The treatment of any form of alcoholism involves the complete refusal of the patient from alcohol. The success of therapy is reduced to zero if the patient has no desire to live in a state of sobriety. On the contrary, awareness of one's own illness is already the first step towards achieving remission. Such awareness is the result of very complex work on oneself and requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, to stop drinking, it is best to consult a doctor.
Reasons to stop drinking alcohol
There are many reasons why a person stops drinking. Among the most significant are:
- the desire to be healthy;
- deterioration of health and development of chronic diseases;
- more attractive appearance in people who do not have problems with alcohol;
- a sober, sharp and untainted mind, a desire to adequately perceive the surrounding reality;
- high efficiency;
- good work attitude and impeccable reputation;
- saving money (financial expenses for alcohol always occupy a significant share in the budget of an alcoholic person);
- high sexuality, lack of problems with potency in men or menstrual cycle in women;
- the availability of strength and time (after all, the life of a person who is in an alcoholic network is guided by one desire - to drink);
- excellent state of mind, cheerfulness;
- healthy atmosphere at home;
- full, bright and healthy life;
- healthy offspring.
The road to sober living is very long and difficult. However, a person has a chance to get rid of the addiction by following the advice of the doctors. The most important thing for this is to have a strong desire to heal yourself and an iron will.
Can a person stop drinking on their own?
Doctors warn: there are no former alcoholics. Alcoholism is an incurable disease. However, the patient always has a chance to achieve a stable remission and stop drinking alcohol. The duration of the period of sobriety is variable and can range from several months to several decades.
Methods of psychological impact on the patient are effective in stopping the use of alcohol. They allow you to inspire the patient with a negative attitude to alcohol and thus prevent relapse. With a positive result, a strong belief is formed that he can lead a healthy and fulfilling life without drinking a single drop of alcoholic beverages.
Successful treatment of alcoholism depends on a large number of factors. The most important thing is that a person decides for himself whether to drink alcohol or not.
Spontaneous remission
It is rare for a person to stop drinking spontaneously. A certain factor insists on this: there is an acceptance of one's illness and then a decision that something needs to change in life.
The main disadvantage of spontaneous remission is the indefinite persistence and spontaneity.
Motivational remission
In this case, a person consciously refuses to drink alcohol. More often this happens if there is a threat to a person's life. Consciously refusing alcohol, a person also raises a number of financial issues, and also solves the problem of preserving the family.
Gradually, a person comes to the conclusion that completely rejecting alcohol will allow him to achieve his goals in life and consolidate success. In remission, he is fully convinced that his choice is correct and a priority, despite the presence of temptations. In addition, every victory over alcohol and the approval of the people around him further strengthens the sober position.
Forced remission
A person does not always voluntarily strive for a sober lifestyle. Many people who are addicted to alcohol do not always understand how harmful their bad habit is. However, circumstances take over. For example, if the director is at work or the husband, the child puts a person before a choice, he must obey. Otherwise, it will be displayed throughout the life of the alcoholic.
Forced remission is usually not permanent. In addition, a person is constantly in a state of tension because he experiences difficulties and inconveniences from such compulsion. A collapse after such a remission usually has very serious consequences.
Somatogenic remission
If a person learns about a sharp deterioration in health, he usually stops drinking alcohol. The most common situation is when the patient has to give up alcohol against the background of delirium tremens.
In addition, alcoholics fear the consequences of experiencing a serious illness (for example, a heart attack or stroke). Against the background of negative emotions, they completely lose their attraction to alcohol. Realizing the harm of alcohol, albeit belatedly, forms a new attitude: survival is a higher priority than drinking alcohol and short-term intoxication.
Psychogenic remission
This variant of alcohol withdrawal is associated with somatogenic remission. When a person finds out what he did while intoxicated, he experiences a huge shock. In a state of shame for his actions, he decides to stop drinking.
There can be many such reasons. Most often it is:
- road accident due to drunkenness;
- attempted murder of their own children;
- violence.
Such remission is unstable and short-lived. Sometimes a strong trigger works in the opposite direction and the person begins to drink even more. In a state of alcoholic forgetfulness, suicide is not excluded.
Postintoxication remission
The nature of this remission cannot be fully established. It is characteristic of people chronically abusing alcoholic beverages. One day they stop drinking and do not dispute this decision.
Doctors assume that at some point poisoning with ethyl alcohol and its breakdown products reaches a critical limit. At this moment, the biochemical processes in the brain change and an aversion to alcoholic beverages appears. It should be noted that the taste, smell of alcohol suddenly becomes unpleasant. Even small doses cause nausea and vomiting.
Postintoxication remission is relatively stable. However, relapses are not excluded when, against the background of a sober lifestyle, a person's state of health significantly improves.
Advice for people who want to stop drinking
Not every person who has previously abused alcoholic beverages can easily endure a sober state. Some have a painful desire for alcohol, a desire to immediately skip "a glass or two". For those who have firmly and confidently embarked on a sober path, such advice can help.
- You need to contact a specialized clinic. Here, specialists will choose an individual treatment plan, prescribe effective drugs if necessary. Psychologists and rehabilitators will help you get out of overeating, cleanse your body and develop a sustainable negative attitude to the use of ethanol.
- If you want to stop drinking, that's half the battle. The patient must recognize the presence of the disease. If possible, the alcohol problem should be discussed with loved ones.
- The patient should end all relationships with people with whom he drank and who were tolerant of his addiction.
- Throw away all alcoholic beverages at home. This will make it much easier to avoid temptation. If there is a calm reaction to people who drink alcohol, it is already a success.
- You should be prepared for the fact that withdrawal symptoms will develop during alcohol withdrawal. At the same time, various psychophysiological disorders will be afflicted. The urge to take them off can be very strong. At this time it is important not to give in to weakness. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms on your own is very difficult, so you should trust the experts.
- You should read literature on various aspects of alcoholism. It is important to avoid sources of questionable origin. All questions can be discussed with the doctor.
- The daily regimen should include various types of physical activity. It is important to eat well and wholesomely, as well as rest. The ideal is to learn how to avoid stress or at least not react to it.
- For some, movement, communication with other people can help.
- An interesting hobby will improve the emotional background. Some people are helped by career change, volunteering, and outdoor activities.
- At meetings, holidays, you should look for an alternative to alcoholic beverages, which, unfortunately, have become traditional. Even one cocktail can defeat all previous efforts.
There is no one-size-fits-all method for stopping drinking. Everyone addicted to alcohol should look for the most suitable option. In order to avoid relapses and achieve a positive effect, it is important to contact specialists.