Alcohol - Are you drinking too much?
Addiction therapist Christopher Morgan-Locke explains how to identify if someone has an alcohol problem, what can be done to help and how some new techniques are proving successful
One of the biggest problems with alcoholism is that often the alcoholic is the last person to believe they have a problem. One reason may be due to our perception of the term alcoholic, which many still think of as a scruffy old tramp wondering the streets drinking cheap cider.
Most of us know how many units of alcohol we can consume each week safely but many do not worry if they regularly double or treble it. We see the effects and consequences of alcohol every week, be it car crashes, relationship break-ups violence, ill health, child abuse or losing your job but this seems not to deter many.
Many still believe that provided you are not drunk every day, then you do not have a problem and you are not harming yourself. This is not true, as it is the way you drink that is relevant and not just the amount. Unfortunately, once a person is addicted to alcohol it is not that easy to reduce or abstain from drinking without professional help.
There are over one million problem drinkers in this country and over three million people are seriously affected by someone else's drinking. Alcohol is a factor in at least 20% of child abuse cases, 50% of crimes punished by imprisonment, 20% of admissions to general hospitals and 66% of suicides.
Lets forget the term alcoholic as it conjures up preconceived ideas, which can often be misleading. The reality is that all kinds of people suffer from alcohol problems and that includes anyone, young or old. It is not purely a class or education thing as doctors, lawyers, judges, bankers, nurses, police officers and teachers are all vulnerable so lets get that preconception out of the way.
"Aha" I hear you say, it's genetic and if you have parents or grandparents who had a "drink problem" it will follow that the children will suffer in the same way. I'm afraid the jury is still out on that one but if is it proved to be the case all it means is that you may be more predisposed to addiction issues and it does not mean you will become an alcoholic. Some experts argue that it is behavioural and it is something you may have learnt from your parents or peers. If it is learnt behaviour it can be 'un-learnt' which is what therapy aims to do.
Perhaps, instead of looking for others to blame for the problem we should be spending our energy dealing with the problem. Firstly, there are millions of us out there that may drink in moderation on a regular basis and who do not develop a chronic drink problem, however, if you or someone you know is drinking heavily on a regular basis, then be aware.
Some of the physical clues include sleeping badly, anxiety, gastric complaints, liver disease, hand tremors, poor memory, sweatiness, impotence, poor appetite, being accident-prone or attempting suicide.
The social clues include drinking most days, talking about drink a lot, smelling of drink, a poor work record, drink- related offences, financial problems, family history of drink problems, short-temperedness, frequent hospital admissions, domestic violence, sexual and relationship problems.
Heavy drinkers can develop paranoia, and in more serious cases, excessive alcohol can induce psychosis (schizophrenia, clinical depression, etc.) which is serious and needs medical help.
When you stop drinking, usually the first three to six days are the worst and you can expect to feel anxious, irritable, have problems sleeping and may have flu-like symptoms. Usually in a week to ten days you will start feeling much better.
Having established there is a problem then action needs to be taken and professional help is probably the best option. If in doubt, go to your GP who will be able to refer you to one of the various agencies. Alternatively, the Yellow Pages or local authority will have lists of who can help in your area. Unfortunately, good help is not always available depending on where you live so you may have to do some research.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have a long track record but some heavy drinkers are put off by the group-meeting scenario and the philosophy behind the treatment. If that is the case, one-to-one addiction counselling or addiction psychotherapy may be the answer.
In more serious cases counselling may be available through the NHS but typically you will have to pay for it yourself even if referred by your GP. Alternatively, some areas have drugs and alcohol charities usually manned by volunteers, which offer help and support at no cost or for donations.
If private counselling is preferred this can typically cost between £50 and £100 per consultation (usually 50 minutes) depending on where you live and the level of expertise and training of the Counsellor.
It is difficult to estimate how many consultations will be needed but typically between 6 and 12 initially but in some cases you may need to have top up support sessions on an ongoing basis from time-to-time.
If you choose to use a Counsellor make sure they are trained and experienced in alcohol addiction work, as most are not. Ask them how many years they have worked with addiction and if they have worked at a Drug and Alcohol centre or clinic and what training they have. Most of this information should be on their website or in their brochure.
In serious cases detoxification, which is often done in a clinic, maybe necessary. This can require a stay of between three days (residential chemical detox) and 3 to 6 weeks for a normal residential detox. To get these under the NHS can take time but home detoxification may also be available from your GP as certain drugs will need to be prescribed. Having had either a residential or home detoxification you will almost certainly need some form of ongoing support from an Addiction Counsellor or Psychotherapist as lapses are quite likely in the first 12 months without support.
Some of the latest techniques that are proving to be very successful involve using a combination of therapies. In addition to addiction counselling you may be offered Clinical Hypnosis, NLP or even EMDR if upsetting memories are involved.
These psychotherapy/hypnotherapy techniques look more deeply into the root causes of the problem and help you work them through. They also help you think in a different way where alcohol does not need to be a part of your life.
In addition to looking at the root causes they also help build your confidence and self-esteem and help you plan your life in a different way so that ultimately you will not need long-term therapy.
These typically cost a little more than counselling (typically between £80 and £130 per single session but many therapists offer double sessions (usually around 2 hours) which brings the unit price down and mean less visits and less time off work). With Hypnotherapy typically you will need far less sessions so the overall cost is about the same or often less than other therapies.
Again, ensure the therapist is properly trained and registered in Clinical Hypnosis and also trained and experienced in alcohol addiction as many are not or have only done a short course.
If you suspect someone has a problem get them to seek help as soon as possible - it is never too late.
Christopher Morgan-Locke - must not be reproduced without written permission.
In the Nineties Christopher worked as an addiction counsellor with a drug and alcohol centre where he also successfully introduced clinical hypnosis, NLP and EMDR into the programme of treatment. He also ran Home Office approved psychology training courses on drug and alcohol addiction for social workers, nurses, probation officers, police and prison staff.
He now is Clinical Director of the Peel Clinic based in Battersea (Clapham Common) but also sees clients in Hampshire and Surrey where he has practised for many years. The combination of his years of experience and training and his gentle non-judgmental manner has made him one of the most effective therapists in this field. He is also a very established writer on this and other subjects.
