Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Experts believe that this bad habit is a disease that requires medication as well as psychological help. Without this, it is impossible, especially in cases where a person does not acknowledge their problem and does not want to get rid of alcohol addiction on their own.
It is easier to help a person who suffers from cravings for alcohol if he is aware of all the damage the body does. 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 addiction is difficult to get rid of. If the craving for alcoholic beverages torments for a long time, then willpower alone is not enough. A person cannot at one point just decide and stop drinking. It is especially difficult for women to deal with addiction.
Usually, specialists are not approached by the person suffering from addiction, but by his relatives or close people. Together with the doctor, a tactic is chosen that allows the treatment to be carried out as quickly as possible and partially restores the patient’s health. Traditional therapy includes four phases:
- Taking drugs that cause aversion to alcohol. These are the so-called aversive drugs, the effect of which is noticeable only when the patient drinks alcohol. In that case, the person suffers from many unpleasant symptoms - nausea, vomiting, tachycardia. He gradually begins to reduce his dose of alcohol to improve his health.
- Taking medications that reduce cravings for alcohol. These medications are necessary in situations where a person has a strong desire to drink.
- Hangover medications. 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, a person must take medications that speed up their excretion from the body.
- Concomitant medications. Usually, the fight against alcoholism takes a long time, but it will be much more effective if you take vitamins, glycine, as well as safe medications with a sedative effect.
Only comprehensive drug treatment will remove the bad habit as soon as possible. None of the methods of alternative medicine, despite numerous positive reviews, guarantees a positive result.
Physical activity
If a person wants to stop drinking on his own, then the easy way will be not only to voluntarily refuse alcohol, but also to adjust his lifestyle. This is especially important if the girl is suffering from a problem. In this case, the psychological aspect of treatment cannot be underestimated.
Thus, experts are convinced that a patient who chooses to give up alcohol should think carefully about his daily routine. This is logical, because the desire to drink often occurs in free time. It is best to dedicate these hours to some activity.
It would be useful to engage in any kind of sport. However, you need to understand that as soon as you stop drinking, your body will not get in shape right away. For some time, the person will continue to suffer from health problems, so the choice of the type of physical activity should be approached responsibly.
Experts are convinced that it is useful to practice yoga in the period of the fight against alcoholism. This Indian practice includes not only physical gymnastics, but also breathing exercises. It is good if your workouts contain elements of meditation. This will have a positive effect on the will of the person who decides to get rid of the addiction.
If, despite your best efforts, it is not possible to eliminate the desire to drink, it is better not to risk your health at home, but to seek medical help.
The best aversive drugs
Coping with alcohol addiction can be difficult, so consulting an expert is the right decision. Only an experienced doctor will be able to advise special medications that will in a short period of time create in a person a persistent aversion to any alcohol.
The vast majority of such drugs contain the substance disulfiram, a chemical compound that blocks the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. This component of the drug from the stomach and intestines enters the liver through the bloodstream and acts there. As a result, after taking medication and alcohol, the following symptoms develop:
- nausea;
- profuse vomiting;
- facial blush;
- heat;
- tachycardia.
The body enters this state every time a person takes even small doses of drinks that contain ethyl alcohol, which allows disgusting medications to be considered quite effective.
Any disulfiram-based medication will help both women and men stop drinking. It is only important to correctly determine the dose and duration of therapy. It should be borne in mind that such drugs should be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Drugs to reduce cravings for alcohol
One of the most favorable medicines in this category are lozenges or drops for internal use. Medications contain antibodies that provide the desired effect.
Medications help combat addiction by reducing cravings for alcoholic beverages, but this is not the only positive effect on the body. Antibodies in the composition of the drug are involved in metabolic processes, which is why a person gradually gets rid of addiction. In addition, medications help alleviate hangover symptoms.
Medications are prescribed to those who plan to quit strong alcohol or get rid of the habit of drinking "weak" or "medium" drinks. They have virtually no contraindications, and side effects are minimized.
Folk methods
Doctors are convinced that it is much easier for men to deal with addiction. It is quite difficult for women to stop drinking alcohol on their own due to their great emotional lability. In other words, a girl who drinks will suffer from mood swings, which can lead to breakdown.
In order to increase the chances of a successful fight against alcoholism, it is allowed to use the methods of alternative medicine, but it is better to talk about it with an expert beforehand.
- To reduce the craving for alcohol, it is useful to drink a decoction of St. John's wort and thyme. The herbs are mixed in equal proportions and poured over with hot water. The product is heated for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk daily, 300 ml.
- Another effective popular method is the use of warm milk with the addition of baking soda (10 g of sodium bicarbonate per 1 cup of liquid). The tool is poorly compatible with alcohol, leading to profuse vomiting and gradual rejection of alcohol. In addition, milk with soda serves as a good sorbent, which is why all toxic breakdown products of ethyl alcohol are removed from the human body.
Passion for alcohol is a dangerous habit because it damages absolutely all organic systems. The easiest way is to solve the problem together with experts of different profiles. To stop drinking alcohol, a woman will need the help of a psychologist who will explain the need for therapy.
Additional measures will be sports, hobbies, walks, proper nutrition. It is really possible for a woman to stop drinking alcohol on her own, who does not consider alcohol to be the only pleasure in life. Sometimes just a strong-willed effort is enough for men.