Treatment of any form of alcoholism requires the patient to completely refuse alcohol. If the patient does not want a person to live awake, the success rate of the treatment drops to zero. Rather, a person's awareness of their disease is already the first step toward achieving remission. This awareness is the result of very complex work on oneself that requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, in order to stop drinking, it is best to consult a doctor.
Reasons to stop drinking
There are many reasons why a person stops drinking. The most important of these are:
- desire for health;
- Deterioration of health status and development of chronic diseases;
- People without alcohol problems are more attractive;
- A sober, sharp, pure mind, eager to fully perceive the reality around it;
- high efficiency;
- Good working attitude and impeccable reputation;
- save money (financial spending on alcohol is always a large part of an alcoholic’s budget);
- High libido, no problems with potency in men or menstrual cycles in women;
- The presence of power and time (after all, the life of a person in an alcohol network is guided by one desire - to drink);
- good attitude, cheerful;
- a healthy atmosphere in the home;
- A fulfilling, bright and healthy life;
- healthy offspring.
The road to a sober life is long and difficult. However, a person has a chance to get rid of the addiction by following the doctor's advice. The most important thing is to have a strong desire to heal and a will of steel.
Can a person quit drinking on their own?
Doctors warn: no previous alcoholics. Alcoholism is an incurable disease. However, there is always a chance for patients to achieve stable remission and stop drinking. The duration of waking periods is variable and can range from months to decades.
Methods of psychologically influencing the patient are effective in stopping drinking. They allow you to motivate patients with a negative attitude toward alcohol, thereby preventing relapse. In the presence of positive results, one develops a strong belief that he can lead a healthy and fulfilling life without drinking a single drop of alcoholic beverages.
Successful treatment of alcoholism depends on many factors. The most important thing is that the person decides whether to drink or not.
Spontaneous remission
It is rare for a person to stop drinking alcohol spontaneously. Something drives this: accepting your disease and then deciding something needs to change in your life.
The main disadvantages of spontaneous remission are uncertain persistence and spontaneity.
Motivational mitigation
In this case, a person consciously refuses to drink alcohol. This usually happens if a person's life is threatened. Consciously refusing to drink alcohol, a person can also cause some financial problems, while also solving the problem of maintaining a family.
Gradually, a person comes to the conclusion that rejecting alcohol altogether will allow him to achieve his life goals and solidify his success. In remission, he was fully confident that his choice was the right one and that it was a priority, despite the temptation. In addition, each victory over alcohol and the recognition of those around it further strengthens the sober stance.
Mandatory mitigation
It's not always a person volunteering for a sober lifestyle. Many people addicted to alcohol don't always understand how harmful their bad habits are. However, the situation took over. For example, if the director is at work or a spouse, the child puts a person before the choice and he needs to obey. Otherwise, it will manifest itself throughout the life of the alcoholic.
Mandatory relief is usually not durable. Also, a person is often in a state of tension because of the hardships and inconveniences he has experienced in such coercion. Such mitigated failures often have very serious consequences.
somatic remission
If a person learns of a sharp deterioration in health, he usually stops drinking. Most commonly, patients need to abstain from alcohol in the context of delirium tremens.
Additionally, alcoholics fear the consequences of experiencing serious illness (eg, heart attack or stroke). In the context of negative emotions, they completely lose their attraction to alcohol. Awareness of the dangers of alcohol, albeit too late, formed a new attitude: Survival is more important than drinking and short-term intoxication.
psychogenic relief
This variant of alcohol withdrawal is associated with somatic remission. When a man finds out what he did when he was drunk, he is shocked. In a state of shame for his actions, he decided to stop drinking.
There could be many reasons for this. In most cases:
- traffic accident caused by drunkenness;
- attempt to take the life of one's own child;
- Violence.
This relief is erratic and short-lived. Sometimes, strong triggers work in the opposite direction, and the person starts drinking more. In a state of alcoholic amnesia, suicide is not excluded.
Relief after poisoning
The nature of this relief cannot be completely determined. This is typical for people who have chronically abused alcoholic beverages. One day, they stopped drinking and they stopped arguing about the decision.
At some point, ethanol and its decay products poisoning reaches critical limits, doctors advise. At this point, biochemical processes in the brain change, and aversion to alcoholic beverages develops. It is worth noting that the taste and smell of alcohol suddenly become unpleasant. Even small doses can cause nausea and vomiting.
The remission after poisoning was relatively stable. However, recurrence is not excluded, when in the context of a sober lifestyle, a person's health improves significantly.
Tips for those who want to quit drinking
Not everyone who has ever abused alcoholic beverages can easily tolerate sobriety. Some people have a painful craving for alcohol, eager to skip "a glass or two" right away. For those who are firmly and confidently on the path to sobriety, such advice can be helpful.
- You should contact a specialized clinic. Here, the specialist will choose an individual treatment plan, prescribing effective medication if necessary. Psychologists and rehabilitation specialists will help you break free from overeating, cleanse your body, and develop persistent negative attitudes toward ethanol use.
- If you want to quit drinking, you're halfway there. Patients should be aware of the presence of disease. If possible, alcohol problems should be discussed with loved ones.
- The patient should stop all contact with people who drink with him and who can tolerate his addiction.
- Throw away all alcoholic beverages in the house. This will make it easier to avoid temptation. If there's a calm reaction to the drinker, it's already a success.
- You need to be prepared for the fact that you will experience withdrawal symptoms while refusing to drink. At the same time, various psychophysiological disorders are also tormented. The urge to take them off can be very strong. At this point, it is important not to succumb to weakness. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms on your own can be difficult, so you should trust an expert.
- You should read the literature on all aspects of alcoholism. It is important to avoid sources of dubious origin. Any questions can be discussed with the doctor.
- Daily life should include different types of physical activity. The important thing is to eat well, get enough, and rest. Learning how to avoid stress or at least not react to stress is ideal.
- Some people can get help by moving and communicating with others.
- A fun hobby will improve the emotional context. Some get help with career changes, volunteering and outdoor activities.
- During conferences, holidays, you need to find alternatives to alcoholic beverages, which unfortunately have become a tradition. Even a single cocktail can derail all previous efforts.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to quit drinking. Every alcoholic should look for the most suitable option. It is important to contact a specialist in order to avoid relapses and achieve positive results.