Alcoholism is a disease characterized by alcohol dependence. This, in turn, consists of two main components: mental and physical, therefore, before answering the question "How to stop drinking alcohol on your own? ", it is important to consider the causes and factors of addiction.
Causes of excessive alcohol consumption
- Genetic factor.Despite its existence, studies on alcohol dependence show the following statistics: the risk of developing alcoholism increases by an average of ¼ in children of alcoholic parents. This allows us to confirm that the main role in the formation of the disease is given to social and psychological factors, and that heredity plays the role of a favorable "background" that determines the development of alcoholism.
- Social factorsrepresents a group of reasons and life circumstances that lead a person to drink alcohol.
- pressure from others - in this case, a person begins to drink "socially" in order not to stand out from the rest of the team, to maintain traditions or to better fit into the team, etc. ;
- unsatisfactory or complex professional activity - having a profession that causes a lot of time, boredom, poorly chosen work, as well as excessive physical and mental stress, high risks and responsibility, which does not match personal needs and interests;
- unsatisfactory quality of life - unfavorable living conditions or unpleasant neighborhood, financial difficulties, poor nutrition, lack of stable income.
- Psychological reasonsBasically, they represent the inability to adapt to the realities of life, lack of confidence in oneself and one's strengths. They mainly consist of the following factors:
- ostentatious behavior - deliberately attracting the attention of the public or a narrow circle;
- lack of reliable relationships, the ability to talk about "painful issues";
- Internal inconsistency with images of the Ideal Self - low self-esteem, self-accusation and self-condemnation;
- impossibility of personal self-realization - lack of family, difficult relations with parents ("I'm a bad son", etc. );
- drinking as a way to overcome psychological "obstacles" - timidity, shyness, anxiety;
- fear, phobia, increased anxiety, suspicion;
- the need to relieve tension, the inability to independently relieve stress and psycho-emotional stress.
So, the list of factors is quite extensive, and before you start looking for answers on how to get rid of alcohol, you need to understand what can cause your alcohol addiction. However, not every drinker is ready to analyze the background of the problem and determine the cause of addiction, moreover, during the existence of alcohol, he acquired many myths that "justify" the harmful desire for a bottle. The main ones are presented below.
Myths about alcohol
Alcohol is the best helper in the fight against diseases
This is a common misconception about many diseases and conditions of the body. It is believed that a glass of alcohol can help fight colds and hypothermia, "disinfect" the intestines, relieve headaches and lower blood pressure. In a number of sources, moderate alcohol consumption is allowed even for pregnant women - it is allowed to drink a glass of red wine from time to time to raise the tone, relieve stress on the cardiovascular system and improve mood. However, even in cases where alcohol temporarily stabilizes the condition, it does not help to eliminate the disease in any way, moreover, it is a poisonous substance and only aggravates the disease. It should be remembered that there are no therapeutic doses, but there is always a risk of complications and the formation of a stable addiction.
Alcohol relieves stress
In fact, drinking alcohol not only does not solve problems and does not eliminate the source of stress, but also adds new difficulties. In addition, a person forgets how to relax on his own, regulate his mental state, and loses the ability to withstand life's difficulties. The destruction of the nervous system leads to greater sensitivity to external factors, a decrease in resistance to stress, which creates a vicious circle that becomes increasingly difficult for the alcoholic to get out of.
Alcohol is not a drug
Despite the legality and general availability of alcohol, the mechanism of development of addiction to it is the same as that of hard drugs. The only difference is the period during which the persistent addiction occurs. Withdrawal syndrome is also slightly different, but in both cases it occurs when the body stops taking the usual substance. In addition, the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction has the most similar stages: detoxification procedure, work of a narcologist, psychological and social rehabilitation.
It's okay to drink sometimes
Weddings, birthdays, funerals, corporate parties, etc. such events are always accompanied by the consumption of alcoholic beverages. But these are not a reason to drink, but a reason to justify one's own weakness and inability to stand against the majority. Traditionally, there is no direct connection between certain events and alcohol consumption, for most people this association is only due to the example of authoritative adults - but this does not mean blindly following such a "tradition" and setting the appropriate rule. role model for your children.
Infrequent drinking is normal
The characteristics of the culture, as mentioned above, imply drinking alcohol quite often - the abundance of holidays, festive parties, the traditional "Friday" on the eve of the weekend. . . Against the background of the frequency of alcohol consumption of friends, acquaintances and friends. colleagues, a person may appear to drink very rarely. As one gets used to alcoholic beverages, the personal norm changes - the person still believes that he is not subject to the habit and rarely drinks.
I drink alcohol "for courage".
Often, people drink to feel confident, to decide to take a certain action, or to meet a pleasant person, to have a spiritual conversation with friends or acquaintances. But the joy of communication is not in a shared alcoholic intoxication - in cases where the inferiority complex, prejudice against oneself, lack of confidence in one's own attractiveness and strength do not allow the formation of social contacts, it is necessary to deal deeply. work on yourself and don't turn to the glass.
Thus, we see that the real and imaginary causes of alcoholism differ significantly, which can lead the drinker into confusion. But if he wants to overcome his craving for alcohol, he should follow the following recommendations and rules.
Tips on how to stop drinking on your own
The first and most important recommendation is a strong desire to eliminate the desire for alcohol. However, certain conditions must be met for its formation.
Right time
Often, the desire to give up a dangerous habit comes after a good "party" - a person feels so bad that he often promises not to drink alcohol.
Stimulus
How to stop drinking alcohol if there is nothing or no one? As a rule, you need a solid argument in favor of a sober life.
Taking care of your health
Few drinkers are aware of the harm they are doing to themselves - they understand that drinking alcohol is harmful, but they do not understand exactly what alcoholism causes. Perhaps documentaries, articles, books about the harms of alcohol, as well as personal negative experiences of friends can help to achieve this goal.
Caring for your 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 about your loved ones - parents, spouse, children - it is the closest circle that often asks the question of how to convince a loved one to stop drinking. This is a good incentive to start a sober life.
Desire to protect social status, profession, wealth
Many drinkers realize that the process of degradation has begun: work quality deteriorates, efficiency decreases, and you may soon lose your job. Alcohol is also an obstacle to career advancement.
In fact, everyone can have their own motivation - someone has experienced a moral upheaval, someone is afraid of divorce from a spouse who has given a firm ultimatum, someone does not want to lose their moral qualities. You need to determine which areas of life are most important and understand how alcohol affects them.
Accepting the change
It happens that the main question is not "How to stop drinking alcohol? " but "What should I do when I quit drinking? "What to do on Thursday? How to go fishing for "dates" with friends or girlfriends? What to do at a wedding or birthday? In this case, you need to remember pleasant changes - sober fun, pleasant fun, no need to "get sick" after parties, etc. and a new way of life will be formed naturally and easily.
The ability to relax
Learning relaxation techniques is required not only for people who are addicted to drinking due to stress, but also for anyone who is determined to break the addiction. Withdrawal syndrome, stress from life changes, pressure from others - all this can require the ability to properly regulate oneself. This can be done by:
- meditation;
- self massage;
- breathing exercises etc.
Some people find it helpful to simply count to 10 and take deep breaths, while others need deep spiritual practices and serious exercises. You need to find something to help you.
Exercising helps take your mind off things
Physical activity not only takes up most of the time, but also contributes to the overall health of the body, releases "hormones of happiness", diversifies life and allows you to feel the joy of sobriety. This includes yoga, running, swimming, skiing, horse riding, etc. can be facilitated by
Hobbies restore interest in life
Strong family relationships and a favorite job are not enough for a person to realize his potential. It is also important to do what you love - creativity not only helps to relax, but also strengthens self-confidence, and in some cases leads to success. Reading books, crafts, woodcarving, writing poetry or even writing your own blog, including "How to stop drinking? " - you need to find the hidden potential in yourself and show it a way out.
Psychological work on oneself - tips for drinkers
In fact, every drinker has a number of psychological problems: guilt, self-doubt, shame, inability to establish reliable relationships with others, the feeling of "abandonment" - this is only a significant part of the list of characteristic feelings and situations. . It needs to be worked on: perhaps completing a 12-Step treatment program or psycho-counseling sessions will help to 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 combating alcoholism
Traditional medicine also helps in the treatment of alcoholism. It seems that how folk remedies can help to stop drinking alcohol? However, there are several common ways to reduce alcohol cravings.
How to help yourself with a decoction?
A decoction of thyme herb induces vomiting and aversion to alcohol. 15 g of dried grass is brewed with 2 cups of boiling water, boiled for 10-15 minutes, then a little boiled water is added until the initial volume is obtained. It is taken twice a day in the ratio of 50ml/15ml of vodka.
Tea as part of the treatment of alcohol addiction
Ivan tea is mixed with thyme in a ratio of 5: 1, brewed with boiling water and boiled for 15-20 minutes. After the tea has cooled to the desired temperature (there should be no confusion), a little honey is added to it. It should be consumed when there is a desire to drink, the permissible amount is up to 5 glasses per day.
Despite the abundance of advice on how to stop drinking alcohol on your own, only a small percentage of people who desire alcohol succeed. In most cases, in order to fully recover, it is necessary to apply to a drug center for drug treatment, and then undergo social and psychological rehabilitation.