Alcoholism is a serious disease. Addiction to alcoholic beverages undermines the human psyche, and regular use of ethyl alcohol gradually destroys all organs and systems. Those who drink a lot literally destroy themselves from the inside. And at the same time it makes the life of relatives and friends unbearable. How can you get someone to stop drinking? How to protect it from the negative effects of strong drinks? What can be done to restore peace and tranquility to the family?
We notice right away that it won't work to cure an alcoholic without the desire for her. So, if you decide to secretly add some sort of "miracle cure" to her food at home, then you should know that your idea is doomed to fail ahead of time. Nothing good comes from compulsory treatment. It is also not that easy to deliver a drinker to the hospital without his consent. Therefore, this article will mainly focus on how to get an alcoholic to seek treatment, how to make him stop drinking himself.
Recognition of the problem
As a rule, if a person drinks a lot, he does not consider it a disease. Often, the alcoholic does not even admit that he has been drinking too much alcohol lately. He thinks he's drinking as much as usual, no more than everyone else. Also, you may run into another difficulty: the drinker agrees that there is too much alcohol in his life.
Perhaps he had already been tortured by a constant hangover. However, at this stage, he still doesn't want to quit, he doesn't realize he's already addicted. Such a person believes that alone and without outside help at home he will be able to wean himself off alcohol, but not now, but a day later. It's just that "later" never comes.
Therefore, the answer to the question "how to get an alcoholic treated" should begin with convincing him that he is sick. This is often one of the most difficult steps. To cope with this task, you can use several tricks. Draw the patient's attention to the health dangers of alcohol. Focus on the deterioration in well-being that the drinker has recently experienced (and it is likely to be one way or another anyway).
Try to draw the alcoholic's attention to the fact that he is already drinking too much, that the alcohol has caused changes in his behavior. Tell us that you can do it completely, you just need to start treatment as soon as possible. And finally, try to convince the drinker that it's not a sin to call yourself an alcoholic, it's a shame not to admit the obvious.
Denial of charges
If you are wondering how to help a person who drinks, never forget that you want to help, don't blame. This is very important, because alcohol changes the psyche in such a way that a person becomes very vulnerable and even capricious. If you start chastising him like a delinquent child, he will shut down, walk away from you, and only get worse. It is necessary to convince the alcoholic of your kind attitude. The patient must see you as a friend and ally.
Abandon scandals and screams. The key to success is infinite patience. Even though it's insanely difficult for you, if you want to throw your emotions out, then you need to do it so that no one sees them. Don't let strangers (such as neighbors) make accusations against the drinker. Never scold him in front of others.
Help for alcoholism implies maximum softness. Sure, you can point out to a person that his alcohol addiction has a detrimental effect on him and those around him, but this should be presented as a fact and not an accusation. Remember that no one wants to be scolded. Do not try to offend or anger the drinker - this will only make him angry and he will drink even more to spite you. Understand that alcohol is talking in a person and you need to "wake them up".
Choosing the right time
To help with alcoholism, you need to choose the right time. This should be a time when a person doesn't drink. Talking to a drunkard is absolutely useless. Of course, anyone who wants to can try it, but it will be extremely difficult to achieve something, you can only wear your nerves in vain. Keep in mind that you won't be able to get a person out of alcoholism at home on your own, so you need to be patient and wait. The "bright" period will come sooner or later, so it is necessary to raise the question of how to help an alcoholic.
Help 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 calm environment, preferably at home. For it to be successful, two conditions must be met. First, the alcoholic himself must be sober (this has already been mentioned above).
Secondly, you yourself need to be mentally prepared. Think in advance how you will convince which words you will choose. Think about how to help the alcoholic understand you better, select the necessary examples. Be calm and confident. Do not forget that the first conversation will most likely not work. Never give up. It can always be repeated again and again, until the first hits appear.
Set the right goals
To wean a person from drinking strong drinks, you need to give him the right motivation. Therefore, if you have asked yourself "how to help an alcoholic", you should find an alternative to alcohol for him. He must understand that life is beautiful even without alcohol, that the world is full of wonderful opportunities. If you leave, you can find a good job. . . You will meet a decent girl. . . You will start talking to friends again. . . He tells the patient what he enjoyed in his past life. Give him hope of getting what he wants (aside from alcohol).
Emphasize that his health will improve considerably, that you can still restore hand firmness and mental clarity. The right motivation should be the guiding star on the road to recovery.
The addiction to alcohol is so strong that only a great goal is able to overcome it and wean the patient from a glass. He has to aim for something else besides the liquor. And this desire must ultimately win. He should take the alcoholic to a doctor and further support him on a difficult path.
When looking for an answer to the question "how to get someone to stop drinking", don't be afraid to see a psychologist. You are not always able to do it alone. A professional will tell you how to act to wean a loved one from alcoholic beverages, he will tell you what is best to talk about, how to behave. If you don't feel the strength in yourself to have a serious conversation with an alcoholic, then you can invite a psychologist to your home. He will be able to get an idea of the extent of the problem at home, talk to the patient and, with a high degree of probability, after a few sessions, will direct him on the right path.
It is forbidden to lie
Lying is the worst tool of influence. Never try to deceive an alcoholic. Naturally, he wants to feel that the treatment will be simple and pleasant. But it isn't. Numerous severe symptoms await him:
- nausea,
- He retched,
- headache,
- weakness,
- dizziness,
- tremor in the limbs,
- unbridled desire to drink.
Advise the patient that this will need to be addressed. A person must be mentally prepared for possible difficulties. Your job is to convince him that temporary problems can be dealt with, you just need to be patient for a while. Explain that full-fledged treatment at home is not possible. It will take some time to go to the hospital. The alcoholic must know what he is going to face.
Don't tell fairy tales about impossible possibilities, such as the one that after your recovery you can drink strong drinks during the holidays. There is not a single alcoholic who, after undergoing treatment, drinks a little. There are either those who don't drink at all, or those who go back to their earlier binges. You can't set unrealistic goals. They should all be real, at least a little bit. Otherwise, you can expect the strongest disappointment and a new breakdown.
How to help a drunk person? Do not try to wean him from alcohol at home or secretly from him. Try to explain the need for inpatient treatment. Do not scold the alcoholic and do not blame him for the problems that have arisen. Find the right motivations for him, something he wants besides alcohol. Just tell the truth. Never give up. If the first attempts to help did not work out, you need to repeat them again and again.
Don't try to solve the problem yourself at home. If there is such a need, you can consult a psychologist or narcologist. Remember that you don't have to carry all the responsibility on your shoulders. Entrusting the case of convincing an alcoholic to seek treatment by professionals is a completely acceptable solution. Your main task is to help the patient in any way he wants to return to health. Then the alcoholic will gradually begin to help himself.