Alcoholism is a serious illness. Addiction to alcoholic beverages undermines the human psyche, and regular consumption of ethyl alcohol gradually destroys all organs and systems. If you drink a lot, you are literally destroying yourself from the inside out. And at the same time it makes the life of relatives and friends unbearable. How do you get someone to stop drinking? How to protect him from the negative effects of strong drinks? What can be done to bring peace and tranquility back to the family?
We immediately realize that curing an alcoholic without his desire will not work. So if you decide to secretly feed him some kind of "miracle drug" at home, know in advance that your idea is doomed to failure. Nothing good comes from forced treatment. Also, being a drunk isn't that easyto a hospital without their consent, so this article focuses primarily on how to get an alcoholic to seek treatment, how to get them to give up alcohol themselves.
identifying the problem
As a rule, if a person drinks a lot, he does not consider this a disease. Often the alcoholic doesn't even admit that there's been too much booze lately. He thinks he's drinking as much as usual, no more than everyone else. In addition, you may encounter another difficulty: the drinker agrees that there is too much alcohol in his life.
Maybe he was even tormented by a constant hangover. However, at this point he does not want to stop, he does not understand that he is already addicted. Such a person believes that on his own and without outside help at home he will be able to wean himself off alcohol, but not now, but one day later. It's just that "later" never comes.
Therefore, the answer to the question "how to get an alcoholic into treatment" should begin with convincing him that he is ill. This is often one of the most difficult steps. To accomplish this task, you can use several tricks. DoAlert the patient to the health hazards of alcohol Focus on any deterioration in well-being that the drinker has recently experienced (and it probably has to some extent in any case).
Try to make the alcoholic aware that he is already drinking too much, that alcohol has changed his behavior. Tell us that you can completely cope with it, you just need to start treatment as soon as possible. Finally, try to convince the drinker that there is no shame in calling yourself an alcoholic, it is a shame in not acknowledging the obvious.
denial of allegations
If you're wondering how to help a person who is drinking, remember that you want to help, not blame. This is very important, because alcohol changes the psyche in such a way that a person becomes very vulnerable and even moody. If you start chastising him like a criminal child, he will shut himself off, turn away from you, and it will only get worse. It is necessary to convince the alcoholic of your kind disposition. The patient needs to see you as a friend and ally.
Give up scandals and screams. The key to success is endless patience. Even if it's incredibly difficult for you, if you want to throw out your emotions, you have to do it so that no one sees it. Do not allow outsiders (e. g. neighbors) to blame the drinker. Never scold him in front of others.
Help for alcoholism implies maximum softness. Of course, you can point out to a person that their alcohol addiction is having a detrimental effect on them and those around them, but this should be presented as fact and not as an accusation. Remember that no one likes to be called names. Do not try to offend or upset the drinker: this will only make him angry and drink more to annoy you. Understand that alcohol speaks in a person and you need to "wake it up".
Choose the right moment
To help with alcoholism, you need to time it right. This should be a period when a person does not drink. Talking to a drunk is absolutely useless. Of course, anyone who wants to can try, but it will be extremely difficult to achieve, you can only strain your nerves in vain. Please note that you will not be able to get a person out of heavy drinking at home, so you will have to be patient and wait. The "bright" period will come sooner or later, and then the question of how to help an alcoholic will have to be raised.
Helping to get rid of alcoholism should begin with a serious conversation that will provide the patient with the necessary motivation. This conversation should be conducted in a quiet environment, preferably at home. For this to succeed, two conditions must be met. First, the alcoholic himself must be sober (this has already been mentioned above).
Second, you must be mentally prepared yourself. Think in advance how you will convince what words you will choose. Think about how you can help the alcoholic understand you better and choose the necessary examples. Remain calm and confident. Do not forget that the first conversation, most likely, will not work. Never give up. It can be repeated again and again until the first successes are seen.
Set the right goals
To break someone's habit of drinking strong drinks, you need to give them the right motivation. So if you've been wondering "how to help an alcoholic, " you should find an alternative to alcohol for them. They need to understand that life is beautiful without alcohol, that the world is full of wonderful opportunities. When you quit, you can find a good job. . . You will meet a decent girl. . . You will start talking to friends again. . . Tell the patient what he liked in his past life Give him hope to get what he wantedwants (except alcohol).
Emphasize that his health will improve significantly, that you can still restore strength of hand and clarity of mind. Proper motivation should be the guiding star on the road to recovery.
Alcohol addiction is so strong that only a great goal can overcome it and wean the patient from one glass. He must be aiming for something other than alcohol. And this desire must eventually triumph. She should lead the alcoholic to a doctor and further support him on a difficult path.
If you are looking for an answer to the question "how to get a person to stop drinking", do not be afraid to turn to a psychologist. They are not always able to cope on their own. A professional willTelling you what to do to wean a loved one off alcoholic beverages, what to talk about and how to behave When you don't feel the strength in yourself to have a serious conversation with an alcoholiclead, you can invite a psychologist to your home, he can get a picture of the extent of the problem at home, talk to the patient and, with a high probability, after a few sessions, put him on the right path.
lying forbidden
Lying is the worst form of influence. Never try to deceive an alcoholic. Of course, he wants to hear that the treatment will be easy and comfortable. But that's not the case. A number of severe symptoms await him:
- nausea,
- to throw up,
- Headache,
- weakness,
- Dizziness,
- trembling of the limbs,
- irrepressible desire to drink.
Advise the patient that this needs treatment. A person must be mentally prepared for possible difficulties. Your task is to convince him that temporary problems can be fixed, you just have to be patient for a while. Explain that full treatment at home is not possible. It will take some time to go to the hospital. The alcoholic needs to know what is in store for them.
Don't tell fairy tales about impossible possibilities, like being able to drink strong drinks on vacation after you recover. There is not a single alcoholic who drinks a little after treatment. There are either those who don't drink at all, or those who return to their previous binges. You can't set unrealistic goals. All should be real, at least a little bit. Otherwise, the strongest disappointment and another collapse can be expected.
How to help a drunkDon't try to wean him off alcohol at home or secretly. Try to explain the need for inpatient treatment. Don't scold the alcoholic and don't blame him for the problems that have arisen. Find the right motives for him, something he wants besides alcohol. Speak only the truth. Never give up. If the first attempts at help have not worked, they have to be repeated again and again.
Do not try to solve the problem yourself at home. If there is such a need, you can consult a psychologist or narcologist. Remember, you don't have to shoulder all the responsibility. Entrusting the case of persuading an alcoholic for professional treatment is a perfectly acceptable solution. Their main task is to help the patient in any way to want to get well again. Then the alcoholic will gradually begin to help himself.