Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Experts consider this bad habit to be a disease that requires medication as well as psychological assistance. It is impossible to do without this, especially in those cases when a person does not admit his problem and does not want to get rid of alcohol addiction.
It is easier to help a person suffering from alcohol cravings if they are aware of all the damage they do to the body. At the same time, everyone is looking 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.
In general, it is not the person who suffers from addiction who turns to specialists, but their relatives or close people. Together with the doctor, a tactic is selected that will allow the treatment to be carried out as quickly as possible and partially restore the patient's health. Traditional therapy includes four stages:
- Using drugs that cause an aversion to alcohol. These are the so-called aversive drugs, the effect of which is noticeable only when the patient drinks alcohol. In this case, the person suffers from many unpleasant symptoms: nausea, vomiting, tachycardia. Little by little, he begins to reduce the dose of alcohol to improve his health.
- Take medications that reduce alcohol cravings. These drugs are necessary in situations where a person has a strong desire to drink.
- Hangover cures. The main negative effect on the body begins at the moment 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 needs to take drugs that accelerate its excretion from the body.
- Concomitant medications. Usually the fight against alcoholism lasts a long time, but it will be much more effective if vitamins, glycine, and also safe drugs with sedative effect are taken.
Only a comprehensive drug treatment will eliminate the bad habit as soon 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 his own, then an easy way will be not only in a voluntary refusal of alcohol, but also in adjusting the lifestyle. This is especially important if a girl has a problem. In this case, the psychological aspect of the treatment cannot be underestimated.
So experts are convinced that a patient who decides to quit alcohol should think carefully about her daily routine. This is logical, since the desire to drink often arises in free time. It is best to dedicate these hours to some activity.
It will be useful for any type of sport. However, you need to understand that as soon as you stop drinking, the body will not immediately get into shape. For some time, a 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 yoga is useful during 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 willpower of a person who decides to get rid of the addiction.
If, despite the efforts made, it is not possible to eliminate the desire to drink, then it is better not to risk health at home, but to seek medical help.
The best aversive drugs
Coping with alcohol addiction can be difficult, so consulting a specialist is the right decision. Only an experienced doctor will be able to advise specific drugs that, in a short period of time, will form a persistent aversion to alcohol in a person.
The vast majority of these 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 through the bloodstream enters the liver and acts there. As a result, after taking medications and alcohol, the following symptoms develop:
- nausea;
- profuse vomiting;
- Flushed face;
- hot;
- tachycardia.
The body enters this state every time a person drinks even small doses of drinks containing ethyl alcohol, which allows aversive drugs to be considered quite effective.
Any disulfiram-based medication will help both women and men to stop drinking. It is only important to correctly determine the dose and duration of therapy. It should be remembered that such drugs should be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Medicines to reduce alcohol cravings.
One of the most affordable drugs in this category is pills or drops for internal use. Medicines contain antibodies that provide the desired effect.
Medications help to cope with addiction by reducing the desire to consume alcoholic beverages, but this is not the only positive effect on the body. Antibodies in the composition of the drug are included in metabolic processes, as a result of which a person gradually gets rid of addiction. Also, medications help relieve hangover symptoms.
The drugs are prescribed for those who plan to quit heavy alcohol or kick the habit of drinking "weak" or "medium" beverages. They have practically no contraindications and side effects are minimized.
Popular methods
Doctors are convinced that it is much easier for men to cope with addiction. It is quite difficult for a woman to stop drinking alcohol on her own due to great emotional lability. In other words, the girl who drinks will suffer mood swings that can cause a breakdown.
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 discuss them with a specialist in advance.
- To reduce the craving for alcohol, it is useful to drink a decoction of St. John's wort and thyme. Herbs are mixed in equal proportions and poured with boiling water. The product is heated for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk every day, 300 ml.
- Another effective popular method is the use of warm milk with the addition of baking soda (10 g of baking soda per 1 glass of liquid). The tool is poorly compatible with alcohol, leading to profuse vomiting and gradual rejection of alcohol. Also, milk with soda serves as a good sorbent, so all toxic breakdown products of ethyl alcohol are removed from the human body.
The passion for alcohol is a dangerous habit, as it damages absolutely all organ systems. The easiest way is to solve the problem together with specialists 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, that she does not consider that drinking alcohol is the only pleasure in life. For men, sometimes only determined effort is enough.