From the author: The problem of addiction can develop slowly and the question of its presence often comes as a surprise, not only to the addict himself, but also to his loved ones. Moreover, the fact that society negatively evaluates addictive behavior and a condemning attitude towards the problem is additional stress for the addicted person. When to sound the alarm? When I started working in a drug treatment clinic, I was faced with how intensely dependent people, especially alcohol addicts, deny the presence of the disease. But if we put ourselves in their place, we understand how much pressure, in addition to our family and professional problems, comes from a condemning, labeling society. In such a situation, you will inevitably begin to defend yourself. Moreover, when society succeeds in forcing a person to call himself an “alcoholic,” it is tantamount to forcing him to give up on the problem. Then he tells us: “yes, I’m an alcoholic, do what you want with me, and I’ll look at it from the outside.” For these reasons, I decided to refuse to call this problem the medical term necessary for the doctor to keep records. Let's call it a problem that has a solution. So, how do we determine if there is a problem?! no matter how excited you are! drink (or smoke, or inject yourself, eat a chocolate bar), no matter the positive or negative experiences! We lose control (“Well, I drink a little, but when I drink a little, I become a different person, and he already drinks a lot.”), hangover (if you get hungover it gets better), the body gets used to it and protective reactions disappear (vomiting). Absolute tolerance for the body means death, sleep and appetite are disturbed. The first point alone is enough to start worrying and start looking for a solution. It is better to solve a problem by identifying its psychological roots (causes) and finding personal solutions. This is the main and main strategy that plays a large role in solving the problem. Any addiction is a symptom, and not the cause, of any personal, family or other disorders. The solution is a complete abstinence from “alcohol”. That's all! But as? There are many methods, they can be divided, but it’s better to put them together and solve the problem comprehensively. Medical (when it’s already necessary: ​​legs give way, tremors, cramps, pain, insomnia, exhaustion, etc.), Psychological (we start with the earliest manifestations and further on any stage of the problem), Social (when social or legal protection is needed). It is not necessary to call yourself an “alcoholic” - no one needs us to humiliate our dignity. It is no coincidence that I talk about addiction as a PROBLEM that needs to be taken seriously. Understanding what is happening to you and taking into account the characteristics of your body, which over time begins to demand MORE and MORE, you can learn to bypass the negative consequences associated with abuse. Due to the loss of control (the inability to use “in moderation”), which the addicted person tries manage, coming up with all sorts of ways to drink without consequences (don’t eat after 18:00, drink on Fridays or once a year, or under supervision, or only at home, or a drink with a lower degree) - alcohol still gets into the BODY and then the body becomes ill develops. To stop this process, you need to stop using your favorite substance and maintain your recovery. Since our sobriety changes our social circle and relationships in the family, and immediately after “stopping” it is still difficult to manage ourselves, because these skills are lost (we were controlled by alcohol), especially in the first year, you need to find supportive people: acquaintances who remain sober, loved ones who will not offer, alcoholics or drug addicts anonymous, psychological support groups where people with the same problem gather, addiction specialists, psychologists.