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 for the formation of addiction.
Reasons for excessive alcohol consumption
- Genetic factor.Despite the fact that it exists, research on alcohol dependence shows the following statistics: the risk of developing alcoholism in children of alcohol-dependent parents increases on average by ¼. This allows us to assert that the main role in the formation of the disease is given to social and psychological factors, and heredity acts as a favorable "background" that predisposes to the progression of alcoholism.
- Social factorsare a group of reasons and life circumstances that stimulate a person to drink alcohol.
- pressure from others - in this case, a person begins to drink "socially" in order not to differ from other members of the team, to maintain traditions or fit better into the team, etc. ;
- unsatisfactory or complex professional activity - a lot of time, boredom, incorrectly chosen work that does not meet personal needs and interests, as well as a profession that is associated with excessive physical and mental stress, high risks and responsibility;
- unsatisfactory quality of life - unfavorable living conditions or unpleasant neighborhood, financial difficulties, poor nutrition, lack of stable income.
- Psychological reasonsBasically, they represent an inability to adapt to the realities of life, a lack of confidence in oneself and one's own abilities. They mainly consist of the following factors:
- demonstrative behavior - deliberately attracting the attention of the public or a narrow circle of people;
- lack of trusting relationships, opportunity to talk about "painful issues";
- internal discrepancy with the images of the Ideal Self - low self-esteem, self-accusations and self-reproaches;
- impossibility of personal self-realization - lack of family, difficult relations with parents ("I'm a bad son", etc. );
- drinking as a way to remove psychological "barriers" - timidity, shyness, anxiety;
- fears, phobias, increased anxiety, suspicion;
- the need to relieve tension, the inability to independently overcome stress and psycho-emotional stress.
So the list of factors is quite extensive, and before you start looking for answers on how to give up alcohol, you need to understand what may have caused your addiction to alcohol. However, not every drinker is ready to analyze the origin of the problem and find out the cause of addiction, moreover, during the existence of alcohol, he has acquired a large number of myths that "justify" the harmful desire for the bottle. The main ones are presented on-down.
Myths about alcohol
Alcohol is the best helper in the fight against diseases
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 from a number of sources is allowed even for pregnant women - it is allowed fromtime to drink a glass of red wine to increase tone, relieve stress on the cardiovascular system and improve mood. However, even when alcohol temporarily stabilizes the condition, it in no way helps to overcome the disease, besides, it is toxicsubstance and only worsens 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 dependence.
Alcohol relieves stress
In fact, drinking alcohol not only does not solve problems and does not remove 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 problems. The destruction of the nervous system leads to even greater sensitivity to external factors, reduced 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 of development of dependence on it is the same as with strong narcotic substances. The only difference is the period during which permanent dependence is created. The withdrawal syndrome also differs somewhat, 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 procedure, work of a narcologist, psychological and social rehabilitation.
Occasional drinking is normal
Events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, company 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 oppose the majority. Traditionally, there is no direct link 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 should blindly follow such a "tradition" and set the appropriate example for your children.
Drinking is rarely normal
The peculiarities of the culture, as mentioned above, suggest quite frequent consumption of alcohol - an abundance of holidays, ritual holidays, the traditional "Friday" preceding the weekend. . . Against the background of the frequency of alcohol consumption by friends, acquaintances and colleagues, it may seem that a person drinks extremely rarely. When a person becomes addicted to alcohol, the personal norm changes - the person still believes that he is not subject to the habit and rarely drinks.
I drink alcohol "for courage"
Often people drink to feel confident, to decide to take a certain action or to meet a nice person, or to have a spiritual conversation with friends or acquaintances. But the joy of communication is not in the shared alcoholic intoxication - in cases where the inferiority complex, the prejudiced attitude towards oneself, the lack of confidence in one's own attractiveness and strength do not allow the creation of social contacts, it is necessary to do deep work on yourself, and don't resort to a glass.
So, we see that the real and imagined causes of alcoholism differ greatly, which can lead to confusion for the drinker. However, if you want to overcome your craving for alcohol, you should adhere to the following tips and rules.
Tips on how to stop drinking on your own
The first and most important recommendation is a strong desire to overcome the craving for alcohol. In order for it to form, however, certain conditions must be met.
The right time
Most often, the desire to give up a dangerous habit comes after a good "holiday" - a person feels so bad that he often promises not to drink alcohol anymore.
Stimulus
How to stop drinking alcohol if there is nothing or no one to do it for? As a rule, a convincing argument in favor of sober living is necessary.
Taking care of your health
Few drinkers realize the harm they are doing to themselves – they understand that drinking alcohol is harmful, but they do not realize what exactly alcoholism entails. Perhaps documentaries, articles, books about the dangers of alcohol, as well as the personal negative experiences of friends can help achieve this goal.
Caring for 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 convince a loved one to stop drinking. This is a good incentive to start a sober life.
The desire to maintain social status, profession, wealth
Many drinkers realize that a process of degradation begins: work qualities deteriorate, efficiency decreases, and soon you can simply lose your job. Alcohol is also an obstacle to career growth.
In fact, everyone can have their own incentive - someone has experienced a moral shock, someone is afraid of a divorce from a spouse who has categorically given an ultimatum, someone does not want to lose their moral character. 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? "", and "What do I do when I quit? ". What should we do on Friday night? How to go fishing with friends or girlfriends for "get-togethers"? What to do at a wedding or birthday? In this case, you need to remember about pleasant changes - sober fun, pleasant fun, no need to "get sick" after holidays andetc. , and a new way of life will be formed naturally and easily.
Ability to relax
Learning relaxation techniques is necessary not only for those who are addicted to drinking due to stress, but also for everyone who is determined to get rid of the addiction. Withdrawal syndrome, stress from life changes, pressure from others - all these can require the ability to self-adjust 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 need deep spiritual practices and serious exercises. You need to find something that will help you.
Exercising helps you 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 can be facilitated by yoga, running, swimming, skiing, horse riding, etc.
Hobbies bring interest back to life
For a person to realize his potential, strong family relationships and favorite work are not enough. It is also important to do something you like - creativity not only promotes relaxation, but also strengthens self-esteem, and in some cases leads to success. Reading books, crafts, carving, writing poetry, or even writing your own blog, including one that covers the question "How do I stop drinking? ""– you have to find the hidden potential in yourself and give it an outlet.
Psychological work on yourself - tips for drinkers
In fact, every drinker has a whole range of psychological problems: guilt, self-doubt, embarrassment, inability to build trusting relationships with others, a feeling of "abandonment" - just a significant part of the list of characteristic feelings and states. work on it: maybe completing a 12-step treatment program or counseling sessions will help to overcome the barriers that have arisen; maybe you can do it yourself. But this point is mandatory, because removing the root of the problem is the key to success.
Other methods of dealing with alcohol
Folk medicine also comes to the rescue in the treatment of alcoholism. It seems, how folk remedies can help you stop drinking alcohol? However, there are a few common methods by which alcohol cravings are reduced.
How can we help ourselves with a potion?
A decoction of the herb thyme induces vomiting and aversion to alcohol. 15 g of dried herb are 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 a ratio of 50 ml/15 ml of vodka.
Tea as part of the treatment of alcohol dependence
Ivan tea is mixed with thyme in a 5/1 ratio, infused with boiling water and boiled for 15-20 minutes. After the tea has cooled to the desired temperature (it should not steam), a little honey is added to it. It should be consumed when the desire to drink appears, the permitted amount is up to 5 glasses per day.
Despite the abundance of advice on how to stop drinking alcohol on your own, a small percentage of people who crave alcohol succeed. In most cases, full recovery requires visiting a drug addiction treatment center to receive drug treatment and then undergo social and psychological rehabilitation.