Many women are sure that nothing terrible will happen if they drink a little beer or two glasses of wine in the evening to relax after a hard day. A single use of alcohol won't hurt, but if nighttime "relaxation" is repeated frequently, then gradually they become the habit category and the addiction forms. Everything happens imperceptibly, and one day the woman discovers that the condition of the skin is getting worse, dark circles appear and without a dose of alcohol it is impossible to deal with the irritability.
How to stop drinking on your own
Women are almost twice as likely to become dependent on alcohol than men and it is harder for them to stop. Usually, alcohol refusal occurs in the context of several stresses:
- identification of serious illness;
- pregnancy (desire to have a healthy child);
- the need to take care of loved ones (parents, husband, child).
Then, the woman mobilizes all her will to correct the situation that has arisen and "forgets" the need for daily alcohol consumption. Well, if there is no strong stimulus from outside, and at night the hand usually reaches for the bottle, then it is important to realize your problem and decide to give up alcohol for good.
how to force yourself
First, you need to identify the cause of the craving for alcohol. This can turn out to be painful doubt, everyday problems, misunderstanding of loved ones, and much more. Determining the trigger factor is an important step. If the cause is not eliminated, the motivation may weaken in the future.
If it is difficult to figure out the reasons on your own, seek help from a psychologist. At the same time, you must consider what you have to lose if you continue to drink. The list will likely contain:
- career;
- respect for children and husband;
- beauty and health.
The reason could be anything. It is important that you are eager to preserve existing successes.
Once the decision is made and priorities set, the hardest part begins. It is necessary to overcome the habit, force yourself to learn to live without the daily intake of alcohol. It will be difficult because the body is already used to receiving a daily dose, so without alcohol, the first time you will experience irritability, mood swings and problems with sleep may arise. Overcoming addiction requires some complicated steps:
- Determine the date of refusal. You can decide to stop drinking tomorrow morning, but most who make that decision in the evening decide to postpone refusing to drink the next day. Better to choose a specific date and prepare for success in advance.
- Understand that rejection is not a sacrifice. Alcohol destroys the brain and greatly damages female beauty. By stopping drinking, a woman has nothing to lose.
- Remove all alcoholic beverages from the house. There is no need to justify that the alcoholic beverage will be in case of arrival of guests. If the bottle is "at hand", then the temptation to drink stronger. Guests can be treated to tea with cake or biscuits.
- Find an activity to your liking. A night without a drink will seem boring and boring if you don't turn your attention to other interests. It can be anything: walking, knitting, playing sports. The main thing is that the lesson is fascinating, forcing you to forget about alcohol.
And after preparation, take a decisive step towards a sober life. In the beginning it will be very difficult and you will have to act through "I don't want to", but gradually the desire for alcohol will decrease, and soon the woman will learn to enjoy walks, delicious foods, creativity, communication with family and friends.
What to do
To begin with, properly assess your strength. If it doesn't seem like it will work to overcome the painful cravings, or attempts to refuse alcohol have led to another breakdown, then it's best to see a doctor. There is nothing shameful about visiting a narcologist, and you can be treated on an outpatient basis and anonymously. Perhaps, to maintain willpower, the doctor prescribes pills or eye drops that reduce the desire for alcoholic beverages:
- Disulfiram. The drug inhibits the production of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme necessary for the breakdown of ethanol, and increases the concentration of acetaldehyde by 5-10 times. As a result, instead of enjoying drinking, the woman will experience an unpleasant hot flash on the skin of the face and scalp, increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting.
- Cyanamide. Available in drops. Like the above agents, it blocks the action of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. In combination with alcohol, it causes nausea, shortness of breath and increased heart rate.
Medications are prescribed so that the woman has a negative attitude towards alcohol. In addition, the narcologist recommends taking vitamins and hepatoprotectants to support liver function.
Medicines that help form an aversion to alcohol cannot be taken without a prescription. They have many side effects and, if used incorrectly, can cause irreparable damage. At home, you can drink decoctions that have a similar effect:
- absinthe and thyme mixed in equal proportions;
- RAM.
But you must drink vitamins. They strengthen the body and have an antioxidant effect, helping to reduce the effects of alcohol intoxication. It will also be helpful to drink a course of Karsil - the vegetable hepatoprotectant will improve liver function.
But it is more important to pay attention to the psychological attitude and firmly believe in success. This will help:
- An activity to your liking or a list of fun things to do to fill the night without leaving time for a drink.
- A sober social circle. At first, it is necessary to avoid companies where you usually drink, it is better to be with friends who love to relax chatting with a cup of tea or coffee.
- Small indulgences. Many women have a habit of giving up sweets for fear of ruining their figure. But a slice of cake or ice cream will help relieve stress as well as alcoholic beverages, let alone harm your health.
- Expression of self love. Previously, it seemed like manicures, body scrubs and bath salts were an unaffordable luxury. So it's worth counting how much was spent on drink. Many? So instead of alcohol, it's worth spending that money to please yourself.
Home remedies and remedies help, but only as additional help. The key to success in quitting alcohol is your mental attitude. Self-love, new interests, and sober friends can help you overcome your addiction.
keep working on you
Within the first 2-3 days, the condition worsens. Irritability, negative perception of reality, constant internal tension, poor sleep - these are just a few of the symptoms a woman will have to endure after stopping drinking. But you need to convince yourself that refusing alcohol is a manifestation of tremendous willpower and very soon everything will be fine, even if you don't drink.
With the total refusal of alcohol, not only will ill health be almost completely restored, but the risk of diseases such as stroke, liver cirrhosis, oncology and dementia will also be reduced.
Health
After three days, the breakdown products of ethanol are completely removed from the body. Although alcohol intoxication still persists, general well-being is gradually improving:
- In a week. Complete sleep will be restored and digestion will improve. In some women, due to persistent intoxication, nausea may appear for a short period, but it is mild.
- In two weeks. The dizziness and frequent headaches disappear, the blood pressure normalizes and the tachycardia is no longer bothersome. The woman begins to feel vigor and increased mental abilities again.
- One month later. The toxins from alcohol are completely removed from the brain tissue, the emotional background is normalized and vitality increases. At this time, the liver begins to function fully, clearing toxins from the blood and improving the absorption of fats. Women may notice that despite the occasional intake of "forbidden" sweets, the layer of fat on the abdomen and thighs is gradually thinning.
- In a year. Fit, cheerful and energetic woman.
Appearance
Wrinkles, dry and unhealthy skin, dark circles - a woman who drinks cannot hide these defects, even with the help of bright makeup. But after quitting alcohol, positive changes will soon follow. In seven days, a healthy glow will appear and the skin will gradually begin to gain elasticity.
In about a month, the characteristic circles under the eyes will disappear and the wrinkles caused by alcohol abuse will partially smooth.
By stopping drinking, a woman gradually regains her lost energy and beauty. She becomes sociable and joyful.
A woman can stop drinking alone only in the first stage of alcoholism, when ethanol tolerance is just building and only psychological cravings need to be overcome.
In the second and subsequent stages, only a few who have a strong will or a powerful motivation are able to "tie up" with alcohol. Most of the fair half will need the help of a psychologist and narcologist.