If a drinker wonders how to stop drinking alcohol on his own, then this is already the first step in the fight against alcoholism. A psychiatrist-narcologist shares his professional experience on how to help a person solve this problem and achieve success in the independent struggle against the green snake.
Is it possible to stop drinking on your own and how not to miss this opportunity?
If we talk about the stages of development of alcoholism, then it is possible to stop drinking forever in the first stage, when only psychological dependence on alcohol has formed. In the second stage, the problem becomes worse and complicated by the integration of ethyl alcohol into the metabolic process with the formation of physical dependence. It is possible for the patient to stop drinking alcohol at this stage, but it is very difficult. In the third and final phase of alcoholism, the patient does not face the question of how to stop drinking alcohol on his own. He is no longer able to assess the situation adequately, the desire for alcohol becomes irresistible, has a physiological nature and is complicated by the development of several mental, neurological and somatic disorders. In this case, you need to resort to mandatory treatment for alcoholism.
Therefore, it is important not to ignore the first signs of developing alcohol addiction, analyze the situation and aim to overcome the desire for alcohol. One should be careful of the following:
Change from occasional drinking to regular drinking. If you drink only on holidays and no more than once a week, but now you regularly drink in "warm" company every Friday after the end of the work week, you should think about it and try to stop this harmful tradition. The harmless Friday alcoholic gathering will soon be followed by Saturday booze, Sunday hangovers and the development of weekend alcoholism. And this is a direct path to intense alcoholism of the body with all the negative consequences that occur for mental and physical health, problems with loved ones and work.
An increase in the amount of alcohol consumed and difficulty in controlling it. The lack of sense of proportion does not allow a person to stop drinking alcohol in time and is the cause of severe alcohol intoxication.
Changes in the social environment and leisure time. Old friends become unattractive, addicts prefer to be friends with drinking friends, former hobbies are replaced by finding ways to satisfy more interesting alcoholic hobbies.
A rather unpleasant sign of the beginning of the transition from stage 1 to stage 2 alcoholism is an increase in tolerance to alcohol, when an increased amount of alcohol is required to achieve its effect. It manifests itself in the fact that the patient can drink a lot of alcohol without obvious intoxication and subsequent intoxication. Many also boast about their "superpowers", not suspecting that this is a sign of the development of alcoholism.
Celebrate only with alcohol and create new reasons to drink. The most typical is stress relief, for which there are more than enough reasons in our daily lives. Any holiday or sad date, even a small event, can be a reason to celebrate with alcohol.
Difficulty communicating with loved ones, friends and colleagues. Without a regular dose of alcohol, a person becomes irritable, suspicious, restless, aggressive, his autonomic nervous system suffers and inadequate mental reactions to the actions and words of others appear.
In addition, it is possible that ethyl alcohol may have a negative effect on the liver, which is manifested in nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems. In practice, damage to any organ can occur, especially those initially affected by some disease. For example, in hypertensive patients, problems with blood pressure worsen; with poor pancreatic function, alcoholic pancreatitis can develop; the kidneys suffer from the persistent diuretic and toxic effects of alcohol.
What psychological atmosphere is conducive to solving the problem of how to stop drinking alcohol on your own?
To elaborate on this question, we can formulate it this way: how to stop drinking alcohol by yourself at home? Naturally, this can only be done in a favorable psychological environment at home and at work. The main things required from others are:
Minimize all temptations. You should not mention alcohol in conversations about parties and corporate events, keep its supply at home, combine vacations and picnics with drinking alcoholic beverages, and visit wine and vodka stores. It is also necessary to avoid drinking company.
It is obligatory to reward the achievement of a drinker, even if he has abstained from drinking for only one day. The difficult road to recovery from alcohol requires the full support of his family and friends.
Maximum involvement of addicts in family leisure, collective events for a healthy lifestyle. This includes games with children, family walks and trips to nature, sports, hiking with non-drinking friends. You can also get pets, especially dogs, that need to be walked often, and thus teach the drinker self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.
Creating such an atmosphere will contribute to the return of the taste for life without alcohol, the ability to receive joy from previously favorite activities, easy human communication, the beauty of nature and breathing fresh air without the mixture of alcohol fumes.
What are your specific recommendations on how to quit drinking?
I can offer the following practical tips on how to stop drinking alcohol:
Before you begin to quit drinking on your own, outline an action plan that analyzes the root cause of your addiction. Before doing this, it is still advisable to consult a psychiatrist-narcologist, who will tell you the most optimal way for you to get rid of this dangerous addiction. You may be able to stop drinking immediately and permanently, or you may be better off reducing your alcohol intake gradually. Try to follow a strictly developed plan regarding the amount and frequency of drinking alcohol. At the same time, the number of sober days per week should be greater than the number of "drunk" days.
To control the entire process of self-healing, keep a diary where you carefully track what you drink, note all your achievements and moments of stressful situations. Pay special attention to situations where you have a desire to solve problems with the help of alcohol, and how you courageously refuse this opportunity.
You can visualize your desires by hanging posters throughout your apartment with slogans about the dangers of alcohol, photos of you before and after alcohol abuse, drawings or photos on the topic of your idea of happiness - family photos with happy faces of loved ones, the car model you want to buy, a piece of paradise outside the city, admiring colleagues, etc.
Avoid company where alcohol is an important part of the hobby. A drinking buddy will never be your ally.
Do not relax with alcohol on the weekend; it is better to get your dose of fun while communicating with loved ones or on the sports field. Physical activity promotes the production of happiness hormones, which can completely replace the euphoria of alcohol. Feeling confident in your strength and fitness will help you cope with any stress and increase your sense of self-sufficiency.
Do a job or hobby that you like. This will benefit your intellect and take your mind off the constant thoughts of drinking. Do something good for yourself at least 3 times a day - for example, buy your favorite fruit at the market, buy an interesting book at the bookstore, buy a new fishing hook or bait at the sporting goods store. Do not save money on this, believe me, a bottle of vodka will not be cheaper, but will bring more harm.
Try to discuss your problems with people around you who have given up alcohol. Do not hesitate to ask their advice; usually such people are willing to share their success and methods of dealing with alcoholism with their friends.
Adjust your daily routine, get enough sleep and eat right. Avoid foods that were previously a favorite snack while drinking - spicy, salty, dry, etc. For example, dry gobies can be a trigger for drinking beer.
The morning and the process of waking up should always be pleasant - the usual sweet "stretch", a refreshing water treatment, a delicious breakfast, favorite music and even a "cuddle" with your faithful dog.
Drink plenty of water - it will intensively remove alcohol waste and its breakdown products from the body.
Don't get tired of praising yourself for every calm day or resisting the temptation to drink. "Oh, well done! "This will help create a positive emotional background and increase self-confidence.
And also, learn to say no to constant offers to drink. Of course, you can't completely leave a party or corporate event; modern life conditions often require such communication. Keep in mind that you don't have to drink alcohol just because it's offered to you. Be diplomatic, polite, but firm in your refusal to drink. Do not be afraid to look like a black sheep, because it is better than relying on the next dose of alcohol and turning into an avid alcoholic. Then society will definitely turn its back on you.
Keep in mind that it is not always possible to achieve a positive result on the first try. But this should not stop you from trying to get rid of alcohol addiction. The key to quitting alcohol for good is method and persistence. Do not be disappointed under any circumstances; in any case, on the second or third try you will be able to live a completely calm lifestyle. You may need professional psychological support, but this is only if you have a weak will and an unstable type of nervous system. Get help in any form - there's nothing wrong with it, you'll just have a wider field of effective ways to recover independently from addiction.