Are you struggling with alcohol?Do you wonder if you are an alcoholic?Have you ever wondered why you need to drink?If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are on the right road to recovery.Alcohol kills more than 240 people every day.However, admitting that you are addicted can be scary, and it can be difficult to realize that you are an alcoholic.
Grooming isn't the hardest part.The hardest part of the sobriety journey is trying to recognize that you are sober in the first place.However, people can and do recover from alcoholism, and it's more common than you might think.It's hard, but it's possible.
Guide - How to Stay Sober
Understanding the problem
People who drink often think that they are healthy and that drinking is just a way to escape problems and they can quit at any time.But that's not the case.One-time drinking becomes a habit and then an addiction that is difficult to overcome.As the old saying goes, “The first step is to admit you have a problem.”
If you find yourself comparing your drinking to others, try these three things:
- Ask the right questions.Stop asking yourself if you are an alcoholic.If you ask yourself this question, then you are probably an alcoholic;
- one of them.Instead, ask yourself if drinking is preventing you from living the life you want.If so, then step one has been completed;
- Stop comparing.Comparison is useless.This is someone else's life.You are a person with a complex and unique destiny.
So what if you drink less than Vasya's neighbor down the street, if you have a problem then you need to fight it.Comparing your drinking to others will only lead to self-justification.Think about your future self.Imagine you’re still having the same drinking habits five years from now.Is this what you're striving for?If not, then it’s time to address your drinking problem.Recognizing the problem is the road to recovery.
Learn why you should stop drinking
The long-term benefits are rarely enough to motivate people to stop drinking.We often prefer instant gratification.Alcohol withdrawal is no exception.The long-term benefits are simply maintaining health and well-being.
Here are 4 short-term benefits:
- Get back lost time.
Anna is a moderate drinker.She drinks it 3 times a week and 2-3 cups a day.Each time, she "lost" about 3 hours of productive time because she was drunk.Anna loses a month and a half every year.This is a huge waste of time that could be used productively.Don't forget that Anna also lost time while recovering from her hangover.
- Find someone to talk to.
Conversations build character and make us grow.When you get drunk, these benefits disappear.Meeting new people without drinking may seem bad, but the damage caused by alcohol is much worse.
- Reasons to get rich.
How easily a person spends money when buying alcohol; he can easily spend 1000-3000 rubles or more per week.After 6 months, quitting alcohol can save more than 70,000 rubles, which is the cost of a wonderful trip.Are you ready to pay 12000 rubles?Monthly due to health issues?
- Sleep better.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it makes you tired.It can also disrupt sleep patterns and cause imbalances throughout the body.Quitting bars is a guarantee of safety and health.
Quitting alcohol is the healthiest decision you can make.Normalizing weight, improving liver function, lowering cholesterol, boosting immunity, mental clarity, good emotional state – these are the small benefits of a sober lifestyle.
Make sobriety the norm
Quitting alcohol should be your number one priority in life.Make your own rules and don't break them.Say "no" to yourself, put your sobriety on a pedestal, and don't put it away until you understand that your problem is solved.
Don't listen to anyone else, listen to yourself.You've spoken your word - keep your word.There should be no obstacles that can prevent or change a decision.There is no task that is impossible for one man; if necessary, mountains can submit to human strength.
fire your drinking buddy
Easier said than done, right?Whether alcohol is a major part of your social life or just something that brings you together.Difficulties can arise when friends and family are drinking around you.
- first step- Say you can't drink for a while.
- Step 2- Cut off contact with people you drink with.This can be the most difficult step when choosing to live sober.The most important thing to remember is that true friends are understanding and supportive.Having a strong social circle is the best thing a person can have.It involves helping people escape a toxic environment.
- Step 3- Don't isolate yourself.Reach out to people and engage yourself with interesting ideas.Find alternatives to alcohol.People are not animals.He was always enthusiastic about ideas and could and knew how to take action to improve the quality of life.
Maybe your sincere desire for a sober life will rub off on your former comrades, and you'll be able to pull yourself and your lost soul out, enhancing the flavor of victory.
Advertise your choice
Don't be afraid to tell others about your problems.This will increase responsibility for achieving goals.The message could prevent the drink from being served.If you answer any offer of support for a company without hesitation by saying that you are an alcoholic, then they will stop tempting you, but they will not stop inviting you to good company.
Confession isn't about bragging, it's about understanding that your options are limited.Alcohol is an expensive treat and you pay for it with your life.
stop drinking
The first 72 hours are the most difficult part of the recovery process.As your body eliminates alcohol, you experience acute withdrawal symptoms.Alcoholics experience excruciating pain and often require professional help.
Pain after alcohol withdrawal is evidence that the body is recovering.Withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as six hours after your last drink:
- Increased body temperature, increased pressure, difficulty breathing, and rapid pulse.
- Excessive sweating.
- Tremor.
- Insomnia.
- In extreme cases, convulsions may occur and are sometimes life-threatening.
Cleansing the body is an important step in the recovery process.At the same time, many people in recovery relapse and try to cure themselves with the same alcohol.In this case, you cannot do without the help of professionals.Don't be afraid, medical help is helpful.It will lessen the pain and the recovery process will be much easier.
change your attitude
- Even if you admit you have a problem, you need to change your attitude about the situation.
- Don't get angry at people when they try to help.Don't be shy about asking for help.
- Don’t put yourself down, you’ve been through a rough patch.Realize that you are taking the right steps to recovery.
- Be prepared for difficulties, bad attitudes from others, but you have taken the first step and this does not allow you to stop.
rehabilitation center
Sometimes quitting drinking on your own is impossible.You are in too deep to solve the problem without professional help.There are inpatient and outpatient rehab programs that can provide the help you need.
This selection allows you to find the necessary program in which you can stop and change your image.The most important thing is to find yourself and enjoy life without alcohol.
2+ weeks after release
It may take up to two weeks for your body to completely detoxify.
When the person is released, he or she will experience the following symptoms:
- Anxiety and depression.
- Feelings of aggression, hostility.
- Decreased libido.
- Nightmare.
Don't let this bother you.Positive influences will overshadow any negative emotions.
...and all that jazz
The worst thing that can happen is a lifelong craving for alcohol.Even if all traces of alcohol are removed from the body, the brain still wants to return to the chemical balance it is used to.But understanding the root cause of these symptoms is key to fighting addiction.
Develop and implement new hobbies and habits to eliminate the bottle.Play sports, live a healthy lifestyle, and find fun and passionate people who won't let you give up.
It always helps to have support from friends who understand what you're going through.Declare war on your addiction.Recovery is a lifelong process leading to a joyful sense of freedom.