Alcohol and nicotine are active substances, the use of which depresses the body, disrupts the metabolism and hormonal levels, contributes to persistent chemical and mental dependence. Every person who smokes and abuse alcohol over time thinks about how to quit drinking and smoking, taking into account the degree of harm to these habits for health.
Effects
The smoker is often sick, loses weight, suffers from a deterioration in mental activity, exposes organs to irreversible changes under the influence of toxins. A person becomes mentally unstable, painful, his will is suppressed by dependence.
Due to alcohol abuse, a person experiences constant anxiety, becomes antisocial, suffers from organ dysfunction, and a decrease in reproductive function.
People who quit drinking, smoking, feel the need for increased attention, support and alternative ways of raising their mood. Relatives and friends should help them stay on track.
Getting rid of two interconnected habits is extremely difficult. Therefore, such a picture is often observed: a person quit smoking - started drinking. Without well-established stimulation of the nervous system, rarely is anyone able to get rid of addictions on their own.
If a person quit drinking and smoking, the consequences could be:
- Stopping the production of psychoactive substances in the brain.
- Cleansing the body of toxins, as a result of which vomiting reflexes, upset, diarrhea, arrhythmia, migraine, dizziness are possible.
- Blood pressure jumps.
- Exacerbation of heart disease.
- Weakness and malaise, chills.
- Trembling limbs; muscle spasms.
- Shortness of breath when walking.
- Sudden pressure surges.
However, such symptoms do not last long, only until all harmful toxins are eliminated from the body. Further, the condition and appearance are significantly improved.
Addiction
The abuse of nicotine and alcohol becomes a necessary dope, without which the sensations of the sufferer resemble hunger. The physical and volitional components of a person take part in overcoming addiction.
The will, as a rule, is strongly suppressed, therefore the individual is poorly aware of the new state that he will achieve after liberation from addictions.
There is a belief: you should stop drinking and smoking at the same time, so that giving up one habit does not lead to strengthening another. In the case of withdrawal intoxication syndrome, the addict should be under the control of physicians, given the possible exacerbation of diseases. The body needs to be maintained with vitamin complexes.
Drugs help to cleanse and remove symptoms, but if the physical dependence after alcohol and nicotine disappears after a month, then the psychological one returns much longer.
Quitting smoking and drinking without assistance is almost impossible. Many people require not only psychological support, but also medication.
Alcohol addiction
Changes that occur under the influence of alcohol in the human psyche are restored very hard.
Stages of alcoholism:
- In the first stage, a person is often drawn to drink. He inspires himself that, if desired, he can easily cope with his problem.
- At the next stage, more and more volumes of alcohol are required, memory gaps, withdrawal symptoms, hallucinations occur. You can’t do without the help of a specialist.
- In the third stage, the addict is forced to drink daily, not oriented in time. You can rid him of addiction, but damaged organs cannot be healed.
A number of dangerous diseases caused by addictions:
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy, resulting in heart failure.
- Korsakov's disease.
- Other mental disorders.
Often, one addiction entails another. Therefore, it is often observed that a person quit smoking and started drinking. Therefore, the main task is psychological reconfiguration. In some cases, doctors recommend lowering the dose and degree of alcohol.
But if a person quit smoking and started drinking, this does not mean that he abandoned his goal and again slid to the bottom mark. It is important to show consistency of intent so that final changes occur.
Quitting alcohol
Toxins accumulate in all organs, a hangover syndrome occurs, accompanied by severe health. Alcohol no longer stimulates the nervous system, natural cleansing begins. With the use of additional methods of removing toxins from the body, the condition improves, there is an incentive to creative processes.
About 80% of addicts experience mental deviations in the form of fear, hallucinations, nightmares, popularly referred to as the "delirium tremens". Some become tyrants and despots for domestic ones, others become apathetic among indifferent people.
What happens in the body when you give up alcohol
- In the first 3-7 days: there is pain, trembling in the body, palpitations, vomiting. The main mistake - go on about the hangover syndrome
- The beginning of the second week: the abatement of withdrawal symptoms, improved sleep, body productivity, the disappearance of edema.
- In two weeks: thought processes return to normal, restless symptoms disappear, blood pressure normalizes, and dizziness passes.
- After 21 days, the products of alcoholism are completely eliminated from the body, the brain is cleansed, and peace comes. The weight is normalized.
Folk remedies for alcoholism
Alcoholism medications are divided into soothing, relieving addiction, causing vomiting and disgust, restoring the state of internal organs.
- Dried thyme (tablespoon) is poured with a glass of boiling water, boiled in a pan, insist 40 minutes. Take a spoon twice a day.
- Four teaspoons of thyme, a spoonful of wormwood and centaury, mix, brew with boiling water. Insist a couple of hours. Take before each meal.
Nicotine addiction
For smokers, this habit is similar to a special ritual. It intersects tightly with others and becomes an integral part of life. For some this is due to hard work, for others to the instability of personal relationships. Smoking contributes to the production of the hormone cortisol in the blood to control stress.
What happens in the body when you stop smoking: the peak of negative reactions occurs on the third or seventh day. The duration of adaptation may be about 3-4 months. In a quit smoking state, several stages are distinguished.
In the range from 2 to 6 hours without a cigarette, the following is observed:
- By the end of the second hour without cigarettes obsessive desire to smoke.
- Confusion, distracted attention are observed.
- Worried by nervousness, insomnia; increased appetite.
- By the fourth hour, breathing becomes deep, which gives the smoker discomfort.
- After the 6th hour, the symptoms decrease, but an unpleasant state of oppression and fatigue remains.
State changes on the second day:
- Carbon monoxide, which connects to the blood cells, is replaced by oxygen.
- On the second day, the risk of a heart attack in a smoker is 70% higher compared with the same probability in a normal body, but the risk continues to decline from this time on.
- A wide range of flavors and odors that the smoker is deprived of is added.
- Appetite increases, vigor and physical activity appear.
- The desire to smoke is reduced.
Well-being on the third or seventh days:
- There is a removal of nicotine products from the body.
- The psychological state is characterized by fatigue and apathy.
- The symptoms may include nausea, headache, shortness of breath, digestive upset, which can last several days.
Condition for the first month:
- Negative symptoms in most smokers cease (nervousness).
- Starting from the second week, an increase in vitality is felt; movement brings pleasure.
- Blood circulation in peripheral vessels improves.
- Lung volume increases; by means of sputum and coughing, residues of tobacco products are removed.
Changes in smoker's condition in the first year:
- Improvement and rejuvenation of the skin.
- Finally, tobacco addiction goes away.
- Respiratory diseases do not remind themselves.
- The risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced by 50%.
- From unpleasant consequences - there is a set of excess weight.
Folk remedies for smoking
The following remedies will help stop the withdrawal syndrome:
- Collection of catnip, dandelion and valerian: pour a glass of boiling water on a spoon of each herb, cool. Take a sip at each desire to smoke.
- Chopped oats (250 g) brew in 500 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour. Take half a cup with each desire to tighten.
- St. John's wort (25 g) brew boiling water in a cup, take instead of tea. Calamus root is chewed in its natural form, and also mixed with mint (1: 3) and brewed in the form of tea.
- Shredded plantain in combination with horseradish to use several times a day, chewing thoroughly. Those who have already been treated with such a tool, it is advised to take an equal amount of components. There are no strict proportions. This tool can not be used for stomach ulcers.
Alternative Anti-Smoking Methods
Niacin-free cigarettes help in the fight against smoking. They contain cinnamon, saffron, coriander, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, mint, oregano, thyme, horsetail, motherwort.
Such cigarettes relieve withdrawal symptoms, eliminate addiction, and help get rid of smoking forever. You can buy them at pharmacies. In addition to these, antidepressants are used.
Nicotine patches, chewing gums, inhalers help to extract a dose of nicotine in a gentle way, but this method is not harmless, therefore it is suitable only for the first time. Subsequently, you need to get rid of him.
Effective alternative methods are acupuncture, breathing exercises, auto-training.
The following products will help you quit smoking:
- Containing a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids: bananas, citrus fruits, kiwi, persimmons, plums, tomatoes, pineapples.
- "Energy", well compensating for the shortage of substances: apples, mate tea, natural honey, seafood, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, red meat.
Rehabilitation programs
Rehabilitation programs are designed to gradually move towards the desired result. Before you stop smoking and drinking, you need to determine for yourself short-term and long-term goals, making a plan in the form of a table.
Among the simple tasks can be: morning exercises, obligatory help to relatives, consultations with specialists, going on a nature trip, self-education, hobbies and other things that help you to escape from your condition and enjoy life. Of the more thorough: a change in social circle and place of work, introspection to improve relationships.
If for one person getting rid of addiction looks like this: "I quit drinking, smoking - I go in for sports." The other can not do without serious preparation. Work in the fresh air, communication in a team of like-minded people, the help of specialists, prayers help addicts to stop drinking and smoking at the same time.
Relatives are able to support the dependent patient, who decided to abandon the bad habit. A society of smokers or drinkers should be avoided, concentrating all the willpower for self-control.
The Shichko method consists of the following steps:
- Awareness of Addiction. A person must understand that he has a problem.
- Support improvements with the help of photos. Pictures of appearance, from the first to the last day of treatment, inspire and help maintain the achieved level.
- Description of the beginning of addiction in the presence of a psychologist in order to form a story and the ability to track changes. It is necessary to keep a diary in which to record the features of well-being.
- The use of auto-suggestion. You need to fix the thought in your brain: "If I quit smoking and start drinking, I will become even worse."
- Finding a hobby and a decent activity.
Expert Advice
To make it easier to quit smoking and drinking, some psychologists recommend starting with reducing the number of cigarettes per day so that the interval between them is about 2 hours. They believe that this is necessary for the gradual restructuring of the body. You also need to limit yourself to alcohol.
You can’t abruptly stop drinking and smoking after many years of addiction. A sudden failure leads to the resumption of the former lifestyle, but with an exacerbation of hidden diseases.
What do experts and former addicts advise:
- Set realistic goals; don't try to get rid of alcohol in a matter of days.
- Keeping a diary will help to more accurately identify the causes of the deterioration.
- You can distract yourself from a cigarette with seeds, chewing gum.
- It is recommended to avoid smoky rooms, wash linen, curtains, objects that were in the house.
- It is useful to get rid of the attributes of smoking: lighters, ashtrays and other items reminiscent of cigarettes.
- In order not to gain excess weight, you need to take care of the diet, avoid harmful products, including coffee, chocolate, alcohol.
- Contact the society of anonymous alcoholics, surround yourself with successful people.
- Get rid of smoking habits: coffee-cigarette, beer-cigarette.
- Let your friends know about the decision.
- The familiar environment, including the place of residence, should be changed.
- Encourage yourself for your success.
- Do not save negative. Try not to enter into conflicts.
- Avoid being alone.
- Do not overload yourself during the rehabilitation period.
Conclusion
If the addict does not realize the true danger of his bad habits and does not want to get rid of them on his own, and does this only at the insistence of loved ones, he easily resumes smoking and drinking.
Means such as electronic cigarettes, sweets, herbal decoctions are effective, but only on condition that the person acts consciously.
In case of failure, do not consider the incident a failure. If an individual has forever quit drinking, smoking and "hanging around" because he has set high goals, he will never return to that "swamp" from which he managed to get out.