How to stop drinking alcohol on your own Motivating yourself

Among the harmful addictions inherent in modern man, the addiction to gambling deserves special attention. Gambling addiction is what experts call this psychological problem, as an official diagnosis included in the International Classification of Diseases relatively recently. It was included in this list about 40 years ago, but gambling addiction has worried humanity for many centuries, ever since gambling first appeared.

How to stop drinking alcohol. Motivating yourself

According to statistics, as many people die from alcohol as from road traffic accidents.
Moreover, 89% of deaths occur during sleep. And this happens not with hardened alcoholics, but with people who moderately drink both strong and weak drinks. Regular consumption of even small doses of alcohol reduces the chances of living to old age. Usually people start thinking about the dangers of alcohol when they have already become dependent on it. It makes itself felt not only with an obsessive desire to drink, but also with a deterioration in health. The mental sphere is the first to suffer: emotional instability appears, memory, attention and perception deteriorate, problems with sleep and self-control arise.

When malfunctions in the functioning of internal organs are added to this, the question of whether it’s time to quit arises with inexorable obviousness.

How to stop drinking on your own? The main thing is to start thinking differently. Read the short instructions further, you can contact me for help.

Treatment

Most experts agree that gambling addiction cannot be completely cured. Once this addiction has arisen, it will last a lifetime. But it is still possible to cope with this type of behavioral disorder, but the work will be difficult and lengthy.

First of all, a gambling addict must realize his problem. If a person himself understands that the game interferes with his life, then he is more likely to agree to accept the help of a psychotherapist and loved ones.

You can convince a gambling addict during a conversation, but you should not put pressure on the patient, shout at him, blame him or mock him. Such tactics will lead to aggravation of the problem; the gambling addict already feels lonely. Support and understanding from loved ones is extremely important to him.

One of the most serious problems during treatment is the inability of the addicted gambler to stop thinking about his addiction. Usually all his thoughts are occupied with the game and how to get the desired win. Even if a gambler is distracted from this topic for a while, he soon returns to it again. The result is neurosis, despair and anxiety.

Psychotherapeutic methods such as hypnosis, neurolinguistic programming and mindful meditation can bring relief to an addicted person. Each of these techniques is aimed at influencing that part of the subconscious in which the causes of the pathological craving for gambling lie.

In each individual case, treatment methods for gambling addiction may differ. Experts select them based on a person’s personal characteristics. However, a certain pattern was identified in the treatment of patients of different age groups:

people in their 30s are more susceptible. Therefore, in their treatment, methods of relaxation and conscious meditation, as well as other methods of psychological influence, are actively used. The state of health at this age allows you to engage in active and extreme sports. Such activities contribute to the production of adrenaline, which is so necessary for gambling addicts;
Patients over 40 years of age may also be recommended meditation, but the most effective method of treating gambling addiction at this age is neurolinguistic programming. Group therapy based on the principles of anonymity turns out to be very effective;
Treatment of gambling addicts over 50 years of age is complicated by the fact that such people, as a rule, have a long history of addiction. Drug treatment is used; drugs help stabilize mood and eliminate symptoms of depression. Hypnosis and psychotherapy are successfully used to combat addiction.

The choice of treatment method largely depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. The duration of development of addiction, the patient’s susceptibility to suggestion, as well as the degree of instability of his character are taken into account.

A sober assessment of your own alcoholism

It is necessary to establish the reasons that cause cravings for alcohol and rethink their significance. Here are common arguments:

Alcohol relieves tension and stress. Only as long as it works. Reality does not change, problems do not disappear. But addiction and the inability to relax in any other way intensify;
Drinking gives you confidence. This is a subjective feeling. Others see the bravado of an insecure person “under the weather”;
Small doses of quality alcohol are good for health. Controversial statement. The benefit, if there is any, will be dubious and short-term, but a destructive and persistent dependence will form;
Craving for alcohol is incurable. A common excuse to justify yourself. The reason for such thoughts lies in low self-esteem. A person who is not confident in his abilities will always find external circumstances that prevent him from setting a significant goal and achieving it.

Obviously, the reasons that push the hand towards a glass or wine glass are insignificant. Eliminating alcohol from life does not cause losses, but, on the contrary, provides gains in the form of a stable mental and physical state.

What is psychological infertility

Psychological factors of infertility are more often identified in women, but men are no exception. Often, clinics specializing in reproduction pay special attention to the physiological state of the spouses’ bodies - identifying diseases, assessing the anatomy, functional state of the ovaries and testicles, the structure and changes of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle, etc. In this case, the psychological state is either not given any attention at all, or the advice is minimal (try to relax, and pregnancy will occur, and the like). However, it is necessary to determine the psycho-emotional state of the spouses and, based on this, targeted treatment of psychological infertility. Only in this case can you achieve the desired result.

It is worth thinking about the psychological aspects of infertility if pregnancy does not occur against the background of complete physiological health or after successful correction of disorders in the functioning of the body identified in the spouses. In such a situation, there may be a psychological conflict expressed in psychosomatics. In other words, incorrect (anxious, tense) work of the higher parts of the nervous system triggers disturbances at the level of the reproductive system. However, these disorders occur at the cellular level and it is not possible to identify them using laboratory tests and instrumental diagnostic methods. To identify such problems, the involvement of a qualified psychologist and psychotherapist is required, and sometimes (in advanced cases) even a psychiatrist. These specialists conduct a specialized examination aimed at assessing the psychogenic and emotional components of the body’s functioning.

Change your own drinking habits

The next step, which requires deep thinking and willpower, is that you will need to change your established way of life. It is not easy for an adult to abandon the existing stereotype of behavior. You need to be prepared for this.

At first, you need to support yourself and remind yourself that you will have to go through the difficult path yourself. The support of family and friends adds strength, but personal motivation is crucial. Automotive training will help you get through a difficult period. In moments of weakness, repeating simple truths will help:

Fear of the unknown is completely normal. A sober lifestyle is still unusual, and therefore a little scary;
Breaking up is always hard. Both with people and with habits;
We must keep our word. This is not discussed.

Having achieved inner conviction, it will be easier to carry out practical actions that will become a barrier to returning to addiction.

Recommendations

Self-hypnosis is used for various purposes. Most often, it is used to achieve switching from negative to positive, losing weight, self-confidence, giving up bad habits or improving health. But you cannot get the desired effect without knowing the basic rules of self-hypnosis. They are quite simple:

The goal statement should be positive and clear. It is important to create a statement that will be as correct as possible; it should not contain “not” particles or other negative elements. Only in this way can the brain be susceptible to suggestion.
Repetitions must be multiple. Only a suggestion that has been used many times in a row will be effective. When composing the wording, you can use several close synonyms to the main impressive word (weight loss - proper food - beautiful appearance - lightness).
Achieving the goal must take place in stages. This rule applies to long-term or difficult tasks. You should not immediately create too complex statements, because... the brain may not accept them. You should achieve what you want step by step, composing formulas using a ladder, and carry out different self-hypnosis procedures after success for each statement. You can also use a slight simplification. For example, not “I am an absolutely healthy person,” but “my health is improving every day.”
Personal motivation. It is important to have a desire to achieve your goals, and also try to do something to realize them, and not just wait for the result. It will be helpful to include the words “I can”, “I am trying”, “I am achieving”, etc. within the statement.
Accounting for the location of the action. When drafting the wording, it is necessary to take into account the reference to specific places. If you want to increase your confidence during public speaking, then you should think about it, and not just about the quality itself. This is especially true for visualization.

Becoming a different person with the help of self-hypnosis is an achievable task. It is enough to follow the recommendations and use the chosen method correctly. But it is important to consider that it may take a very long time to achieve the desired result.

It is important to remain confident that the result will be achieved. Any doubts can harm the achievement of the goal.

To stop drinking, you need to create conditions for yourself

The conditions that must be met to stop drinking are not that complicated. Most of them are normal components of a fulfilling life.

The decision to give up alcohol should be communicated to family and friends. This will ensure their cooperation and help avoid awkward situations of sudden visits with a bottle of strong drink;
In the first weeks of sobriety, you will have to literally avoid alcohol. He shouldn't be at home. It is better to avoid attending events and parties for now. The temptation is too great. A person cannot control the brain’s persistent reaction to the type of alcohol. There is no need to expose yourself to additional stress. If the situation requires indispensable participation in the feast, you can compromise. There is always a plausible excuse to raise a glass of juice or mineral water with everyone else. You cannot sit with an empty glass and attract attention. Internal tension will increase;
Full sleep. A person who does not get enough sleep is prone to irritability or apathy; these are not normal states from which you want to get out. What solution comes to mind first? That's right, improve your health in a known way;
Complete nutrition. The feeling of hunger is a strong provocateur, as it causes anxiety and dissatisfaction. A well-fed person is relaxed and satisfied, everything suits him, his thoughts are calm. Satisfying basic needs is the key to success when quitting alcohol;
Encouragement. It is necessary to plan moral compensation for abstinence in order to feel that a sober lifestyle can be enjoyable. It doesn’t matter what it will be, entertainment, adventure, a long-awaited purchase with saved money, the main thing is that it evokes positive emotions;
There should be no free time. Idleness is the source of vices, as was noted by the ancient Romans. It is necessary to fill weekdays and holidays with activities and events so that the busy pace of life leaves no room for idleness. You can make a plan;
Find an alternative to alcohol to relax. The body must relieve tension. At first, the effect will seem weak because the brain is accustomed to heavy doses of doping. Reading fiction, listening to slow, quiet music, yoga, meditation, handicrafts, and hard work calm the nervous system well. Over time, their impact will intensify, freeing the body and soul from fatigue and irritation;
Physical activity is a panacea for many negative factors and is good for health. When engaging in sports or physical labor, a person not only receives the necessary exercise for vigor, but also experiences pleasure. It has been proven that physical activity stimulates the production of happiness hormones; Life without alcohol will itself encourage you to increase healthy habits and self-improvement.

Author of the article: Yurov Alexey Viktorovich

An expert on addiction and codependency with 15 years of experience;
Founder of the Otkritie Center;
An expert in the rehabilitation of alcoholics, drug addicts and gambling addicts with 15 years of experience;
Author and developer of several programs for rehabilitation, prevention, and psychological assistance to relatives of addicts;
Husband, father, social activist;
Helped hundreds of families of codependents save the health and lives of their relatives;
More than 1000 people have undergone the rehabilitation of Alexey Yurov;
Founder of the online School “Overcoming Codependency”;
Founder of the Social Rehabilitation Center for the low-income population, including teenagers from disadvantaged families;
1.6 million views of educational lectures on the Youtube Channel;
More than 1000 Individual Consultations;
Over 100 trained Addiction Counselors;

Features of the development of gambling addiction

Quite often, gambling addiction is compared to drug addiction, calling addiction to the game its neuropsychological variety. This type of behavioral disorder is indeed extremely dangerous for a person who is unable to cope with his own emotions and desires.

Today, gambling addiction and other types of gambling addiction have been studied quite well. In particular, experts have identified several stages of its development:

The first step is winning. The initial stage of the disorder begins when a person gets a taste of easy money. Even the smallest winnings can trigger the development of gambling addiction. The mechanism for the development of gambling addiction turns out to be launched, and the gambler begins to experience a passionate desire to try his luck again and again. His dreams of winning turn out to be far from reality, he increases his bets and the time he spends on the game. At this stage it is easiest to help an addicted person, since he has not yet lost touch with reality. He is able to hear those around him, analyze their opinions, and also assess his shaky financial situation. The most effective method of therapy in this case will be “replacement”. This tactic redirects the energy and passion of the addicted person into a creative direction. The patient is capable of giving up the game by his own volitional decision, but the freed up time must be filled with any other activities.
The second stage is loss . As the bets increase, the amount of losses increases. In an effort to recoup, the gambling addict begins to borrow money wherever possible. He takes out loans from the bank, borrows money from friends and relatives, and takes all his valuables to a pawnshop. Interest in the game becomes so strong that a person loses other hobbies. Therapy at this stage will be more complex. Substitution tactics are still relevant, but it is almost impossible to cope with addiction without the help of specialists.
The third stage is recklessness . When addiction enters this stage, the gambling addict’s social and family ties begin to collapse. In his understanding, everything that interferes with the game is absolute evil, so he loses his job, friends and family. Play comes first in life. Sometimes an addicted person has a desire to stop, but it passes very quickly. The complete lack of money necessary for gambling forces the patient to commit illegal acts. In order to find funds for the next bet, a gambler can even kill. Therapy at this stage of the disorder should be comprehensive. It includes various methods of psychotherapy and medication; spiritual practices and self-control techniques are very effective. The patient desperately needs the support of loved ones. The effect of treatment can be noticed quite quickly, but lasting results can be achieved no earlier than after a year of joint work between the psychotherapist, the patient and his family members. Once every 2-3 years you will need to undergo a course of maintenance therapy, but the fight against gambling addiction will continue throughout your life.
The fourth stage is hopelessness . This is an extreme degree of development of the disorder, a kind of dead end for a gambling addict. He is in a state of severe social maladjustment. The feeling of joy and relief no longer brings anything; there is nothing valuable left in his life. The addicted person himself is disappointed in the game, but is unable to stop. Gambling addiction in this period is often accompanied by other harmful addictions - alcoholism and even drug addiction. A gambling addict is constantly depressed, has suicidal thoughts, and has sleep and appetite disorders. The most relevant way to treat extreme gambling addiction is drug therapy. The effect of the drugs will be largely aimed not at eliminating the behavioral disorder, but at getting rid of concomitant mental pathologies (neuroses and deep depression).

Today there are many ways to get rid of gambling addiction. In our country, you can get qualified help in

specialized medical institutions of various types. If you go to a private medical center, the treatment will be anonymous.

Regardless of which option you choose, you need to understand that contacting a psychotherapist, psychiatrist or psychologist is the first step towards recovery.

In a positive way

If you can master these steps and add your own to them, you will gradually begin to think in new ways. And you will understand how much in life you have lost because of your suspiciousness.

Yaroslav Kolpakov, clinical psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences: “Suspiciousness is a complex psychological phenomenon. It is associated primarily with such a concept as anxiety. Anxiety means a certain potential readiness of a person to react to new situations, life circumstances, events with one or another manifestation of anxiety. Suspicious people have a fairly high level of anxiety. Suspiciousness in the physical sphere can manifest itself in the form of hypochondria. A person tends to very sensitively and carefully “listen” to all the signals of his body, attribute to them a painful meaning, interpret them as threatening health or even life, and often seek help from doctors. Suspiciousness in the social sphere can manifest itself as paranoia, that is, a tendency to be wary in communication, a distorted perception of the attitude of other people as hostile. The result of a kind of “protection” from suspiciousness can be perfectionism, that is, an almost obsessive belief that “I must achieve only the best results, I must be the best.” In a pathological form, this is manifested by the conviction that “no personal result achieved is ideal,” which could be even better. The fear of not achieving the best result leads a person to procrastination - constantly putting off making important decisions, putting off important things “for tomorrow.” Because of this, a person’s anxiety can only increase, and a kind of “vicious circle” is formed: anxiety – suspiciousness – paranoia – perfectionism – procrastination – anxiety. If you cannot break this circle with the help of the advice given in the article, it is recommended to seek the advice of a psychologist.”

Expert: Yaroslav Kolpakov, clinical psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences

Author: Evgeniy Vosarat
The material uses photographs belonging to shutterstock.com

What are the methods of self-hypnosis?

Let's take a closer look at several effective methods of self-hypnosis.

Visualization

Visualization is the mental experience and representation of certain imaginary events. Self-hypnosis is what helps us visualize. Why is the method so effective? It's simple: our brain does not distinguish real events from invented, imaginary ones.

How does it work? You begin to create mental pictures in your imagination - the brain believes that this is reality. Purpose of visualization: representation of desired events. Simply put, with the power of thought you transport yourself to the desired situation and stay in it. It is important to imagine everything as if from the inside, and not from the outside. Example: you imagine the car you want not somewhere in the distance - you imagine yourself sitting behind its wheel, looking at the street through its window, and so on. The car does not drive on its own, it is not driven by someone - it is you who drive it and ride in it. Visualize everything down to the smallest detail.

Affirmations

Affirmations are simple statements that you say out loud or mentally. What is their meaning? You simply construct a sentence in which you managed to achieve your goal. Example: “I make good money, I have enough money for everything”, “I bought a new apartment”, “Everyone loves me” and others. Start from your own goal.

How do affirmations work? The principle of substitution applies. The mind can only process one thought at a time. Create a sequence of moments with the same (desired) thought. What will happen in the end? Let's look at a simple example: in front of you is a glass of cloudy water. You bring it under the tap and, without pouring out the previous water, pour new water into it. Gradually, clean water will completely replace dirty water. The cloudy liquid is displaced and the clean liquid replaces it. Gradually, only clean water remains in the container. That is, no matter how the situation around you develops, surround yourself with positive attitudes that will eliminate the negative over time.

Only clean water will remain in the glass. It's the same with the mind. Whatever situation you are in now, start affirming positive thoughts to yourself. Over time, the positive will crowd out the negative.

Gratitude

The method can be called a type of affirmation, but it works even more noticeably. Why is this happening. It is believed that gratitude is one of the strongest emotions. By using affirmations, you intentionally evoke emotions, and with gratitude, they materialize on their own.

Let's compare two affirmations

I bought a lot of new and beautiful things.
Thank you for the new beautiful things.

The second one sounds more realistic. You may argue that this is self-deception, but there is no problem here, because we constantly engage in self-deception, which has a more destructive effect on us. Example: “They treat me badly, but I deserve it,” “I don’t deserve such a guy,” and so on. Why is such self-deception, with a negative connotation, allowed, but positive deception is not?

The power of self-hypnosis: examples from life

There are many examples from life that demonstrate the power of self-hypnosis. Initially, we will consider a theoretical example, and then we will talk about real facts discussed by many historians.

How the power of thought could hypothetically operate. A simple example that has happened to almost everyone. For example, you are walking down the street and see a dog on the side of the road. She is quite impressive in size and looks at you carefully. It’s a rare person who will pass by without reacting internally to this circumstance. At first we are confused, then we continue on our way, convincing ourselves: “I’m not afraid of her, I’ll calmly pass by, and she won’t touch me. I don’t care about her, and she doesn’t care about me.” We pronounce approximately these phrases mentally. This is self-hypnosis. If we don’t connect it, but are really afraid of the dog, then we’ll hardly be able to take even one step. Self-hypnosis pushes us.

Remembering examples of self-hypnosis, many psychologists periodically talk about the actor I.N. Pevtsov. He had an unenviable feature for an artist: a stutter. However, when going on stage, Pevtsov seemed to forget about his speech impediment - it simply disappeared. Illarion Nikolaevich inspired himself, going on stage, that he was a different person - a character. Since in the story the hero didn’t stutter, Pevtsov didn’t do it either - it’s as simple as that! .

Many years ago, the French doctor Motier decided on an interesting experiment, telling patients that a medicine would soon be delivered from Germany that would quickly cure tuberculosis. At that time, the disease was not treated. The doctor's words had an amazing effect on the patients - they did not allow the idea that the doctor was making things up. The power of suggestion turned out to be incredible: many patients felt relief after taking the “medicine”, and others were even healed. The placebo effect in action! In reality, Motier offered ordinary water to the sick. Subsequently, the doctor’s experience was repeated by other specialists, and systematically these experiments demonstrated impressive results. Many scientists still argue about this feature, but the fact remains that self-hypnosis works in different areas of life.