A man was walking along the seashore and saw a boy who was picking up starfish thrown by the waves from the sand and throwing them into the sea. They were everywhere, there were millions of them, the coast was dotted with starfish for many kilometers.
Why are you throwing them into the water? the man asked, coming closer.
"If they stay on the shore until tomorrow morning, they will die, " the boy replied.
"But that's just stupid! "the man said. – Look back! There are millions of starfish here, the coast is just dotted with them. Your attempts won't change anything!
The boy picked up the next starfish, threw it into the sea and said:
- No, my attempts will change a lot . . . For this star.
Of course, we live in an imperfect world, and it is not in our power to change this. But already today you can change a lot for at least one person. Helping a loved one or yourself stop drinking is a huge step towards a truly interesting, fulfilling life. But, frankly, this is not about a single person. The devastating impact of an alcoholic on the health of his entire family should not be underestimated.
Adult people (spouses, parents) who live next to a person suffering from alcoholism often give up their desires, do not have the opportunity to fulfill themselves and develop creatively, forget about their favorite hobbies forever, lose the ability to enjoy every day.
Instead, they voluntarily doom themselves to the cycle of the same problems, one way or another connected with a person who is not able to stop drinking. And if there are children in the family, the problem becomes especially acute, since the child easily copies the behavior of his parents, adopting all their habits.
So, as the child grows up, imperceptibly to herself, the wife of an alcohol addict can turn into the role of the mother of an alcoholic, finally depriving herself of her own life, hopes, and the opportunity to be proud of herself and her loved ones. Of course, the addict himself also suffers from this problem. Alcohol undermines health, disrupts (often to a critical level) the normal functioning of all internal organs, and significantly impairs brain activity.
A person who abuses alcohol changes his character and loses an adequate perception of the world around him even in a sober state. In a short time, alcoholism deprives a person of the chances for a prosperous life, personal development, and a good job. Alcohol greatly increases the risk of premature death: both from direct consumption and from severe diseases of the internal organs. Of course, alcohol at times increases the risk of disability or death as a result of accidents, accidents, injuries.
Meanwhile, any problem has a solution, and treatment for alcoholism is no exception. Only you decide what your whole future life will be like. And no one else is interested in this.
Is it really possible to stop drinking on your own? Methods and Solutions
Many today want to get rid of alcoholism, many say to themselves: "I will quit drinking and start living differently", but unfortunately, there is no universal answer to the question "how to stop drinking", just as there is no "magic wand". Fighting alcoholism is hard work to change yourself, which will pay off handsomely and give you an interesting, rich life, free from addictions.
All people are different, someone can easily stop drinking on their own with one effort of will, quickly forgetting about this terrible habit, not even wondering how they can stop drinking. Can you deal with alcoholism on your own? What are the ways to stop drinking and which ones are really effective?
We help you gain self-confidence, become sober, and if you really want it, we will definitely help you. We have tried to answer each of these questions. And also described the pros and cons of each way to throw a beat.
Self-control and discipline
The decision to stop drinking, backed up by a strong intention, is the best step towards freedom from addiction. If you are making such a decision for the first time and are ready to follow it all your life, this is a great gift for yourself and your loved ones. But, unfortunately, another option is much more common. If this is not the first time you have made such a decision, and each time you are firmly convinced that now everything will definitely work out, obviously, it is time to admit to yourself that strong-willed efforts alone are not enough.
Time after time, you will unconsciously create all the conditions to interrupt the forced break, and in a month, six months, or a year, start all over again. Running in circles never leads to a new point, so can this be considered an effect? Surely there is a whole range of reasons that encourages you to return to the "bottle" every time. But, unfortunately, they are rarely obvious. You may think that it is a matter of a heavy workload at work or difficulties in your personal life, and the solution to the problem will lie on a completely different plane.
Contacting a specialist will be a great way to discover the true source of discomfort that does not allow you to find the answer to the question "how to be able to stop drinking" once and for all. If you doubt the need for a personal meeting with a doctor, you can contact us by phone or through the form on the site and start with a remote conversation that will help you make an informed decision.
- Advantage: Highly effective in the initial stages of addiction and the absence of deep psychological problems
- Disadvantage: Without an integrated approach, there is a high probability of returning to addiction
The Easy Way to Stop Drinking book
Among those who want to stop drinking on their own, at home, the book "An Easy Way to Stop Drinking" aroused particular trust and interest. The very title of the book emphasizes the ease of the method, so it is not surprising that his books are so popular, and people believe in miraculous problem solving after reading this book.
The method has many fans who try to follow all the instructions of the author. But he has no less opponents who accuse the author of deceit and talk about the ineffectiveness of this method of treating alcoholism. This once again confirms that there are no systems that are equally suitable for absolutely every person.
Advantages of the method:
- Additional motivating effect, confirmation of the intention to cope with the disease
- The answer proposed by the author to the question "how to stop drinking" for some people can be an effective solution
Disadvantage of the method:
- To a large extent, the effectiveness depends on the initial mood and firmness of character, the book plays only a supporting role
ethnoscience
Folk methods of treating alcoholism have won great love for their simplicity and "harmlessness". In addition, information about them is easy to find: books and the Internet contain a large number of materials telling how to stop drinking using folk remedies.
So, decoctions and tinctures of a number of herbs can reduce cravings for alcohol and even cause a feeling of disgust for alcohol (thyme, wormwood, centaury). Many herbs have antidepressant properties (aralia, ginseng, St. John's wort, saffron) and even out the mood, restore the nervous system.
However, it is impossible to assert their unequivocal harmlessness for people with different health conditions.
Folk methods for those who want to stop drinking at home on their own
Advantages:
- The ability to carry out "treatment" without the knowledge of an alcohol dependent person
- Relatively low cost and availability of herbal preparations and information on how to stop drinking with the help of traditional medicine
- Some effectiveness with systematic and long-term use in compliance with all manufacturers' recommendations.
Disadvantages of folk remedies:
- Efficiency is not guaranteed and often unpredictable
- Possible allergic reactions
- With uncontrolled use without taking into account the state of the cardiovascular system of an alcohol dependent person and his gastrointestinal tract, serious complications are possible
- The action continues only during the period of admission, without working with a professional psychotherapist-narcologist, a long-term effect in the treatment of alcoholism is practically not achievable.
How to stop drinking by taking dietary supplements and other "remedies for alcoholism"
The supplement market is flooded with anti-alcohol pills that are "guaranteed" to kick the habit. For those who are looking for an answer to the question of how to stop drinking at home, this option seems almost ideal. But in this case, a miraculous transformation occurs, as a rule, only in advertising.
At best, these preparations contain vitamins and plant extracts. Then they will have a slight strengthening effect on the body, and the effect in the fight against alcoholism will be comparable to traditional medicine. At worst, when purchased outside pharmacy chains, such drugs can be hazardous to health.
How much help to stop drinking dietary supplements? May be effective in relieving hangover symptoms and signs of mild alcohol intoxication
Is there any risk in trying to stop drinking with supplements?
- Can be dangerous when purchased outside of large pharmacy chains
- There are no reliable data on the effectiveness in the treatment of alcoholism
- They can be dangerous when taken in severe cases of alcohol poisoning - in this case, the participation of a narcologist is always necessary!
Of course, drug treatment of alcoholism is a reliable and effective way to get rid of addiction.
But dietary supplements here, as a rule, have nothing to do with it.
You should always remember that any drug treatment will be effective and safe only under one condition: only when the doctor prescribes the drug to this particular patient! You should not buy a drug recommended for treatment by your friend, even if in his case he showed an excellent result. Remember, every person is different! Self-medication is not only ineffective, but also extremely dangerous for the patient.
How to stop drinking with the help of professional narcologists
Of the many "easy" ways to stop drinking, described in the popular literature, the most effective and correct is the treatment with the involvement of specialist psychiatrists-narcologists. And do not be afraid of this specialty. There are situations in life when you simply cannot do without the help of a doctor in this specialty.
In the end, this method turns out to be the "easiest" as well, since a stable result is achieved in a much larger number of cases, and a person gets the opportunity to start a new bright and interesting life that is not dependent on alcohol much faster.
Obviously, a doctor who is well acquainted with the specifics of the problem, like no one else, is able to give an exhaustive answer to the question "how to stop drinking forever. "
What are the guarantees that I will stop drinking?
- A high percentage of confirmed results of the patient's release from addiction for a long (from 5 years and above) period
- Individual selection of treatment methods, taking into account the current state of health of the patient
- The use of only proven drugs and constant monitoring of the patient's health
- An integrated approach to treatment involving professional narcologists-psychotherapists who can not only tell the patient how to stop drinking, but also convince them to do it forever.
Can it happen that I won't stop drinking after treatment?
Impossible in the absence of the patient's desire, but doctors have methods of motivation that can convince the patient to start treatment.
You can find out about these methods by ordering a call, writing on the website, Skype, signing up for a consultation.
How to help stop drinking in the clinic
Highly qualified doctors in the clinics: professional psychotherapists and narcologists with deep knowledge and extensive practical experience will quickly find the right solution, tell you how to stop drinking in this particular case, and select the most appropriate method of treating alcoholism.
The clinic offers both outpatient and home treatment, as well as monitoring of patients by specialists in the hospital. The optimal treatment program is individually selected for each patient.
So, for people who are not coded with special preparations, psychotherapeutic treatment is suitable. And in case of successful suturing in the past, repeated suturing from alcoholism is performed with the same drugs. Specialists use only methods that have a medical justification and the effectiveness of which has been proven repeatedly. Such methods of treatment include, in particular, coding in combination with drug treatment, which are used by specialists at the Ultramed clinic.
It is many times easier to stop drinking under the close supervision of clinic specialists who correctly select medicines and carry out special procedures than on their own. Only in the clinic, under the supervision of attentive doctors, is it possible to both quickly and long-term release from addiction.
"How to stop drinking? "- a difficult question, but professionals know the answer to it. Clinic "Ultramed" guarantees the high quality of treatment, provides prompt response to your calls and reasonable prices.
You may also be interested in listening to the stories of real people on how you can stop drinking on your own, for this, we have posted interesting video materials for you.
How to stop drinking - step by step instructions for use
How to stop drinking? Everyone who has encountered this problem will answer that it is very difficult and difficult. But you can stop drinking when a person really wants to. However, the help and influence of relatives is very important here. To help an alcoholic stop drinking, love for him is not enough, you need to choose the right actions aimed at solving this problem. Sometimes, trying to "pull" an alcoholic out of addiction, relatives choose the wrong way to get rid of and become co-dependent on alcohol themselves. Helping an alcoholic to stop drinking is unlikely to achieve results in order to solve family housing problems. When solving such a complex problem, only the sincere desire of all participants in the situation is important.
Most often, relatives of alcoholics, trying to cope with this problem, choose the wrong tactics. This is what the wives of alcoholics usually do, acting as a nanny. Spending an incredible amount of time and effort, they do everything to make their family seem prosperous from the outside.
How to behave in a family where there is a person suffering from alcohol addiction?
There is one general rule for those who have relatives - alcoholics (regardless of who they are: husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter): do not take actions that contribute to the further development of alcohol dependence.
Rule number 1. An alcoholic must solve his own problems
Every adult must be held accountable for their actions. If a person drinks, then this is his decision. And therefore, everything that he does in a drunken stupor, he must "rake" himself. None of the relatives need to indulge his deeds. Sometimes, trying to help an alcoholic, relatives only aggravate the situation. An alcoholic borrows money from friends and colleagues to drink, and then his wife or mother or daughter runs around and distributes the entire family budget, trying to pay off his debts. Let the alcoholic pay his own debts. Don't solve his financial problems.
The people around the alcoholic should themselves be clearly aware that alcoholism is a disease that requires complex, long-term and painless treatment. Psychologists often give this example. If an abscess forms on the human body, then it is impossible to hide it under clothing. You can not cover it with foundation. You can not pour deodorants so that there is no smell. It is impossible to create comfortable conditions for a person so that he moves less and stays at home and experiences less pain from an abscess. It is these actions that contribute to the rapid development of sepsis and lead to death. It is necessary, despite the pain, to open the abscess and undergo a course of antibiotic treatment. And only after such a painful treatment, the abscess will pass and the person will recover.
Rule #2: Always keep your promises or promise nothing
Alcoholics, like drug addicts who are trying to quit drinking and get rid of addiction, are very sensitive to the reality around them. Such people unmistakably feel where there will be an indulgence, and where a categorical refusal awaits them. In such a life situation, these people are like children. And like children, they need to be praised for right actions and punished for misconduct. This is where the "carrot and stick policy" works best. Any, even an insignificant episode should attract your attention. It is important that the degree of punishment always corresponds to the degree of misconduct. In this case, it does not matter who you are dealing with, with an adult uncle or with a young man.
With the help of "carrot and stick" among dependent people, you can achieve the most positive results.
Let us explain our words with a concrete example from life. In the case of the next binge, the wife tells her husband that she will divorce him. Despite this, the husband gets drunk again and "leaves" on a binge. The wife must be sure to keep her word! You need to go to the registry office and apply for a divorce, and force your husband to sign that he agrees to a divorce. Of course, an application submitted to the registry office can always be withdrawn, but often such decisive actions make the alcoholic think about himself and his problems.
Rule number 3. You yourself should always have a negative attitude towards alcohol.
You need to be a relentless person and always give a negative assessment of alcohol. Any episode associated with drinking, smelling alcohol, etc. should always be characterized by your negative opinion. Do not make a loud scandal, break the dishes and threaten the drinker. Your behavior will only make things worse. An alcoholic after a scandal will go to his drinking companions even more likely to complain about his bitch wife, who nags him and does not let him live, and at the same time will relieve stress from communicating with her. At the same time, among his drinking companions, he will find understanding and sympathetic listeners.
You can also remind the alcoholic that in developed European countries each person has his own psychotherapist or psychologist, whom he regularly visits. In such countries, self-sufficient people are ashamed not to have their own psychologist.
Rule #4
So, every conversation with an alcoholic should end with a specific anti-alcohol solution. It is unacceptable in such conversations to stop halfway and give him another promise to stop drinking. This is a formal approach. A drinking person distributes such promises to the left and to the right, so long as they do not pester him with such conversations. Therefore, any conversation with an alcoholic should end with a specific plan of anti-alcohol measures. For example, make him promise that if he drinks again, then you will immediately go to see a psychologist or psychotherapist. Prepare for such a conversation, decide in advance with the clinic and the doctor. Find out their opening hours and contact number. Keep this information "at hand" so that you can act decisively and without delay at the right time. Be sure to go to an appointment with a specialist together.
Rule number 5. Do not drink in the presence of an alcoholic
The main thing that the relatives of an alcoholic must do is not to keep alcoholic beverages at home and not to drink themselves.
In such situations, alcohol can be kept at home only in the form of medical disinfectants (iodine, brilliant green, and others).
Despite the fact that patients who have not been drinking for many years may be in drinking companies and not drink, it is worth playing it safe. Any provoking factors or situations must be excluded.
Remember, if you drink in the presence of a person who is trying to stop drinking, you are reminding him that he is sick and you are healthy. For some, this is very traumatic psychologically and hurts their pride. In the event that both of you do not drink alcohol, then you have common interests and hobbies. And next to you, a person who quits drinking will feel complete, and he will look at drunkards as sick people. Absurd and unpromising is the situation in which one alcoholic tries to help another alcoholic to stop drinking. Such moralizing will be unconvincing and will not produce results. Especially if the difference between them lies only in the fact that the first alcoholic is not so bad yet, he has not had time to lose his job and his wife has not yet divorced him.
Rule #6
Of course, telling everyone in a row that a person close to you has an alcohol addiction is not worth it. But we can't remain silent about it either. Never fool anyone. Don't pretend everything is okay. Don't deceive your children. Children are very sensitive and understand everything themselves. Do not force children to lie about the problem of alcoholism in the family. Be sure to tell about the problem of alcoholism to those people who have the greatest influence on the alcoholic (his parents, friends, neighbors, colleagues, bosses) and ask them for help.
Rule #7
Always prepare in advance for a conversation with an alcohol addict. It is not enough to tell him that he drinks a lot. Such speeches will not have any effect on him and will not bring the result you want. Keep a diary and record all episodes of drunkenness, the degree of his intoxication, the amount drunk, and most importantly, describe his behavior in this state. It will not be superfluous to film or photograph a person during intoxication. Thus, you will be able to operate with confirmed facts. In a sober state, such a video or photo has a great impact on the self-consciousness of the drinker.
Rule #8
In order for all negative information to reach the understanding of an alcoholic, it must be presented to him with a creative approach. Do not cover the walls with magazine articles about the dangers of alcoholism or posters calling for quitting drinking and starting to lead a healthy lifestyle. This will not make any impression on the alcoholic, except for a smirk and ridicule. It is better to tell him examples of real life situations. Tell it unobtrusively, as if by chance. For example, that one of your mutual acquaintances, although several years younger than you, died and the craving for alcohol was to blame. Such a presentation of information will make the alcoholic think about himself.
Rule #9
Start gently but actively helping the alcoholic change their lifestyle. Do not wait for the moment when he himself wants it. Since such a moment may not come at all. Help an addict to start leading an active lifestyle. Visit cinema and theaters with him, meet friends, visit gyms, go for walks in nature, etc. The alcoholic himself has lost the habit of such events, but he does not know how to start again.
Rule #10
How can you help an alcoholic stop drinking? Be sure to seek the help of doctors and psychologists. They are professionals in their field and encounter similar patients every day. They can help you solve the problem of alcoholism and eradicate it from your family forever.