Don’t live in the future – try to live in the present. Living just for the moment, in the present, is a very difficult habit to acquire, but the rewards are enormous. When you can change and begin to spend more and more time concentrating on dealing with what is happening now and less time worrying about what might happen at some point in the future or for that matter, in the past, one immediate payoff is that it simplifies life enormously. Not thinking about past or future events may free us so much that we have more time to concentrate on getting the present right. This should lead to coping more successfully with what is happening at the present moment. Before launching into practical ways of accomplishing this task, it is necessary to make a distinction between planning and projection. Planning is OK.  Obviously if you are planning to make an overseas trip in three months’ time it may be advisable to book a seat on a plane and some accommodation at your destination. This is planning, and we are doing it now. This is living in the present. Projection is not OK because it takes us into the future and leads to problems. The nature of projections should become unclear as the discussion of the way anxious people think unfolds. I use Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) in my therapy with alcoholics. Another name for it is Mindfulness. Mindfulness is developed through practising a progressive series of mindfulness exercises aimed at developing and sharpening observation skills. Mindfulness involves practicing changing the focus of attention beginning with purposefully focussing on a particular event (such as the act of breathing, or thoughts that arise in one’s mind) and then expanding attention to capture a broader context. Mindful attention involves paying attention to the present moment by practicing stepping back from habits and urges to be pulled to thoughts and images about the past and the future. The only way an alcoholic can survive in recovery is to live in the moment. The minute they regress to the past or leap forward to the future, they put themselves in jeopardy of picking up a drink. Such is the alcoholic brain. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is best suited to alcoholics and was originally designed to enhance the recovery of Borderline Personality Disorder, a problem that more than 50% of alcoholics suffer from and most of them are totally unaware they have this disorder. How can I find out more about Dialectical Behavioural Therapy?  Ask your GP to refer you to a psychologist who specialises in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. With the assistance of supplements, counselling (DBT), The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous Program, exercise and good nutrition, alcoholism can be put into remission, but never cured. Total abstinence is required to start the journey. The brain chemistry must be functional and supplements can provide this support. However, if a person is suffering major depression, seeking help from your local practitioner is a must before effective counselling can be started. When it comes to feeling mentally and emotionally switched on, we have to have the correct brain chemistry – get it wrong and you will never achieve the feeling of wellbeing that you crave. The alcoholic has a predisposition to a depleted dopamine neurotransmitter – the centre of satisfaction in the brain. What can we do about it? Tyrosine Mood Food is necessary for the manufacture of dopamine and noradrenaline, which are required for concentration, alertness, memory and a happy stable mood. Magnesium Ultra Potent is the great relaxer and is assists in the reduction of stress, nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness. LivaTone Plus supports liver function and metabolism and supports phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification pathways, ensuring optimum detoxification of many toxic substances, including alcohol. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!   The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.