For people who have been drinking for a long time, sometimes it seems like a simple question to drink or not, but I am afraid that you can't make your own decisions when it is critical.
Why is it so hard to quit drinking?
China has a long wine culture, and the number of "wine people" is huge, especially in the north where the wine culture is stronger, there are many people who suffer from alcohol problems or alcohol addiction, but there are very few patients who are really willing to seek the best in the hospital.
Because the goal of clinical abstinence from alcohol addiction is to make the patient never drink at all, which is difficult for many patients to accept. This is also the reason why people with alcohol addiction are reluctant to accept professional **, but choose to quit drinking at home by themselves.
Forcibly abstaining from alcohol is a form of "recklessness".
Sudden abstinence or abrupt reduction in alcohol in people who are heavily dependent on alcohol can occur within 24 to 72 hours.
People with delirium tremens will also cause permanent, irreversible damage to the brain after **, resulting in poor intelligence and memory.
If the patient is in poor health or has serious complications such as respiratory failure, electrolyte imbalances, etc.
Quitting alcohol should be methodical
People who are too addicted to alcohol should go directly to the alcohol rehab clinic for receiving**.
Many people don't know that there is such a clinic, and they usually force withdrawal on their own, but often they can't hold on for a few days, or they can't control the withdrawal symptoms, so they pick up the wine glass again. There are also people who buy anti-thirst drugs such as naltrexone on their own, but without the intervention and evaluation of doctors, it is difficult for patients to take these drugs on their own.
There are two major aspects of alcohol addiction: physical dependence and psychological dependence.
Physical Dependence:Medical measures are taken to reduce the patient's craving for alcohol, improve brain function, and control the addiction center. In addition, in the process of abstinence from alcohol, patients often have withdrawal reactions such as palpitation, irritability, hand tremors, sweating, and increased blood pressure, and in severe cases, seizures, hallucinations and delusions, so doctors need to use appropriate auxiliary drugs according to the specific situation of the patient to deal with these symptoms. If the patient also has symptoms such as depression and bipolar disorder, additional targeted medication is required.
As for the psychological dependence of alcohol addicts on alcohol, it is what we often call addiction. Addiction can make people want to drink, whether they are excited or depressed. Even in general social situations, they have a hard time controlling themselves and often get drunk. Patients often enjoy the feeling of floating after alcohol and use it as an escape from reality. If they can't drink anymore, they can become very irritable or depressed.
**Psychological dependence:It is mainly psychological, and the common method is cognitive-behavioral. This method is to change the patient's perception of alcohol and alcohol addiction to regulate the patient's behavioral motivation, and then combine the reward and punishment mechanism to promote the patient to slowly change to the direction of not drinking.
In the process of cognitive and behavioral abstinence, it is also necessary to help patients develop a positive attitude to face troubles, frustrations, and life pressures, so that patients can change their mentality, control themselves, and do not abuse alcohol.
Therefore, abstinence from alcohol must be carried out in a professional medical institution, and it is important not to force abstinence at home.