Alcoholism is a serious disease. Addiction to alcoholic beverages undermines the human psyche, and regular use of ethyl alcohol gradually destroys all organs and systems. He who drinks a lot literally destroys himself from the inside. And at the same time, it makes the life of relatives and friends unbearable. How can you get someone to stop drinking? How to protect him from the negative effects of strong drinks? What can be done to restore peace and tranquility in the family?
We immediately note that it will not work to cure an alcoholic without his desire. So, if you decide to secretly add some "miracle drug" to his food at home, then you should know that your idea is doomed to failure in advance. Nothing good comes from mandatory treatment. Besides, it is not so easy to betray a drinkerin a hospital without his consent. That's why this article will focus mainly on how to convince an alcoholic to get treatment, how to get him to give up alcohol on his own.
Acknowledging the problem
As a rule, if a person drinks a lot, then he does not consider this a disease. Often the alcoholic does not even admit that he has recently had too much hard alcohol. He believes he drinks as much as usual, no more than everyone else. In addition, you may encounter another difficulty: the drinker agrees that there is too much alcohol in his life.
Perhaps he was already plagued by a constant hangover. However, at this stage, he still does not want to give up, he does not understand that he is already addicted. Such a person believes that alone and without outside help at home he will be able to wean himself off alcohol, but not now, but some day later. It's just that "later" never comes.
Therefore, the answer to the question "how to treat an alcoholic" must begin with convincing him that he is sick. This is often one of the most difficult steps. To cope with this task, you can use several tricks. Direct the patient's attention to the danger of alcohol to health. Focus on the deterioration in well-being that the drinker has recently experienced (and probably has to one degree or another in any case).
Try to draw the alcoholic's attention to the fact that he already drinks too much, that alcohol has caused changes in his behavior. Tell us that you can handle this completely, you just need to start treatment as soon as possible. Finally, try to convince the drinker that it's not shameful to call yourself an alcoholic, it's shameful not to admit the obvious.
Waiver of charges
If you are wondering how to help a drinker, never forget that you want to help, not blame. This is very important because alcohol changes the psyche in such a way that a person becomes very vulnerable and even capricious. If you start punishing him like a delinquent child, he will shut down, turn away from you and only get worse. It is necessary to convince the alcoholic of your good attitude. The patient should see you as a friend and ally.
Give up scandals and screams. The key to success is endless patience. Even if it's insanely hard for you, if you want to vent your emotions, then you have to do it in a way that no one can see. Do not allow outsiders (such as neighbors) to cast blame on the drinker. Never scold him in front of others.
Help with alcoholism implies maximum softness. Of course, you can point out to a person that their alcohol addiction is having a detrimental effect on them and those around them, but this should be presented as a fact, not an accusation. Remember, no one wants to be scolded. Do not try to insult or anger the drinker: this will only make him angry and he will drink more to harm you. Understand that alcohol speaks in a person and you need to "wake him up".
Choosing the right moment
To help with alcoholism, you need to choose the right time. This should be a period in which one does not drink. Talking to a drunk is absolutely useless. Of course, anyone who wants to can try, but it will be extremely difficult to achieve anything, you can only tear your nerves in vain. Please note that at home you will not be able to bring a person out of drunkenness on your own, so you need to be patient and wait. The "bright" period will come sooner or later, and then it is necessary to raise the question of how to help an alcoholic.
Help to get rid of alcoholism should begin with a serious conversation that will provide the patient with the necessary motivation. This conversation should take place in a relaxed setting, preferably at home. For it to succeed, two conditions must be met. First, the alcoholic himself must be sober (this was already mentioned above).
Second, you yourself must be mentally prepared. Think in advance how you will persuade, what words you will choose. Think about how to help the alcoholic understand you better, choose the necessary examples. Be calm and confident. Remember that the first conversation will most likely not work. Never give up. It can always be repeated again and again until the first successes appear.
Setting the right goals
To wean a person from drinking strong drinks, you need to give him the right motivation. Therefore, if you are wondering "how to help an alcoholic", you should find an alternative to alcohol for him. He needs to understand that life is beautiful without alcohol, that the world is full of wonderful opportunities. If you leave, you can get a good job. . . You will meet a decent girl. . . You will start talking to friends again. . . Tell the patient what he enjoyed in his past life. Give him hope to get what he wants (besides the alcohol).
Emphasize that his health will improve significantly, that you can still restore firmness of hand and clarity of mind. The right motivation should be the guiding star on the road to recovery.
Dependence on alcohol is so strong that only a great goal is able to overcome it and refuse the patient a glass. He should aim for something other than alcohol. And that desire must eventually win out. It should bring the alcoholic to a doctor and further support him on the difficult path.
When you are looking for an answer to the question "how to get a person to stop drinking", do not be afraid to turn to a psychologist. You cannot always do it yourself. A professional will tell you how to act to refuse a loved one from alcoholic beverages, will tell you what it is better to talk about, how to behave. If you do not feel the strength in yourself to have a serious conversation with an alcoholic, then you can invite a psychologist to your home. He will be able to get an idea of the scale at homeof the problem, to talk to the patient, and with a high degree of probability after a few sessions he will set him on the right path.
No lying
Lying is the worst tool of influence. Never try to fool an alcoholic. Of course, he wants to hear that the treatment will be simple and pleasant. But it is not. A number of severe symptoms await him:
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache,
- weakness
- vertigo,
- tremors of the limbs,
- unbridled desire to drink.
Advise the patient that this will need to be addressed. One must be mentally prepared for possible difficulties. Your task is to convince him that temporary troubles can be dealt with, you just need to be patient for a while. Explain that full treatment at home is not possible. It will take some time to get to the hospital. The alcoholic needs to know what he is going to face.
Do not tell tales of impossible possibilities, such as that after recovery you can drink strong drinks on holidays. There is not a single alcoholic who drinks little after treatment. There are either those who do not drink at all, or those who return to their previous binges. You can't set unrealistic goals. All of them must be real, at least a little. Otherwise, you can expect the strongest disappointment and a new crash.
How to help a drunk person? Don't try to wean him off alcohol at home or secretly from him. Try to explain the need for inpatient treatment. Do not scold the alcoholic and do not blame him for the problems that have arisen. Find the right motives for him, something he wants besides alcohol. Speak only the truth. Never give up. If the first attempts to help did not give results, it is necessary to repeat them again and again.
Do not try to solve the problem yourself at home. If there is such a need, you can consult a psychologist or narcologist. Remember that you don't have to carry all the responsibility on your shoulders. Entrusting the case with persuading an alcoholic to seek professional treatment is a perfectly acceptable solution. Your main task is to help the patient in every way to want to become healthy again. Then the alcoholic will gradually begin to help himself.