Alcoholism is a disease characterized by dependence on alcohol. It, in turn, consists of two main components: mental and physical, so before answering the question "How to stop drinking alcohol on your own? ", it is important to consider the reasons and factors in the formation of addiction.
Causes of excessive alcohol consumption
- Genetic factor.Despite the fact that it exists, studies on alcohol dependence show the following statistics: the risk of developing alcohol addiction among children of alcohol-dependent parents increases on average ¼. This allows us to assert that the main role in the formation of this disease is given to social and psychological factors, and heredity acts as a favorable "background" that affects the development of alcoholism.
- Social factorsrepresents a group of reasons and life circumstances that stimulate a person to drink alcohol.
- pressure from others - in this case, a person starts drinking "socially" in order not to be different from other members of the team, to maintain tradition or fit in better with the team, etc. ;
- unsatisfactory or complex professional activity - having a lot of time, boredom, wrongly chosen work that does not suit personal needs and interests, as well as professions that involve excessive physical and mental stress, high risks and responsibilities;
- unsatisfactory quality of life - poor living conditions or unpleasant neighborhood, financial problems, poor diet, lack of stable income.
- Psychological reasonsBasically they represent the inability to adapt to the reality of life, lack of confidence in oneself and one's strength. They mainly consist of the following factors:
- demonstrative behavior - intentionally attracting the attention of the public or a narrow circle of people;
- lack of trusting relationships, opportunities to talk about "painful issues";
- internal inconsistency with the Ideal Self-image - low self-esteem, self-accusation and self-reproach;
- impossibility of personal self-awareness - lack of family, difficult relationship with parents ("I'm a bad son", etc. );
- drinking as a way to get rid of psychological "obstacles" - shame, shyness, anxiety;
- fear, phobia, increased anxiety, suspicion;
- the need to relieve tension, the inability to cope with stress independently and psycho-emotional stress.
Therefore, the list of factors is quite extensive and before you start looking for answers on how to quit alcohol, you should understand what can cause your addiction to alcohol. 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, it has acquired a large number of myths that "justify" the dangerous desire for a bottle. The main ones are presented below.
Myths about alcohol
Alcohol is the best helper in the fight against disease
This is a common misconception regarding many diseases and conditions of the body. It is believed that a glass of alcohol can help fight colds and hypothermia, "disinfect" the intestines, relieve headaches and lower blood pressure. Moderate consumption of alcohol in some sources is allowed even for pregnant women - it is allowed to drink a glass of red wine from time to time to improve tone, relieve stress on the cardiovascular system, and improve mood. However, even in cases where alcohol temporarily stabilizes the situation, it does not help at all to overcome the disease, moreover, it is a toxic substance and only worsens the disease. It should be remembered that there is no therapeutic dose, 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 the problem and does not remove the source of stress, but also adds new difficulties. In addition, a person forgets how to relax himself, control his mental state, and loses the ability to withstand life's problems. The destruction of the nervous system leads to a greater vulnerability to external factors, a decrease in resistance to stress, which creates a vicious circle from which it becomes increasingly difficult for the drinker to get out.
Alcohol is not a drug
Despite the legality of alcohol and its general availability, the mechanism for developing dependence on it is the same as with strong narcotic substances. The only difference is the period in which the continuous dependency is created. Withdrawal syndrome is also quite different, but occurs in both cases when the body stops receiving the usual substance. In addition, the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction also has the most similar stages: detoxification procedures, the work of a narcologist, psychological and social rehabilitation.
Occasional drinking is normal
Events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, corporate parties, etc. are always accompanied by collective drinking of alcohol. However, they are not a reason to drink, but a reason to justify one's own weakness and inability to resist the majority. Traditionally, there is no direct relationship between certain events and alcohol consumption; this association for most people is only due to the example of authoritative adults - however, this does not mean that you need to blindly follow such "traditions" and set a suitable example for your children.
Infrequent drinking is normal
Cultural peculiarities, as mentioned above, presupposes relatively frequent alcohol consumption - many holidays, ceremonial celebrations, traditional "Friday" before the weekend. . . Against the background of frequent alcohol use by friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, a person may seem to drink very rarely. When a person gets used to alcohol, personal norms change - 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, decide to take a certain action, or meet a good person, or have a spiritual conversation with a friend or acquaintance. But the joy of communication does not lie in shared alcohol poisoning - in cases where the inferiority complex, prejudiced attitude towards oneself, lack of confidence in one's own attractiveness and strength do not allow the formation of social relations, one should do deep work on oneself, anddo not use glasses.
So, we see that the real and imaginary causes of alcoholism differ significantly, which can cause the drinker to become confused. However, if he wants to overcome his desire for alcohol, he should follow the following tips and rules.
Tips on how to stop drinking on your own
The first and most important suggestion is a strong desire to overcome the desire for alcohol. However, to form it, certain conditions must be met.
Right time
Often, the desire to quit a harmful habit comes after a good "feast" - a person feels so bad that he often promises not to drink alcohol again.
Stimulus
How to stop drinking alcohol if nothing or no one does? As a rule, compelling arguments in favor of a quiet life are required.
Take care of your health
Few drinkers are aware of the harm they are causing themselves - they understand that drinking alcohol is dangerous, but they do not realize what alcohol addiction actually causes. Perhaps documentaries, articles, books about the dangers of alcohol, as well as personal negative experiences of friends can help achieve this goal.
Taking care of loved ones
It's no secret that excessive alcohol consumption affects not only the psyche of the addict, but also the psychological state of the people 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 persuade a loved one to stop drinking. This is a good incentive to start a quiet life.
The desire to maintain social status, profession, wealth
Many drinkers realize that the process of deterioration begins: the quality of work deteriorates, efficiency decreases, and soon you can lose your job. Alcohol is also an obstacle to career growth.
In fact, everyone may have their own incentives - someone has experienced a moral shock, someone is afraid of divorcing a partner who has given a categorical ultimatum, someone does not want to lose their moral character. You need to determine which areas of your life are most important and understand how alcohol affects them.
Accept the change
It happens that the main question is not "How to stop drinking alcohol? ", but "What to do when I stop? ". What to do on Friday afternoon? How to go fishing with friends or with a girlfriend for a "meeting"? What to do at a wedding or birthday? In this case, you should remember about pleasant changes - quiet fun, pleasant hobbies, no need to "get sick" after the feast, etc. , and a new lifestyle will be formed naturally and easily.
Ability to relax
Learning relaxation techniques is necessary not only for those who are addicted to drinking because of stress, but also for everyone who is determined to get rid of addiction. Withdrawal syndrome, stress due to life changes, pressure from other people - all these may require the ability to adapt in the right way. This can be done with:
- meditation;
- self massage;
- breathing exercises, etc.
Some people find it helpful to simply count to 10 and take a deep breath; others require deep spiritual practice and serious training. You need to find something that will help you.
Exercise helps you take your mind off things
Physical activity not only takes most of the time, but also contributes to the overall health of the body, releases the "hormone of happiness, " diversifying life and allowing you to feel the joy of tranquility. This can be facilitated by yoga, running, swimming, skiing, horse riding, etc.
Hobbies restore interest in life
In order for a person to realize his potential, strong family ties and a favorite job are not enough. It's also important to do something you enjoy - creativity not only promotes relaxation, but also strengthens self-confidence, and in some cases leads to success. Reading books, crafts, woodcarving, writing poetry, or writing your own blog, including those that include the question "How to stop drinking? "– you need to find the hidden potential in you and give it a way out.
Psychological work on yourself - tips for drinkers
In fact, every drinker has various psychological problems: feelings of guilt, self-doubt, shame, inability to build reliable relationships with others, feelings of "abandonment" - just a large part of the list of characteristic feelings and conditions. . You need to work on this: perhaps completing a 12-Step treatment program or a psychocounseling session will help overcome the obstacles that arise; maybe you can do it yourself. However, this is mandatory, because eliminating the cause of the problem is the key to success.
Another way to deal with alcohol
Traditional medicine also comes to help in the treatment of alcoholism. Apparently, how folk remedies can help you stop drinking alcohol? However, there are some common methods by which the desire for alcohol weakens.
How to help yourself by boiling?
Decoction of thyme herb causes vomiting and aversion to alcohol. 15 g of dried herbs are mixed with 2 cups of boiling water, boiled for 10-15 minutes, then a little boiled water is added until the original amount is obtained. It is taken twice a day in the proportion of 50ml/15ml vodka.
Tea as part of the treatment for 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 (it should not burn), a little honey is added to it. It should be consumed when the desire to drink arises, the amount allowed is up to 5 cups a day.
Although there is a lot of advice on how to stop drinking alcohol on your own, a small percentage of people who crave alcohol succeed. In most cases, for complete recovery it is necessary to visit a drug treatment center to receive drug treatment, and then undergo social and psychological rehabilitation.