who uses and an alcoholic who thinks he is a healthy person?
A little about drinking without alcoholism
So, on a weekday evening, a friend invites you to have a glass of beer at your favorite bar, a friend invites you over and takes wine, after work, to relieve stress, you drink a cup of coffee, heavily charged with cognac. Is this about you?
This is occasional drunkenness
You can’t even say how often you drink, because it’s very irregular, and you can’t say exactly how much you need to drink to get drunk, because it depends. If you've had too much, you'll feel bad in the morning, but thinking about alcohol in this state makes you feel nauseous.
It is too early to worry if your episodes do not repeat too often.
Another type is ritual drunkenness
Every second person can boast of this. Family or public holidays are traditionally celebrated with alcohol, and you don't give up drinking. It’s very fun to plan together what you will drink and eat, buy it all, then sit down at the table and, in fact, celebrate. On other days you don’t touch alcohol.
This is also not very scary, but only serious holidays are considered, and not International KVN Day or Journalist Day in China (of course, if you are not a KVN player or a Chinese journalist).
And now we get to the first one dangerous level drunkenness - habitual
If you can drink with a reason (well, of course!) or without it, or absolutely any event becomes a reason for you, for example, stress at work, or even just returning from work.
This does not mean that you get drunk every day to the point of a log, but you drink very often. Sometimes you may not drink (which helps you think that you are not an alcoholic or dependent on it), but these periods of sobriety are becoming increasingly rare.
Attention! If you drink 2 times a week consistently, and sometimes more, this is it. Habitual drunkenness is inexorably followed by the first stage of alcoholism, and in the meantime, this is what happens in the body.
How does the body get used to booze?
Gradually the brain becomes unbalanced chemical substances: gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate and the hormone dopamine. The first substance is responsible for impulsivity, the second is responsible for stimulating the nervous system, and dopamine generally decides.
The metabolism of this hormone in the pleasure centers and reward centers changes, so that you stop getting a high from simple things that non-alcoholics enjoy.
Of course, everything is not as critical as in advanced cases, when pleasure and a normal existence in general is simply unthinkable without alcohol, but the degree of joy from meeting friends, a festive event and everything else without alcohol is noticeably reduced.
When the body is already accustomed
When drunkenness turns into mild alcoholism, no events are needed to drink, you can do it just like that. I don’t want to get hungover yet, but I can force myself to. For example, if you have to go to work and you feel very bad, or on Saturday morning, or on Sunday.
And here are a few more signs that you can seriously call yourself an alcoholic:
- It’s also not bad to drink alone, and it doesn’t matter what - beer in front of the TV or vodka, because you’re sad and you’ve had enough at work.
- I just want to drink, just like that.
- If you don’t know how to control yourself, you drink until you’re drunk, and then your friends drag you home.
- Memory losses. Large areas of dead neurons in the brain carry with them memories of yesterday's fun into oblivion.
- We have our own special rituals - go for a walk after work with a bottle of beer while listening to your favorite music on the player, celebrate Friday with a liter of vodka, or something else equally regular.
- You give up on a lot of things. Favorite activities disappear, there is simply no more interest in doing something that has always brought pleasure, for example, playing sports or gluing airplanes.
- More quarrels with family and friends. You get angry over trifles, and are constantly at knifepoint with someone.
In fact, you are not alone in your mild alcoholism; many people are at this stage, they can stay at it for a long time or quit completely.
But how long does it take before the first stage moves into the third?(a standard alcoholic about whom no one doubts anymore)?
It depends on your condition, character, health and gender. Maybe five to seven years, maybe a few months. If any problems arise: troubles at work, lost inspiration, many people console themselves in the usual way, and this is already really dangerous.
Which exit? Quit completely.
The first stage of alcoholism can be tested this way: try not to drink for three months.
Many people think it’s simple, but few can do it. Ultimately, during these three months, your body will recover and begin to produce as much dopamine again as you need to get high without drinking. Who knows, maybe later you just won’t want to start again?
This is not just an article, but a whole step-by-step instruction on how to How to stop drinking alcohol forever. The instructions consist of 50 cool tips divided into 10 semantic blocks.
Even just one piece of advice can dramatically help you stop drinking alcohol.
At the end of the article I will name 1 most main advice out of these 50, with the help of which you will be able to quit drinking alcohol once and for all.
I have already written about how to stop drinking alcohol in my other articles:
The method that I will tell you about in this article once helped me, as well as thousands of other people, to quit drinking alcohol forever.
Success this method How to stop drinking alcohol amounts to 65% . At the same time, the effectiveness of other methods barely reaches 5% people who have achieved stable sobriety.
Get to know withdrawal symptoms are the main reason that prevents you from quitting drinking alcohol.
Here's what you need to know before you stop drinking alcohol.
According to the studies conducted (using the CENAPS method), it was found that:
- A person who quits drinking begins to experience after a while.
- He experiences symptoms even when he remains sober.
Examples of mental disorders in sobriety:
- A sharp drop in mood;
- Increasing anxiety;
- Irritability;
- Increased anxiety;
- Tension;
- And other symptoms.
They are called Post-withdrawal syndrome(PAS) or .
I listed all types of withdrawal symptoms in the article. I recommend reading it. In short, withdrawal symptoms are main reason Why is it so difficult to stop drinking alcohol?
Once you stop drinking alcohol, you need to go through withdrawal symptoms. Only then can we talk about stable sobriety.Get to know process of failure.
To know how to stop drinking alcohol, you need to understand what it is breakdown.
- This method is based on the prevention of breakdown.
- Prevention is the ability to recognize a breakdown before it occurs.
- Even when you stop drinking alcohol, the risk of relapse remains quite high.
- Withdrawal symptoms can strike you at any time ( unreasonable worry, anxiety, inexplicable fear).
- Especially often, symptoms of withdrawal occur against the background and tension.
- Under the influence of stress, post-abstinence syndrome intensifies and the risk of relapse increases many times over.
- You drink to relieve inner pain and dysfunction, seeing no other way. However, there is a way out.
Recognize the first signs of relapse.
- In order not to lose your temper, you must not succumb to provocation.
- You can quite successfully recognize the first signs of a breakdown, for example, using addiction diary –This effective method how to stop drinking alcohol without extra effort.
- By recording your thoughts in writing, you do not fall for mental tricks, which helps you maintain sobriety.
- I also wrote in great detail about how to recognize a breakdown in the article.
You can also take a free sobriety video course.
Give up other addictions.
The next tip on how to stop drinking alcohol is to minimize other addictions in your life as much as possible.
Such as:
* To get rid of a specific addiction, click on the link of interest.
The ideal option to quit drinking alcohol forever is to completely give up all addictions at once.
If you persist in any type of addictive behavior, your risk of relapse and drinking again increases significantly. Then quitting drinking alcohol becomes a difficult task.
Here are some more effective tips on how to stop drinking alcohol, which I personally tested on myself:
Eat right and regularly.
- Hunger is an extra stress factor;
- Always be full;
- Avoid fast food;
- Introduce proper three meals a day into your life;
- Have snacks between meals;
I wrote about how to eat properly in sobriety in.
Increase your physical activity
- Walk and run more often;
- Do exercises at home;
- Sign up for the pool;
But! Don't overexert yourself. Follow the norm. Moderate loads will be enough.
Get more rest.
- During the period of withdrawal from alcohol, you need more energy, as the body adapts to “sober rails”.
- So don't deprive yourself 10-15 minutes rest during the day.
- To learn how to rest properly, read the article.
Don't trust your brain and feelings
The main obstacle to stopping drinking alcohol completely is the following:
- Remember, the brain and feelings are not your allies during alcohol withdrawal.
- It is they who will often deceive you, throwing out various tricks to get you to drink. Their goal is to bring you back into addiction.
- Irrational feelings will be thrown at you: worry, anxiety, feeling of fear.
- Thinking will throw up various unknown reasons: why you need to drink so badly. The reasons will seem like the absolute truth to you, although they are a trick of addiction.
- Expose the tricks of feelings and thoughts, do not succumb to provocation. The enemy is within you.
- If you pass, yours nervous system will be restored and control over feelings and thoughts will return to you again.
- To better understand mechanism for quitting drinking alcohol , read the article.
Go through a withdrawal period
- Most people fail to quit drinking alcohol because they cannot successfully go through the process.
- The withdrawal period is the period when they will act with particular force, which I have already mentioned several times in this article.
- You will feel like you will always have these negative feelings, and you decide to go back to using.
- Having relapsed, you reset the sobriety meter, and all your efforts are in vain.
- Be patient and commit to getting through this withdrawal period.
Work on your sobriety
But here are more in-depth tips not just about how to stop drinking alcohol, but how to learn to live comfortably in sobriety:
- Just stopping drinking alcohol is not enough;
- You need to work on yourself every day;
- Get rid of old bad habits;
- Completely radically change your lifestyle;
- Change your relationship with other people ();
- Learn the problems that arise on the path to sobriety;
- Observe in all areas of life;
- Learn ;
To find out , just follow these simple tips.
And as promised, my main advice out of 50 is: learn to recognize a breakdown.
If you do not recognize the onset of a breakdown, this is what makes you drink alcohol.
Once again I direct you to an article that explains how to avoid this breakdown -.
The more tips you apply from this manual, the faster you can stop drinking alcohol and achieve completely comfortable sobriety.
Your sobriety will become a solid foundation for further accomplishments and achievements: happiness, success, money, love and other attributes of a happy life.
This is the most modern way to stop drinking alcohol.
And don't forget to download.
Fortunately, not everyone in the process of life has been faced with the question of how to stop drinking alcohol? What is going on in the head of a person who asks himself this question? The fact that the moment of insight has arrived, the realization that the habit of “taking 100 grams for appetite” or “to relieve stress” has turned into a frightening addiction is already great, it means that not everything is lost, and the person really wants to stop drinking alcohol. Where to start, how to overcome cravings and what awaits later if you don’t stop - this is what we’re talking about today.
Destructive addiction
The statistics on alcohol consumption are terrifying: eighteen liters of pure alcohol per capita. This is not wine + vodka + beer, but pure alcohol as a component of all alcoholic drinks, that is, the amount consumed is many times larger. Eight out of ten people drink regularly, and this is no longer just a feature of the Russian mentality, but the degradation of the entire population. Extinction on the verge of natural selection.
There are several stereotypical phrases that alcoholics use to justify themselves:
- I’ll just relieve the stress, relax, so that I can sleep better.
- In small doses it is useful for blood pressure (vessels, appetite).
- This is for courage (fun, mood).
- Today there is a reason.
- I know my limit (norm).
- I don't do it often.
- I can quit at any time.
- How to stop drinking alcohol altogether? Holidays must be celebrated.
These are all indicators of an addiction that has already begun; it’s time to sound the alarm. Low dose Everyone has their own (from a glass to a liter), the concept of “infrequently” is also very subjective, but drinking for courage or relaxation? This is generally pure water self-deception Without a dose, can’t you have fun and feel the taste of life? These are the main indicators of an already formed dependence.
How to take the first step
The man finally decided to stop drinking. Recognizing a problem is the first step towards solving it. Why?
The very first thing is a firm promise, best made in the presence of family and friends. You can even write a promise on a piece of paper, hang it in a prominent place and read it out loud often.
Second, resolutely throw away all alcoholic beverages found in the house. To stop drinking a lot of alcohol, you need to gradually reduce the amount you drink. If you have stocks of alcohol at home, then where is the guarantee that you will restrain yourself and not grab too much?
How to stop drinking alcohol every day? Objectively indicate the number of alcoholic beverages consumed per day and divide this figure in half. Three or four days later, in two more, and so on.
Next, you need to stop drinking alcohol on weekends. How can I stop thinking about him? How can you restrain yourself? Try to analyze: why do you drink? What pushes you to another binge? Just be extremely honest with yourself - the problem cannot be solved with cunning, because at first it is practically invisible, and the human mind will come up with all sorts of tricks to justify itself.
And most importantly: avoid companies that drag you down, even if they are bosom “friends”. Find the strength to give up nightly gatherings and “intimate conversations.” Tell yourself every day that alcohol is a serious drug, and if you relapse, you will become a useless drug addict. Is this what you want for yourself?
The power of motivation
How to stop drinking alcohol altogether? Find significant motivation, something that will support you in difficult moments. One of the strongest is health. Watch several films about the effects of alcohol on the body, select the most detailed videos and watch them periodically, take several photos of organs affected by alcohol and hang them in visible places (including on the refrigerator, this will make you think additionally about the quality of nutrition, which often affects alcohol consumption). Also watch a few films or read stories about what happens when you stop drinking alcohol: real stories of people, facts that stimulate further action.
Also indicate the purpose for which you quit drinking: a new job or promotion, a loved one or an illness. Write down step by step what is needed for what you want to happen. Very often it turns out that everything is much simpler than it seems at first glance.
Female alcoholism
There is an opinion that female alcoholism cannot be treated. Why and where did this stereotype come from?
The fact is that women start drinking for psychological reasons (unlike men, who are often just for company): troubles at work, insufficient attention from their husbands, problems of a deeply personal nature. After drinking, they briefly withdraw from stimuli, their senses become dulled and short-term relief occurs, followed by even greater self-loathing, which is relieved by another dose of alcohol. How to stop in this case?
First, you need to understand that the problems will not go away, but will only grow like a snowball, ultimately destroying your entire life, and dependence on alcohol will only aggravate the situation, adding health problems along the way. The brain is most affected in women, which leads to direct degradation both as women and as humans.
Considering psychosomatics in women, close people need to approach the problem correctly and under no circumstances make trouble, accuse or threaten. It is important to understand why this happened and what provokes a woman to continue drinking alcohol. How can I help her with this?
Try to have an unobtrusive conversation and find out the reason for dissatisfaction with life or with yourself, because often this is the root of all evil. If you fail, then you can observe at what moments she takes up the glass again. And, of course, to be objective, you can take into account several opinions of relatives or close people.
The “carrot” method for women
How can a woman stop drinking alcohol, if it is known that women’s addiction is three times stronger than men’s, and after seven years of drinking, an extremely difficult stage to overcome begins? Here are some recommendations on how to prevent this from happening:
- Find an activity (volunteering or extra work) that involves helping with people or animals, this will allow you to stay away from the unnecessary glass.
- Discover a world of creativity: take classes in quilting, painting, felting, or join a choir.
- Start reading books about famous people, about how they achieved their goal. There are many books, videos and lectures on how to stop drinking alcohol every day. Find them and get inspired periodically.
- Critically examine yourself in the mirror: this will motivate you to go to fitness, dancing or Pilates (usually women are very self-critical of their appearance, and, as we know, a healthy mind is in a healthy body). Many women, after they stopped drinking alcohol, lost weight only because they resolutely took on their transformation.
- Go to yoga. This wise system of self-knowledge will reveal to you the true reasons for craving for alcohol. In this case, “two more birds with one stone” will be killed: a healthy body and cooperation with society. New positive people will appear who will become an additional incentive to improve your life. Yoga also involves following ethical standards of behavior: it’s like promising yourself not to do certain things in order to achieve the highest goal of yoga - samadhi.
Celebrate each victory (three days without alcohol, a week, a month) - give yourself a new dress or shoes, a trip to a performance or a dolphinarium. The best motivator is positive emotions when achieving another result. Raise the stakes! For example, “if I don’t drink for three months, I’ll go to the mountains for three days” or something like that. Do more and more unusual things, making the process of giving up alcohol more and more exciting, like an interesting game.
How can a woman stop drinking alcohol on her own if she has no one, has no opportunity to attend yoga or a gym, and cannot pay for courses (or there are simply none in her area)? What to do if life seems like a hopeless circle, closed on a glass? Get yourself a pet: stray cats and dogs are everywhere, take one home and surround it with care. You will have a soul mate who will always wait for you at home and show with all her appearance that you are the best and most beloved.
There is an old folk wisdom: “If you want to make your life better, find someone who is even worse off than you and help him.”
Wedge with wedge - male version
How can a man stop drinking alcohol if there are only temptations around him: a glass of beer with colleagues after work, a bottle with friends on Fridays, long New Year holidays and visiting guests? Over time, all social activity comes down to the search for the next partner for a drink, and at some point the realization comes that there is no joy in life at all. This is a signal that it’s time to pull yourself together and get back on the right path. Accepting the truth is the first step to changing yourself.
If you have a family, discuss this with them, any support and stimulating actions are important. Join a gym instead of sitting at a bar having a drink with an imaginary friend. It's better to lift a barbell than a glass - women will appreciate it.
Avoid companies, parties and celebrations in which the main point is drinking alcohol; it is better to lose a couple of acquaintances than your health or family.
Jump with a parachute or bungee - feel the taste of life and its fragility. Maybe we should start collecting moments and impressions, rather than kidney stones?
Argue with friends (colleagues, relatives) on long term complete abstinence from any alcoholic beverages and bet something substantial
Try to imagine yourself in five to seven years with continued wild days. Liked? Is this how you want to see yourself: with a flabby face and a beer belly?
By the way, about beer belly(for extra motivation). The beer formula contains xanthohumols, which actively stimulate the production of female hormones in male body. Thanks to this, a man’s figure becomes blurred, subcutaneous fat and belly appear, pectoral muscles increase and his voice changes. Libido (sex drive) decreases noticeably, and there is a high probability of becoming impotent.
How to stop drinking alcohol altogether using folk remedies?
There are several proven recipes that help relieve addiction and facilitate the elimination of toxins.
- Pour 4 tablespoons of St. John's wort into half a glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for about an hour. Divide the mixture into two doses: morning and evening. The entire course takes two weeks.
- Fill a three-liter saucepan halfway with unpeeled oats, add cold water to the top, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for about half an hour. Then strain, add 100 grams of dried calendula flowers and leave for twelve hours. Then strain thoroughly again. Drink this decoction three times a day, 15 minutes before meals, one glass.
- Take one tablespoon each of thyme, wormwood and centaury, pour one glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for at least two hours. Filter and drink one tablespoon 4 to 6 times a day for three months.
It is also recommended to drink as much variety as possible herbal teas for additional cleansing of the body from toxins and poisons, as well as spending more time in the fresh air. Walking in the park, running or cycling will be additional help in the fight against an evil habit, just avoid the usual drinking places and gatherings of pseudo-friends.
Cardinal method from traditional medicine
How to make a person stop drinking alcohol if he himself does not want to (more precisely, does not realize the importance of the problem). There are several "heavy" methods.
- Ideal product: one that does not have a pronounced taste or smell. Add 1 teaspoon per bottle and discreetly place it in an accessible place. The drinker will begin to experience severe vomiting and diarrhea, and if this procedure is repeated several times, the drinker will develop a persistent aversion to alcohol from the smell alone (not to mention the taste). It is important not to exceed the dose, as the product is very powerful.
- The following infusion has the same effect: several leaves bay leaf and pour one teaspoon of ground lovage root into one glass of vodka and leave in a warm place. Then you need to force him to drink in one gulp. The effect is the same - vomiting and disgust.
- Brew six tablespoons of European hoofed grass into 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for about an hour or two. Drink one hundred grams on an empty stomach before meals. Also causes vomiting with subsequent use of alcoholic beverages.
These are all time-tested folk remedies. How to stop drinking alcohol without the intervention of psychologists, coaches and others? Yes, it’s very simple: a few glasses of wine with hellebore water - and like a grandmother whispered. Any smell of alcohol will immediately cause a gag reflex. Such folk remedies will especially help a woman stop drinking alcohol, as well as men with a weak will.
What do you have to lose?
An additional incentive to stop drinking alcohol can be a list of the main areas of its impact on a person’s life:
Is the short-term euphoria from alcoholic drinks more important and significant than these aspects of life? But these are only the most basic factors, and if we analyze each aspect in detail, it turns out that the influence of alcohol on a person is catastrophically enormous, especially if you drink every day. You already know how to stop and where to start, and if you have set a goal, identified methods, all that remains is to learn about the pitfalls.
How to prevent a breakdown?
It often happens that on the wave of the first impulse and inspiration, a person achieves certain results, and then slides back into the abyss. Why is this happening?
One of the main points is the inability to take the blows of life. Under the pressure of stress or problems, many people who decide to change their lives give up at the most important turning point and take up the glass again. The second important aspect is the period of detoxification of the body, which takes about three weeks after the last drink. It will be really hard and bad, but if you have made up your mind, is there any point in retreating?
If you feel like you are ready to give up, the first thing that will radically bring you back to your senses is a cold or contrast shower. And so every time the desire to drink comes.
Try to satisfy your thirst for alcohol: fruits, seeds, nuts and candies. Carry a thermos with herbal tea with myself.
Go to the gym: through sweat and fatigue, get rid of the obsessive state. But at the same time, avoid places where former “glass friends” can meet. Choose a different route, even if it is longer.
Say out loud why you decided to quit drinking. Several times until the confidence and power of words is transferred to you.
Avoid foods that are associated with drinking alcohol. If possible, try to switch to vegetarian food- meat fatty food always encourages you to take a glass for your appetite. Try it, what if your body likes it?
In conclusion, it is worth noting that people who have recognized their dependence on alcohol and want to overcome it have already taken the first step towards victory. All that remains is to gradually, in small steps, continue to move forward, rejoicing at the next victories, but also without becoming limp if a breakdown suddenly occurs. Moscow was not built right away, so everyone has ups and downs, this is normal. Remember: it’s not so scary to fall, it’s worse not to get up after falling.
Briefly:
Narcologist Maxim Kirsanov tells how to stop drinking. List of medications to reduce cravings for alcohol and psychological techniques. Folk recipes confirmed by science.
| what will help you stop drinking | why does this work |
|---|---|
| increases the level of endorphins without the participation of alcohol, saturates and distracts from the desire to drink | |
| enhances the production of dopamine, as a result, there is no need to lift your mood with alcohol. Doctors especially recommend slow running every other day. | |
| do not keep alcohol in the house, do not drink “”, enlist the support of friends and family, listen to the advice of those; remember about negative impact alcohol on your life, constantly find some kind of distracting activity for yourself, see the joys of life outside of drinking | |
| reduce cravings for alcohol: eglonil, anti-convulsants, anti-depressants. You can take all this only on the recommendation of a doctor. | |
| the effectiveness of infusions from some plants is not only time-tested, but also confirmed by modern medicine | |
| The effect of acamprosate is similar to the effect of alcohol - a replacement is obtained, but it must be taken for a long time. An analogue of acamprosate is sold in Russia: taurine | |
| call to a narcologist | It happens that it is very difficult to resist drinking on your own. It is especially difficult without outside help. In such a case, you need to have at hand the phone number of a narcologist whom you trust |
| It is especially difficult not to go on a binge if you have already been drinking. In this case, consult a doctor. To stop drinking on your own, you can take an infusion of hoofed grass, lemontar, lemon juice, succinic acid, honey, biotredin |
How to fight the urge to drink if you're still sober
What are some psychological techniques against cravings for alcohol?
1. Avoid alcohol:
- The first thing to do is ask relatives or household members to hide all the alcohol in the house. Try to somehow distract yourself from the growing desire to drink.
- Avoid situations in which you are likely to drink too much. Avoid attending events where alcohol is likely to flow freely. If a friend encourages you to drink, even if you didn’t plan, or persuades you to drink more than you want, stop communicating with him.
- Find clubs where you can have fun, but where alcohol is prohibited. Search the Internet, there are such establishments in your city.
2. Take your mind off drinking:
- Come up with any hobby, get carried away with something specifically. Remember what you were interested in as a child. What they wanted to learn, but there was no time for everything: photography, skateboarding, playing musical instrument, anything else. Sign up for classes.
- Learn to relax without alcohol. Meditations and spiritual practices work well, or you can just take a walk and breathe fresh air, watch nature - learn to distract yourself from the eternal rush and information overload.
- Some people find a solution by throwing themselves into work. Research shows that those who have a full life are less likely to return to alcohol and drugs:
- Job,
- hobby,
- Friends,
- family.
3. Look after yourself:
- Compose strict regime day, so that there is no room for drinking because there is nothing to do, so that you don’t want to kill time. Routine is a very powerful thing because the brain responds very well to repeated actions. Sleeping, eating, working - everything happens better and easier when you do it at the same time. This may be difficult at first, but it usually takes 2-3 weeks to form a habit. We recommend the book “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg.
- Maintain a generally healthy lifestyle: eat well, exercise, sleep well sufficient quantity, walk in the fresh air. Then your mood and well-being will be better.
- Keep strict records of your cash expenses, leaving no room in them for spending on alcohol. Get yourself a financial accounting program on your smartphone.
- If you decide to drink, determine in advance exactly how much you can drink, and do not drink more than planned. Clearly track how much you drink: get yourself a calendar or notebook, mark the amount of alcohol you drink on your phone or other gadget. At the same time, pay attention to the alcohol content of the drink. This will make it easier to track doses by week, by month. Do not allow gradual increases in doses.
4. Be patient and become your own psychologist:
- Remember why you decided to stop drinking alcohol last time. When the desire to drink appears, only the pleasant sensations associated with alcohol are remembered. Remind yourself that alcohol has never made anyone better, that it created a lot of problems for you during your previous binge, and forced you to go through several difficult days. The time has come to admit that there is a problem, to admit to yourself that alcohol controls you and your actions, and not the other way around.
- Don’t waste time and energy fighting it (the problem), just get away from it, distance yourself, perceive it as something alien, contrary to your model of the world.
- Make a list of reasons why you would rather not drink alcohol than the dangers of drinking too much. Set yourself a daily reminder in your phone to re-read this list. Leave this reminder on for at least three weeks.
- Always remember that dissatisfaction, irritability, despondency and other components of a bad mood are symptoms of addiction. You need to survive them - and then over time you can get rid of the addiction, your mood will be “natural”. And if you give in, lose your temper and get drunk, you’ll have to start all over again. Good help Antidepressants selected by a specialist can help with this.
- Mark each day you live sober on your calendar. Congratulate yourself and reward yourself with something (but not alcohol). If you’re scared to plan a sober week right away, then you can hold on to the “now”: right at this moment I’m not drinking and I’m getting by somehow, in the next 5 minutes I won’t run for alcohol either - and so on.
For example, here’s how a reader of our site restrained herself from drinking:
Opening the last can of beer. After a glass I crawl to the pharmacy.<…>On the road, it’s tempting to go to the general store to grab a hundred and dump it around the corner. If my husband was at work, I probably would have done so. Yes, not a hundred, but a few. Or a bubble. But I resisted, I didn’t want a scandal from my husband.<…>
I'm preparing dinner. But the essence doesn’t let go: “Go, go to the general store, you’ll hit me at night.”<…>I tell my husband that I’m out of garlic, I go to the general store and buy... garlic.
I reassure myself that tomorrow I’ll take my husband to work and go get a beer.<…>
I slept for 9 hours. I got up happy that I didn’t want to buy anything from alcohol. Visitor to the website pokhmelye.rf
5. Enlist the support of others:
- You can talk to someone you trust unconditionally, who is an authority for you, that you don’t want to go on a drinking binge, that you ask him to help you stop drinking. This could be a non-drinking friend, relative, psychologist or someone else who is ready to listen to you, distract you and support you.
- Get psychological support wherever you can. Read science articles about alcohol on our website, join the Alcoholics Anonymous club or join some other anti-alcohol program.
- “Help a friend stop drinking.” When you educate someone and take responsibility for them, it is much easier to do the same yourself. You can start a blog on the Internet where you can give advice to those who quit drinking, talk about your experience and overcoming difficulties. You can chat on forums, it helps a lot.
Here's what our site guests write about what thoughts help them stop drinking:
I’m lying there walking away and realizing that I just need to decide for myself who you’re with: a glass or a family. Relatives have limited patience. And the vodka will never run out. Visitor to the website pokhmelye.rf
Thank God that I had to go to work on January 3rd - that’s what stopped me, otherwise I might still be hungover, or maybe I’d have thrown off my hooves! Another visitor to the site pokhmelye.rf
Slowly stop drinking and change yourself, create a different personality. If I don’t die tomorrow, I’ll die next time or become disabled.<…>Stop disfiguring yourself and rejoice in the fact that you can do something better, appreciate your peace of mind and do everything little by little to be calm, change yourself first, then maybe your wife, job, place of residence, or just yourself - give yourself a gift in the form of yourself, that you would love.<…>It's not that bad yet. Visitor to the site pokhmelye.rf
How food can help you stop drinking
Dense helps someone, tasty food. Firstly, eating distracts, and secondly, it allows you to enjoy the irritation taste buds and indirectly increase the production of endorphins (for simplicity, they are sometimes called pleasure hormones), thirdly, it physically takes up space in the stomach, which in itself causes everyone a familiar feeling of drowsiness, driving away thoughts of drinking. The wife of one patient of the author of the article meets him from work with a sandwich in her hand. While he chews it and unties his shoelaces, the desire to drink his legitimate evening 100 grams disappears).
Our readers also noticed that food helps to distract yourself:
Yes, I noticed, by the way: after a delicious and hearty food Alcohol doesn’t work, you should give advice not to men, but to women, feed your men right away, tasty and satisfying! I really liked your advice, I will definitely try to follow them. visitor to the site pokhover.rf
How exercise helps you stop drinking
Another way to overcome cravings for alcohol is physical work or physical activity, which increases the production of dopamine (remember A. Celentano in the film “The Taming of the Shrew”). If health allows, cross-country until you sweat.
From regular physical activity Doctors especially recommend slow running every other day. When running for a long time, pleasure substances are produced: phenethylamine, beta-endorphin and anandamide (a strong endogenous cannabinoid), and this greatly reduces the desire to drink.
The enjoyment of running is hardwired into us evolutionarily: when our ancestors lived in Africa, long runs were necessary for hunting and gathering over large areas. And evolutionarily beneficial behavior is reinforced by a positive mental reaction, and a person feels an uplift in mood and a surge of strength. For best effect It is recommended to run a little faster than you are comfortable with: without straining too much, but still a little too hard.
Here's how our visitors comment on it:
If I had been involved in sports, I might not have slipped into the second stage of alcoholism. When you have already stopped drinking, sport really helps you get good mood, just not running, powerlifting helps me a lot - it’s both interesting and useful (the main thing, of course, is to do it correctly), and after training the mood of flying for several hours. visitor to the site pokhover.rf
Medicines to help you stop drinking
How acamprosate (Campral) can help you stop drinking
If you were able to realize in time that you can’t drink anymore, that one day of drinking is enough, and that binge drinking is absolutely useless to you, then it’s best to consult a specialist. The doctor will help you cleanse your body and smoothly end your drinking, without unnecessary physical and mental problems.
If you feel that you can handle it on your own, then try one of these folk recipes, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by modern doctors:
- The first day of treatment: every 1-1.5 hours, place 2-3 tablets of Biotredin under the tongue.
- Second day of treatment: if there are no pronounced symptoms of a hangover, continue taking Biotredin 2 tablets 4-5 times a day. 5-7 minutes after biotredin, take 3-4 glycine tablets each time.
- If internal tension, irritability, or internal tremors begin to increase, take 1 tablet of glycine every 3-5 minutes until you calm down. You can also use any soothing herbal infusions.
How to stop drinking on your own
If you feel that you can cope without a narcologist, here are some tips on how to stop drinking on your own:
- Take your phone or just a notebook. Start keeping track of your income and expenses recording expenses in different columns: “Groceries”, “Gasoline”, “Housing and Public Utilities” and so on. Enter the column “Alcohol”, let it remain empty. Record all money received and spent right from today, and do it immediately after purchase, because it’s easy to forget later.
- Firstly, this will make you think once again why you again automatically take a bottle from the store shelf, because you promised not to drink.
- And secondly, financial accounting is useful in any case: for example, it makes it more convenient to save money for large purchases, it’s easier to track what you spend too much on and what you can do without, and so on. There are special applications for smartphones.
- You will see firsthand the benefits of a sober lifestyle that you might not otherwise notice.
- Spend the money you save on something nice: go to the cinema or the gym, buy yourself a new gadget - anything that will help you fight a bad mood while you quit drinking.
- If, because of your sobriety, you don’t sit gloomily in a corner, but actively communicate as usual, then your friends probably won’t mind that you drink mineral water and not vodka.
- And over time, they will see that this is even better: after all, after the mineral water, you don’t get into a fight, don’t lose things, don’t force your comrades to drag you home - and so on.
- exercise regularly;
- eat healthy food;
- follow the work and rest schedule, don’t stay up late, get enough sleep;
- walk more in the fresh air.
These are not routine tips: if you lead a healthy lifestyle constantly, it will become a habit and begin to bring you pleasure. The mood, reduced due to the lack of usual doses of alcohol, will level out. Consequently, thoughts about drinking will arise less and less often
What can you do right now?
Moving to another city to change the environment is not the easiest way to deal with addiction; you need to find time and opportunities for this. Exercise should be regular; doing exercises once is clearly not enough. Therefore, you can endlessly dream about how one day you will get yourself together and still quit drinking.
However, there are some things you can do now while you read this article. Start quitting drinking now:
- Take a piece of paper or create a note on your smartphone. List all the worst things that can happen to you due to alcohol: delirium tremens, liver failure, loss of license for drunk driving, loss of a job, divorce from a loved one, and so on. Don't be lazy, write in detail. Carry it with you. Set a daily reminder on your phone and carefully re-read the list and add to it.
- Take a piece of paper or, again, a phone. Think over and write down your daily routine: getting up, breakfast, getting to work, and so on. Also write down your plans for the evening in detail, not just “Rest”. Don't leave a loophole to go get a drink because there's nothing else to do anyway. Plan your weekend routine separately: watching your favorite TV show, visiting relatives, activities with your child, a trip to nature, and so on. Hang the schedule on the wall and strictly follow it.
- And now is the time to make your dream come true. Yes, yes, right now!
- There’s probably an extra hour left in your daily routine that you don’t know what to spend on. Write in there what you have long wanted to do, but somehow never got around to: for example, go in for sports, learn to take beautiful pictures with your camera, start a video blog, go on skates or rollerblades (even better if your friend or son joins you ), read the books you once wanted, take out the dusty guitar or paints left over from art school from the closet.
- If there are classes on a topic that interests you near your home (yoga, swimming, photo lessons, dance master classes, a mountaineering or fencing section), sign up for them. Let it be a frivolous activity, but let it be to your liking. Incorporate it into your daily routine. We have already agreed that the regime must be strictly adhered to.
- So expect dramatic progress in your chosen endeavor! It will inevitably happen if you practice regularly. According to science, alcoholism is a habit, so it is logical to replace one habit with another.
How to stop drinking beer
Beer is an ancient alcoholic drink, known to man since Neolithic times. Some historical researchers believe that it was the invention of beer, and not bread, that marked the beginning of the active cultivation of grains. From these, through fermentation, a drink with a low percentage of ethanol was obtained. It has become widespread.
It was used by adults and children, which was not regarded as drunkenness. On the contrary, for the poor, beer has become a universal product. It saved us from hunger, quenched thirst, healed, helped relieve stress and lift our spirits. And even excessive abuse of foam during feasts or in Everyday life did not cause social censure and was perceived as something natural.
An almost reverent attitude towards the drink has become so firmly entrenched in people’s minds that to this day it regular use does not cause serious concern either for the drinker himself or for those around him. They say, this is not vodka, this is beer, from him special harm the body does not.
Due to its low strength, the dangers of the drink are simply not taken seriously, and its use is associated with pleasant relaxation, stress relief, and spiritual company. And gradually, completely unnoticed by himself and those around him, a person becomes a hostage to beer alcoholism.
Beer alcoholism
In fact, neither in medical science nor in the International Classification of Diseases there is such a thing as “beer alcoholism.” Official science and drug addiction specialists do not see much difference between the abuse of beer, vodka, wine or other alcoholic beverages. After all, the outcome for all addictions is the same: mental and physical dependence on ethanol with subsequent damage to all organs and systems.
However, the concept of beer alcoholism has become widespread to refer to the abuse of beer and its consequences. At the same time, all narcologists, without exception, are unanimous in their opinion: addiction to beer develops unnoticed, is difficult to treat and in most cases leads to relapse.
Difficulties of beer alcoholism
In addition to harm to the body, beer abuse has a number of characteristic features. Because of them, the addiction is quite difficult to understand, correct and treat:
- A frivolous attitude towards the drink and its frivolous use leads to the rapid formation of mental dependence.
- Low ethanol content reduces the risk of serious intoxication of the body, but at the same time provokes a constant increase in the dose of alcohol.
- Due to the fact that beer has a complex composition, withdrawal from beer drinking and the detoxification process is more difficult and longer.
- Intellectual and moral personality changes in beer alcoholics are weakly expressed, which is why they are perceived by society without condemnation, which complicates the process of understanding the problem.
- Regular (not excessive!) consumption of foam helps to fill the deficiency of vital necessary for the body substances, which also provokes the development of addiction.
Regarding the last point, the composition of beer is rich in potassium, calcium, silicon and phosphorus. The drink contains a large number of fiber and phytoestrogens, the source of which is hops.
Phytoestrogens are natural non-steroidal hormones characteristic of female body. Therefore, when women abuse beer, stronger psychological addiction occurs, since phytoestrogens can increase the secretion of vaginal mucus, causing sexual arousal. Therefore, when drinking beer, women feel more relaxed and sexy.
While men have the exact opposite reaction to beer: a decrease in hormonal activity and sexual function.
An important point is the abundance of beer B vitamins and magnesium. This is truly a miraculous combination that reduces the excitability of nerve cells and helps neutralize the negative effects of stress. The body perceives the next dose as a real “balm for psychological and emotional wounds,” thereby becoming dependent on the drink.
This is a kind of drug that begins to be required daily to maintain a stable psycho-emotional state. And the hops contained in beer are a natural sedative. It consolidates the achieved relaxing effect, which further enhances the addiction to the drink. The components of hops calm the nerves because they act on special receptors in our nervous system.
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers act in the same way: phenazepam, Valium and others. They are called BDR (benzodiazepine receptor) agonists. And if you take them for a long time, it can be very difficult to quit: without the usual sedatives, a person begins to feel anxious, sometimes even panic. That is why you need to stop taking tranquilizers gradually and under the supervision of a doctor.
It's the same story with beer. Sometimes its calming effect is even a plus: for example, Non-alcoholic beer effectively helps relieve hangover anxiety.
But if you drink beer regularly, you develop a dependence not only on alcohol, but also on benzodiazepines (this dependence is even more severe). Therefore, quitting drinking beer is more difficult than any other alcoholic drink. In this case, it is best to seek help from a narcologist.
In addition, the carbohydrates and proteins contained in beer are a source of quick energy for the body. A daily intake of the drink in the form of 2 - 3 bottles of beer allows a person to feel cheerful, energetic and full of strength, which provokes the development of dependence on the new dose. In its absence, the beer alcoholic’s mood immediately worsens, he feels overwhelmed, loses interest in what is happening and suffers in his own way.
Thus, beer abuse is reminiscent of friendship with a treacherous friend who will stab you in the back and betray you at any moment. It is difficult to get rid of such a comrade, but it is possible. To do this, you need to realize your problem, make a firm decision to “quit” and undergo treatment with a narcologist. Getting rid of a bad habit on your own, without contacting a specialist, is very difficult.
After realizing the problem and making a firm decision to quit, it is recommended to try the following algorithm of actions:
- Gradually reduce daily dose drink For example, switch from 3 bottles a day to 2 bottles. Stay at what you have achieved for 1 week - and switch to 1 bottle per day. Then by 1 glass, then by 1 glass every 2 days, etc.
- Fundamentally change your drinking ritual. For example, if you are used to sipping foamy beer in the evenings while watching TV, then try giving it up in favor of seeds, fruits, and drink beer in a different environment.
- Find an alternative. Every time you want to drink, switch your interests to something else: for example, walking, sports, hobbies, communicating with family.
- Reward yourself. Start saving the money you save on buying beer. And, say, once a month, spend it on something useful or for pleasure. You yourself will be surprised at how many good things you can buy for “drunk” funds - this will be a good incentive for your further development towards sobriety.
It is very important during the period of sobriety to abstain not only from beer, but also from all alcoholic beverages, even on holidays. Otherwise, this will lead to a relapse: after a dose of ethanol enters the body, you will not be able to control the situation and resist your “favorite beer.”
As you reach the finish line of sobriety, try to pay attention to your health and strengthening your body. Take vitamin and mineral complexes, do physical exercise, practice visiting a bathhouse, sauna, SPA salon, etc. The main thing is to get a taste of life without beer.
The first time will be very difficult for you. At times you won’t even want to live. And not only because I feel bad physically, but because I feel sick at heart. Apathy, insomnia, nightmares, some kind of meaninglessness of life, irritation - all this will indicate that you are on the right path.
Your body has already begun to wean itself off foam. Just be patient a little, or better yet, help him: switch your attention, find a hobby, a new meaning in life. When the brain is working on something interesting, it is easier to find a common language with it and agree not to be friends with beer.
Pay attention to motivation
Hereditary alcoholics often have innate problems with motivation. They often choose to have fun right now, but have problems later - instead of suffering a little and getting benefits in the future. John Crystal, a professor at Yale University (USA), spoke about this in his article.
For example, if a person is driving today, then you should think: “I won’t drink so as not to get a fine, lose my license, or get into an accident.” Instead, the alcoholic thinks: “I will drink and have fun right now - and there may be no bad consequences at all. So you don’t have to think about them.”
It turns out that the body fails a person twice:
- the brain decides in favor of drinking,
- and the body is also in favor, because hereditary alcoholics often inherit a lighter hangover than most people. That is why they are not afraid to drink more and more often than others - and as a result they become drunkards.
What to do about it?
There are many techniques that allow you to train the habit of focusing on large goals without being distracted by the “bird in the hand.” Read books on psychology, in particular on “cognitive behavioral therapy”; consult a psychologist.
Cognitive psychology or something similar to it really works. Here's what a guest of our site writes about how she manages to resist drinking:
I go to the bathhouse or swimming pool, just walk around the city or talk on the phone, I remember that I don’t get any buzz, I just drink and sleep, drinking away a lot of money. I read articles on the Internet about sanogenic thinking, about getting rid of cravings, a visitor to the site pokhover.rf
Quitting drinking is easier than it seems when you're drinking.
It can be difficult for a person to start quitting binge drinking. It seems to him that as soon as he stops drinking, he will be tormented by the desire to drink again. However, scientists tell us that this is not the case. The experiment was carried out by Kevin A. Hellgren and other American scientists from the University of Washington (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) in the year 2071. For 12 weeks, they observed 78 people (more than 80% were men). They were divided into three groups depending on when they stopped drinking:
- Already stopped drinking before the experiment began.
- They stopped drinking during the experiment.
- They never stopped drinking.
All were treated for alcoholism with the drug prazosin.
Participants in the experiment regularly reported on their health and how much they wanted to drink.
So, among the subjects of all groups, the craving for alcohol gradually decreased. Moreover, those who have just quit drinking (the second group) have a craving for alcohol disappeared suddenly. Those who continued to drink were even more drawn to alcohol during the experiment than those who had stopped drinking relatively long ago. The researchers also looked at the subjects' moods: those who abruptly stopped drinking gradually felt better, but there was no dramatic improvement in their mood. But those who quit long ago and those who didn’t quit did not experience any changes at all.
This study is designed to support those who are just planning to quit drinking. The first step seems scary, but practice shows that withdrawal is experienced more often by those who continue to drink, and not by those who “stopped.”
Do you have a drinking habit?
Scientists also note that alcoholism is partly a habit. The same as brushing your teeth in the morning or shaking hands with a friend. This may seem strange, but the same mechanisms work in the brain when we don’t hesitate to take our keys out of our pocket when approaching the door, and when we open a bottle of beer in the evening.
Habits are formed according to the principle:
signal → action → reward
For example:
came home, saw the sofa → turned on the series → enjoyed it
Woke up → lit a cigarette → enjoyed it
Saw the logo of a fast food chain → took a bite of French fries → enjoyed it
I saw sneakers → put them on, went for a run → enjoyed them
When our brain receives a “reward” for an action, it remembers that pleasure. If this process is repeated for at least 2-3 weeks, then we form a habit. And when we see a signal, we begin to strongly want to take the action that follows the signal. Sometimes this desire can be very difficult to fight.
Moreover, an established habit can live on its own: even if the action does not bring you pleasure, you will still perform it. This is very familiar to smokers.
It happens that a person does not experience much pleasure from alcohol and does not make a conscious choice in favor of drinking. But he starts drinking automatically when he finds himself in the usual conditions for this:
- came to a birthday, to a wedding;
- came to a nightclub;
- met with friends;
- It’s February 23 or March 8, there’s a corporate party at work;
- Stress happened, a loved one left, someone died. In general, grief has happened and you want to drown it;
- and so on.
It happens that a person mechanically goes into his usual tavern after work, orders alcohol and starts drinking - before he realizes what he is doing. Out of habit!
What to do about it?
If a person decides to quit drinking forever, then he needs to get rid of habits. The good news: this can be done not by willpower, fighting desires, but relatively simply. If you approach the matter wisely, you can quit a habit just as you can acquire it.
Doctors recommend that alcoholics not attend events and places where there will be alcohol. Even if a person has firmly decided not to take alcohol into his mouth, such a promise will be difficult to fulfill when everyone around him is drinking and he is also being encouraged to drink.
Are you invited to visit on March 8? Will your son-in-law offer you a drink? Do not go. It’s better to be offended at you for not coming than to be offended by a week-long binge.
Corporate party at work? Don't come. Even if you are fired for this (which is unlikely), you will survive the dismissal. But binge drinking, maybe not.
This does not mean that you should stop communicating with your family and colleagues. You just have to firmly refuse when the meeting involves drinking. But with friends who constantly pour drinks, you can break up forever.
Scientists suggest that society affects us first, and then alcohol: first, the habit of drinking alcohol in certain situations is formed. And only then physical dependence develops. Alcoholism as a habit and alcoholism as a disease develop differently and are also treated differently. Some people need to consciously reduce their alcohol consumption, while others need to reduce their physical cravings for drinking. Based on these findings, scientists hope to develop more effective treatments for alcoholism.
If you think that these are all empty theories, and alcoholism is actually just severe chemical changes in the brain, then read about how people become dependent on ear cleaning sticks. This is real drug addiction, only without the drug.
People who quit drinking: real stories
To show that it is possible to quit drinking, we published several stories of patients of narcologist Maxim Kirsanov.
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