Is it possible to stop drinking abruptly - certainly, especially if we have a firm decision to give up daily alcohol intake. Yes, it won’t be easy, but the "pluses" of a healthy lifestyle will be assessed much faster. Narcologists compare the gradual reduction of the amount of alcoholic beverages with cutting off the tail in parts. At some point, a person who drinks regularly can easily get rid of it. In order not to start from scratch, it is desirable to endure a temporary deterioration in well-being.
Sudden rejection of alcohol - interesting reactions of the body
Alcoholism is both a physical and psychological dependence on ethyl alcohol. Therefore, when it abruptly stops entering the body, a reaction from almost all vital systems immediately follows. Not surprisingly, they now have to work in modified mode. But do not pay attention to the temporary deterioration of health, because "friendship" with ethanol is expensive for the body. Here are the expected consequences of alcohol withdrawal in the first few days:
- weight loss due to appetite suppression;
- insomnia followed by drowsiness;
- dull migraine-type headaches;
- psychoemotional instability - irritability, causal anxiety, apathy;
- mild migrating joint pain, tremor of fingers.
It sounds scary, but these withdrawal symptoms are more common in older alcoholics. If a person uses a little, but every day, then the physical condition practically does not worsen. There is only psychological discomfort without the usual bottle of beer, a glass of wine or 50-100 grams of vodka.
What are the reasons for such a violent reaction of the organism to the sharp refusal to drink? The fact is that ethanol is involved in biochemical reactions, becoming their equal participant. When you try to remove it from there, a temporary malfunction occurs in the body. They will now have to establish nervous regulation, come to terms with the production of the optimal amount of digestive enzymes, and rebuild the damaged liver and urinary organs. He copes with these tasks in approximately 1-1, 5 months.
Typical signs of alcohol withdrawal
How to give up alcohol forever - full mobilization of willpower is needed only with systematic drunkenness at home. In such cases, a person drinks a lot, often constantly experiencing all the "pleasures" of a hangover. After having problems with the psyche, heart and liver during the next binge, he resolutely decides to "stop".
- 1 day. Withdrawal symptoms are immediately manifested by nausea and vomiting, headaches, severe tremors and, of course, an unbearable desire to hang yourself. In fact, the first day of sobriety becomes an alcoholic test of strength. If he can endure it without alcohol, then his chances of overcoming addiction increase;
- 2-7 days. During this period, the alcoholic feels bad - the body needs the usual amount of alcohol, punishing the "owner" with headaches, visual and auditory hallucinations, trembling of the hands and feet. Digestion and peristalsis are disturbed, and the prospects for a healthy lifestyle to the alcoholic seem less bright. Don’t give up at this stage; medication and sleep will help you go all the way;
- Day 8 To make it a little easier, the improvements are noticeable to the naked eye. The severity of the withdrawal syndrome decreases, the body adapts well to the changed conditions of existence. He is now busy rebuilding organs and tissues, learning to work completely without ethanol. Headache, nausea, and irritability subside as ethyl alcohol and its toxic metabolites no longer circulate in the blood;
- 30-40 days. That's all - now the person himself can give advice on how to give up alcohol. Lightness appears in the body, physical and mental performance improves, seemingly lost professional skills return. All vital systems function perfectly, the body functions like a clock. But you shouldn't relax - even a sip of beer during that period can cause a breakdown.
And now a little fly in the fat. If a person drank a lot and often, then his internal organs were constantly exposed to ethanol. In a state of intoxication, the cells are destroyed without subsequent recovery. Chronic diseases developed, which the alcoholic did not even suspect. Finally, he suppressed all alarming symptoms with another piece of alcohol. But outside of a state of euphoria, it will not be possible not to notice them. It is time for a full medical examination. Once diagnosed, the doctor will put together a competent treatment regimen and prescribe medication.
The sad consequences of a long alcohol experience are fatty liver degeneration, hepatitis, nephrosis, atrophic gastritis, or elevated acidity. All pathologies are serious, but completely curable, so the prognosis is favorable. Such a sharp rejection of alcohol sometimes avoids disability and even death. Finally, as the alcoholic tries to "stop" by lowering the dose, dangerous diseases develop, progress, and recur in his body.
We will help you in any way - advice for those who decide to quickly "tie"
The decision to stop drinking is often made spontaneously when a person suddenly realizes that a stroke, heart attack or cirrhosis is at the door. Therefore, there is no time to prepare for the upcoming withdrawal of alcohol after drunkenness. Unlike relatives, family members are able to quickly find all the necessary information. A person needs help to stop drinking, support and replace the shoulder during a difficult period of life.
The malfunction is more than real in the first two weeks, so it makes sense to seek professional medical help. The transition to a sober lifestyle will be easier with pharmacological support. Parenteral administration of saline, vitamin B, sedatives and anticonvulsants, respiratory analeptics, antiarrhythmics, nootropics will help. The results of the medical intervention are obvious:
- cardiac activity and respiration are normalized;
- will sleep appetite;
- nausea and vomiting will stop after the next meal.
How to stop drinking abruptly - just by combining willpower, using medication and psychological support. The latter is very important, because the condition of the central nervous system changes dramatically. As long as he adjusts to work without ethanol, the person who overcomes the addiction suffers from hallucinations. He talks to imaginary interlocutors, withdraws for a few hours, and even sings. It is not worth focusing on this - the psyche will recover after the evacuation of harmful substances from the body.
Proper rehabilitation - learning to live anew
The burning question is how to completely give up alcohol. Narcologists note that the probability of long-term remission is significantly increased by a person's active desire to refuse to drink alcohol. Therefore, when making an important decision to stop drinking, the alcoholic must understand that now everything that contains ethanol is strictly forbidden.
It’s hard to get rid of alcohol forever without preparation. After overcoming the most difficult early days of withdrawal symptoms, you should look for additional resources to alleviate your physical and psychological condition:
- Eliminate fatty and fried foods, foods saturated with salt and spices from your usual diet.
- Walk in the fresh air for 1-2 hours at least once a day.
- He would return to his old hobbies, what interested him in immersing himself in unbridled drunkenness.
The transition to a sober lifestyle is happening gradually. A person often falls into discouragement, seeing the future only in black. And then he gathers himself, persuades him not to give up, participates again in solving family problems. Narcologists advise speeding up recovery with physical activity. You don’t have to go straight to the gym or run on big tracks. A great way to recover quickly is gentle physical therapy.