Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Experts consider this bad habit a disease that requires medication as well as psychological assistance. It is impossible to do without this, especially in cases where the person does not admit their problem and does not want to get rid of alcohol addiction.
It is easier to help a person suffering from alcohol cravings if he is aware of all the damage done to the body. At the same time, everyone is trying to find the simplest and easiest way.
General tactics in the treatment of alcoholism
All experts agree that it can be difficult to get rid of an addiction. If the craving for alcoholic beverages bothers you for a long time, then willpower alone is not enough. A person cannot just decide and stop drinking at one point. It is especially difficult for women to deal with addiction.
Usually, it is not the addict himself who goes to the specialists, but their family members or close associates. Together with the doctor, a tactic is chosen that allows the treatment to be carried out as quickly as possible and partially restore the patient's health. Traditional therapy includes four steps:
- Taking drugs that cause aversion to alcohol. These are called aversive drugs, whose effect is only noticeable when the patient ingests alcohol. In that case, the person suffers from many unpleasant symptoms - nausea, vomiting, tachycardia. Gradually, he begins to reduce the dose of alcohol to improve his health.
- Taking medications that reduce the craving for alcohol. These drugs are needed in situations where the person has a strong urge to drink.
- Hangover cures. The main negative effect on the body begins when ethanol enters a cycle of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of toxic substances - acetaldehyde and acetic acid. For this reason, the person needs to take medications that accelerate their excretion from the body.
- Concomitant medications. Usually, the fight against alcoholism lasts a long time, but it will be much more effective if you take vitamins, glycine and also safe medications with a sedative effect.
Only a comprehensive drug treatment will eliminate the bad habit as quickly as possible. None of the alternative medicine methods, despite the many positive reviews, does not guarantee a positive result.
Physical activity
If a person wants to stop drinking on their own, an easy way is to not only refuse alcohol voluntarily, but also adjust their lifestyle. This is especially important if a girl is suffering from a problem. In this case, the psychological aspect of the treatment cannot be underestimated.
Thus, experts are convinced that a patient who decides to give up alcohol should think carefully about their daily routine. This is logical, since the urge to drink often arises in free time. It's better to dedicate these hours to some activity.
It will be useful to practice any kind of sport. However, you need to understand that once you stop drinking, your body won't get in shape right away. For some time, the person will continue to be bothered by health problems, so choosing the type of physical activity must be made responsibly.
Experts are convinced that during the period of fighting alcoholism it is useful to do yoga. This Indian practice includes not only physical gymnastics but also breathing exercises. It is good that your exercises contain elements of meditation. This will have a positive effect on the willpower of a person who decides to get rid of the addiction.
If, despite efforts, it is not possible to eliminate the urge to drink, then it is better not to risk your health at home, but seek medical help.
The best aversive drugs
Dealing with alcohol addiction can be difficult, so consulting an expert is the right decision. Only an experienced doctor will be able to advise specific medications that, in a short period of time, will form a persistent aversion to alcohol in the person.
The vast majority of these drugs contain the substance disulfiram, a chemical that blocks the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. This drug component from the stomach and intestines, through the bloodstream, enters the liver and acts there. As a result, after taking medication and alcohol, the following symptoms develop:
- nausea;
- profuse vomiting;
- Ruddy face;
- Warm;
- tachycardia.
The body enters this state every time a person ingests, even small doses of drinks that contain ethyl alcohol, which allows aversive drugs to be considered quite effective.
Any disulfiram-based medication will help women and men stop drinking. It is only important to correctly determine the dosage and duration of therapy. It is important to remember that such medications must be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Medicines to reduce the craving for alcohol
One of the cheapest medications in this category is lozenges or eye drops for internal use. Medicines contain antibodies that provide the desired effect.
The drugs help to deal with the addiction, reducing the craving for alcoholic beverages, but this is not the only positive effect on the body. Antibodies in the drug's composition are included in metabolic processes, as a result of which the person gradually gets rid of the addiction. In addition, medications help relieve hangover symptoms.
Medications are prescribed for those people who plan to give up heavy alcohol or kick the habit of drinking "weak" or "medium" drinks. They have virtually no contraindications and side effects are minimized.
popular methods
Doctors are convinced that it is much easier for men to deal with addiction. It is very difficult for a woman to stop drinking alcohol alone due to her high emotional lability. In other words, the drinking girl will suffer from mood swings, which can lead to a breakdown.
To increase the chances of a successful fight against alcoholism, it is permissible to use alternative medicine methods, but it is best to discuss them in advance with an expert.
- To reduce the craving for alcohol, it is helpful to drink a decoction of St. John's wort and thyme. The herbs are mixed in equal proportions and poured into boiling water. The product is heated for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk every day, 300 ml.
- Another popular effective method is the use of warm milk with the addition of baking soda (10 g of baking soda per 1 cup of liquid). The tool is poorly compatible with alcohol, which causes profuse vomiting and gradual rejection of alcohol. In addition, soda milk serves as a good sorbent, whereby all the toxic decomposition products of ethyl alcohol are removed from the human body.
The passion for alcohol is a dangerous habit, as it absolutely damages all organic systems. The easiest way is to solve the problem together with experts of different profiles. To stop drinking alcohol, the woman will need the help of a psychologist who will explain the need for therapy.
Additional measures will be sports, hobbies, walking, proper nutrition. It's actually possible for a woman to stop drinking alcohol on her own, that she doesn't consider drinking alcohol the only pleasure in life. For men, sometimes just stubborn effort is enough.