Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Experts consider this bad habit to be a disease requiring 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 himself.
It is easier to help a person suffering from alcohol cravings if he is aware of all the harm caused to the body. At the same time, everyone seeks 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 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 females to deal with addiction.
Usually, it is not the person suffering from addiction himself who turns to the specialists, but his relatives or close people. Together with the doctor, a tactic is selected that allows the treatment to be carried out as quickly as possible and partially restore the patient's health. Traditional therapy includes four stages:
- Acceptance of funds that provoke 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. Gradually, he begins to reduce the dose of alcohol in order to improve his health.
- Taking 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 leading to the formation of toxic substances - acetaldehyde and acetic acid. For this reason, a person needs to take drugs 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 vitamins, glycine, and also safe drugs with a sedative effect are taken.
Only comprehensive drug treatment will eliminate the bad habit as soon as possible. None of the methods of alternative medicine, despite the many positive reviews, does not guarantee a positive result.
Physical activity
If a person wants to quit drinking on their own, then an easy way will be not only a willful refusal of alcohol, but also in adjusting the way of life. This is especially important if a girl is suffering from a problem. In this case, the psychological aspect of the treatment should not be underestimated.
So, experts are convinced that a patient who decides to give up alcohol should carefully think over his daily routine. This is logical, since the desire to drink often arises in your free time. It is best to devote these hours to some activity.
It will be useful to do any kind 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 be bothered by health problems, so the choice of the type of physical activity should be approached responsibly.
Experts are convinced that during the period of struggle against alcoholism it is useful to do yoga. This Indian practice includes not only physical gymnastics but also breathing exercises. It is good if your workouts contain elements of meditation. This will positively affect the willpower of the 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 medications that, in a short time period, will form a persistent aversion to any alcohol in a person.
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 through the bloodstream enters the liver and works there. As a result, after taking medication and alcohol, the following symptoms develop:
- nausea;
- profuse vomiting;
- flushed face;
- heat;
- tachycardia.
The body enters this state every time a person takes even small doses of beverages containing ethyl alcohol, which allows aversive drugs to be considered quite effective.
Any medicine based on disulfiram will help both women and men stop drinking. It is only important to correctly determine the dosage and duration of therapy. It should be remembered that such drugs should be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Medications to reduce alcohol cravings
One of the most affordable drugs in this category are lozenges or drops for internal use. The drugs contain antibodies that provide the desired effect.
Medicines help to cope with the addiction by reducing the craving for alcoholic beverages, but this is not its 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. In addition, medications help relieve hangover symptoms.
The drugs are prescribed to those people who plan to quit strong alcohol or get rid of the habit of drinking "weak" or "medium" drinks. They practically have no contraindications, and side effects are minimized.
Folk 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 because of the 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 allowed to use the methods of alternative medicine, but it is better to discuss them with a specialist 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 boiling water. The product is heated for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk every day, 300 ml.
- Another effective popular method is the use of hot milk with the addition of baking soda (10 g of sodium bicarbonate per 1 glass of liquid). The tool is poorly compatible with alcohol, which leads to profuse vomiting and a gradual rejection of alcohol. In addition, milk with soda serves as a good sorbent, due to which all toxic decomposition products of ethyl alcohol are removed from the human body.
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 activities, hobbies, walks, proper nutrition. It is really possible for a woman to quit drinking alcohol on her own, who does not consider drinking alcohol the only pleasure in life. For men, sometimes only a strong-willed effort is enough.