10:46 AM
Alcohol addiction is a very common phenomenon. It helps in lowering your inhibition and relaxing each and every part of your body. The constant need to consume alcohol would be termed as alcoholism.
You will notice when you are sozzled you start acting in different. You have discovered a new language due to lack of control on your speech. If you are not a regular drinker you may start feeling drowsy at the first peg itself. If the alcohol content is very high you start emoting different feelings, sometimes happiness sometimes sadness. As and when the content increases you may start vomiting and may also suffer from breathing difficulties.
The constant drinking causes damage to your body especially your liver. It also affects your nervous system which may develop into some serious illnesses. Chronic alcohol drinkers cause long term problems which can cause illnesses like liver cirrhosis and nerve damages. It is known that alcoholism is one of the leading causes for increasing number of deaths every year.
The constant drinking causes damage to your body especially your liver. It also affects your nervous system which may develop into some serious illnesses. Chronic alcohol drinkers cause long term problems which can cause illnesses like liver cirrhosis and nerve damages. It is known that alcoholism is one of the leading causes for increasing number of deaths every year.
The constant consumption of alcohol leads to depression and anxiety. It makes you very dependent due to the toxins present in your body which can be very terrible. Your level of anxiety and depression level increases by prolonging the consumption of alcohol. Too much of alcohol increases your chances of being obese as well as get infected by cancers which affects the mouth, larynx, esophagus, liver, heart and colon. There are severe repercussions once you decide to quit drinking. You may suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms in an attempt to stop consuming alcohol. These all can be treated by taking care of your diet as well as using some home remedies.
If you’re ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse—no matter how bad the addiction or how powerless you feel.
Recovery starts with admitting you have a problem with alcohol. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time. And while there are many effective alcohol treatment options, you don’t necessarily have to seek professional help or go to a fancy rehab program in order to get better. There are many things you can do to help yourself stop drinking and achieve lasting recovery.
Step 1- Commit to stop drinking
Most people with alcohol problems do not decide to make a big change out of the blue or transform their drinking habits overnight. Recovery is usually a more gradual process. In the early stages of change, denial is a huge obstacle. Even after admitting you have a drinking problem, you may make excuses and drag your feet. It’s important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or you’re struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice.
Make a table like the one below,
weighing the costs and benefits of drinking to the costs and benefits of
quitting.
Is Drinking Worth The Cost?
| |
Benefits of drinking:
| Benefits of not drinking:
|
Costs of drinking:
| Costs of not drinking:
|
Step 2- Set goals and prepare for change
Once you’ve made the decision to
change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific,
realistic, and clear your goals, the better.
- Do you
want to stop drinking altogether or just cut back? If
your goal is to reduce your drinking, decide which days you will drink
alcohol and how many drinks you will allow yourself per day. Try to commit
to at least two days each week when you won’t drink at all.
- When do
you want to stop drinking or start drinking less? Tomorrow?
In a week? Next month? Within six months? If you’re trying to stop
drinking, set a specific quit date.
After you’ve set your goals to
either stop or cut back your drinking, write down some ideas on how you can
help yourself accomplish these goals. For example:- Get rid
of temptations. Remove all alcohol, barware, and
other drinking reminders from your home and office.
- Announce
your goal. Let friends, family members, and
co-workers know that you’re trying to stop drinking. If they drink, ask
them to support your recovery by not doing so in front of you.
- Be
upfront about your new limits. Make it clear
that drinking will not be allowed in your home and that you may not be
able to attend events where alcohol is being served.
- Avoid bad
influences. Distance yourself from people who
don’t support your efforts to stop drinking or respect the limits you’ve
set. This may mean giving up certain friends and social connections.
- Learn
from the past. Reflect on previous attempts to stop
drinking. What worked? What didn’t? What can you do differently this time
to avoid pitfalls?
Can I cut back on my drinking or do
I need to stop drinking completely?
Whether or not you can successfully
cut back on your drinking depends on the severity of your drinking problem.
If you’re an alcoholic—which, by
definition, means you aren’t able to control your drinking—it’s best to try to
stop drinking entirely. But if you’re not ready to take that step, or if you
don’t have an alcohol abuse problem but want to cut back for personal or health
reasons, the following tips adapted from the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism can help:
- Set a
drinking goal. Choose a limit for how much you will
drink. Make sure your limit is not more than one drink a day if you’re a
woman, or two drinks a day if you’re a man. Now write your drinking goal
on a piece of paper. Put it where you can see it, such as on your
refrigerator or bathroom mirror.
- Keep a
"diary" of your drinking. To help you reach
your goal, keep a "diary" of your drinking. For example, write
down every time you have a drink for 1 week. Try to keep your diary for 3
or 4 weeks. This will show you how much you drink and when. You may be
surprised. How different is your goal from the amount you drink now?
- Watch it
at home. Keep a small amount or no alcohol at
home. Don't keep temptations around.
- Drink
slowly. When you drink, sip your drink slowly. Take
a break of 1 hour between drinks. Drink soda, water, or juice after a
drink with alcohol. Do not drink on an empty stomach! Eat food when you
are drinking.
- Take a
break from alcohol. Pick a day or two
each week when you will not drink at all. Then, try to stop drinking for 1
week. Think about how you feel physically and emotionally on these days.
When you succeed and feel better, you may find it easier to cut down for
good.
Step 3- Get sober safely
Some people can stop drinking on
their own, while others need medical supervision in order to withdraw from
alcohol safely and comfortably. Which option is best for you depends on how
much you’ve been drinking, how long you’ve had a problem, and other health
issues you may have.
Withdrawing from alcohol
When you drink heavily and
frequently, your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and goes through
withdrawal if you suddenly stop drinking. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
range from mild to severe, and include:
- Headache
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Stomach cramps and diarrhea
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually
start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve
within five days. But in some alcoholics, withdrawal is not just unpleasant—it
can be life threatening. The symptoms listed above may be a sign of a
severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens, or DTs. This rare,
emergency condition causes dangerous changes in the way your brain regulates
your circulation and breathing, so it’s important to get to the hospital right
away.
Step 4: Find new meaning in life
While getting sober is an important
first step, it is only the beginning of alcohol recovery. Rehab or professional
treatment can get you started on the road to recovery, but to stay alcohol-free
for the long term, you’ll need to build a new, meaningful life where drinking
no longer has a place.5 steps to a sober lifestyle
- Take care
of yourself. To prevent mood swings and combat
cravings, concentrate on eating right and getting plenty of sleep.
Exercise is also key: it releases endorphins, relieves stress, and
promotes emotional well-being.
- Build
your support network. Surround yourself with positive
influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. The more
you’re invested in other people and your community, the more you have to
lose—which will help you stay motivated and on the recovery track.
- Develop
new activities and interests. Find new hobbies,
volunteer activities, or work that gives you a sense of meaning and
purpose. When you’re doing things you find fulfilling, you’ll feel better
about yourself and drinking will hold less appeal.
- Continue
treatment. Your chances of staying sober improve if
you are participating in a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous, have a
sponsor, or are involved in therapy or an outpatient treatment program.
- Deal with
stress in a healthy way. Alcohol abuse is often a
misguided attempt to manage stress. Find healthier ways to keep your
stress level in check, such as exercising, meditating, or practicing
breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
Step 5: Plan for triggers and
cravings
Cravings for alcohol can be intense,
particularly in the first six months after you quit drinking. Good alcohol
treatment prepares you for these challenges, helping you develop new coping
skills to deal with stressful situations, alcohol cravings, and social pressure
to drink.
Avoiding drinking triggers
- Avoid the
things that trigger your urge to drink. If certain
people, places, or activities trigger a craving for alcohol, try to avoid
them. This may mean making major changes to your social life, such as
finding new things to do with your old drinking buddies—or even giving up
those friends.
- Practice
saying “no” to alcohol in social situations. No matter
how much you try to avoid alcohol, there will probably be times where
you’re offered a drink. Prepare ahead for how you’ll respond, with a firm,
yet polite, “no thanks.”
Managing alcohol cravings
When you’re struggling with alcohol cravings, try these strategies:
- Talk to
someone you trust: your sponsor, a supportive family member
or friend, or someone from your faith community.
- Distract
yourself until the urge passes. Go for a walk,
listen to music, do some housecleaning, run an errand, or tackle a quick
task.
- Remind
yourself of your reasons for not drinking. When
you’re craving alcohol, there’s a tendency to remember the positive
effects of drinking and forget the negatives. Remind yourself that
drinking won’t really make you feel better.
- Accept
the urge and ride it out, instead of trying to fight it. This is
known as “urge surfing.” Think of your craving as an ocean wave that will
soon crest, break, and dissipate. When you ride out the craving, without
trying to battle, judge, or ignore it, you’ll see that it passes more
quickly than you’d think.
Step 6: Get support
Whether you choose to go to rehab,
rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment
approach, support is essential.
Don’t try to go it alone. Recovering from
alcohol addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for
encouragement, comfort, and guidance.
Support can come from family
members, friends, counselors, other recovering alcoholics, your healthcare
providers, and people from your faith community.
- Lean on
close friends and family – Having the support of friends
and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant
to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider
going to couples counseling or family therapy.
- Build a
sober social network – If your previous social life
revolved around alcohol, you may need to make some new connections. It’s
important to have sober friends who will support your recovery. Try taking
a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering, or attending
events in your community.
- Consider
moving in to a sober living home – Sober living
homes provide a safe, supportive place to live while you’re recovering
from alcohol addiction. They are a good option if you don’t have a stable
home or an alcohol-free living environment to go to.
- Make
meetings a priority – Join a recovery support group and
attend meetings regularly. Spending time with people who understand
exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also
benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what
others have done to stay sober.
Step 7: Getting started on treatment
As well as joining a recovery
support group, you may also decide to see a mental health professional and take
advantage of the latest addiction therapies and programs. As you consider the
different options available, keep the following in mind:
- There’s
no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone.
Everyone’s needs are different, so it’s important that you find a program
that feels right to you. Any alcohol addiction treatment program should be
customized to your unique problems and situation.
- Treatment
should address more than just your alcohol abuse. Addiction
affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and
psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on examining the way
alcohol abuse has impacted you and developing a new way of living.
- Seek
treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re
experiencing. Alcohol abuse frequently goes hand in
hand with other mental health problems, including anxiety, depression,
attention deficit disorder, and bipolar disorder. In many cases, the
drinking is an attempt to self-medicate. When these problems co-occur,
recovery depends on treating them both.
- Commitment
and follow-through are key. Recovering
from alcohol addiction is not a quick and easy process. In general, the
longer and more intense the alcohol use, the longer and more intense the
treatment you’ll need. But regardless of the treatment program’s length in
weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.
- There are
many places to turn for help. Not everybody requires
medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The level of
care you need depends on your age, alcohol use history, and other medical
or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many
clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment
services.
Expect setbacks
Alcohol recovery is a process—one
that often involves setbacks. Don’t give up if you relapse or slip. A drinking
relapse doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that you’ll never be able to reach your
goal. Each drinking relapse is an opportunity to learn and recommit to
sobriety, so you’ll be less likely to relapse in the future.
Home remedies which would help
in recovering from Alcohol Addiction
Grapes:
Grapes as well know is the source of
wine and in that it falls under the category of pure alcohol. Putting the
effected person on a diet of grapes for a whole month can help in getting rid
of the alcoholic feeling that keeps coming into the mind. The alcoholic needs
to take the grapes at an interval of 5 hours at least for a month or so.
Bitter gourd leaves:
One of the effective forms of home treatment for a person trying to come out of alcohol addiction is trying the juice of bitter gourd leaves. This is especially useful for people who have suffered from liver damage due to excessive alcoholism. One should take two spoons of bitter gourd leaves juice along with butter milk daily. This will help in getting rid of all the alcohol effects that one has been going through.
Apples:
Apples also form a part of effective home remedies for treatment of alcoholism. Eating a diet of apple on a regular basis for a little while can help one get rid of the intoxication that is caused by alcoholic beverages and wine. Apples anyways are considered healthy and hence it is harmless.
Dates:
Well, all of us love dates and their sweet flavor gives us respite. In similar way people who are undergoing alcoholic rehabilitation, should be treated with dates. At least 5 Dates should be rubbed in water together and the water should be given to the person. This needs to be taken twice daily and should be continued for at least a month. One can really see the effects after using the date water.
Celery:
Celery juice is also considered to be one of the better forms of home remedies to get rid of the intoxicating feeling of alcoholism. Celery juice and water should be taken in equal proportions daily for at least a month to see the effects of this. The intake of this juice helps sobering down the person and can prove to be beneficial.
Warning: The reader of this blog
should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the
home remedies. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it as
the responsibility lies with the reader.
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