Everything that is consistent in our life will define us because it becomes neurologically wired. When it's neurologically wired, with repetition and emotion, then it’s consistent and has a domino effect on our life. It becomes a habit and habits reaffirm who we are in "our personality". The subconscious mind, that 88% of the mind, deals with all our habits, memory, self-image and our personality. Dr Joe Dispenza in his book Evolve your Mind explains scientifically why change is difficult: "For every known element in our life, we have an existing neural representation in the form of people, things, times, places, and events, and each neural representation connects every person, place, thing, time, and event to a specific feeling. We can begin to see why change is difficult. Changing a person, place, thing, time, or event in our life means that we are breaking the neurochemical circuit that we have kept intact by continuous stimulation". Good news – we can form new neural pathways to our brain. Alcohol dependent people and, in fact, any substance abuser, can change their thinking to change their feelings, to change their behaviour.  It does take time and a lot of effort and there is life after alcohol and drugs. How many times have you promised yourself that you won’t drink during the week or allow at least 2 days of respite to help you liver recover from week-end binging?  How many times have you broken that promise to yourself? The Subconscious Mind wants what it’s got In our society we have invariably looked at alcohol, smoking, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and more as addictions. Once a person is hooked they 'can't help it '. The body takes over and wants more! Neurologically it has been proven that once a pattern (habit - neural pathway) is established, the mind-body associations (with that habit) once triggered by a thought (or an association) sets off the loop. In other words all the associated chemicals are desired by the mind and body because we have learned to have and desire the associated reaction.  For example, say in panic attacks, just the thought of possibly having a panic attack can lead to hot sweats. That's right - the 'addiction' is actually the panic attack. We are what we think we are. I use a statement which says 'the subconscious mind wants what it's got and not what it has not got.'  So with good or bad habits - 'the job of the subconscious mind is to keep you where you are now'. How does it do this?  With self-sabotage - negative self-talk. But now we know that this is not the only way. The mind-body is wired to produce the chemicals needed to self-sabotage - the mind-body wants those negative feelings. It's addicted to them. The job of the conscious mind is to recognise this negativity and to do something about it. No, it's not easy to change but when you use the right supplements to help your Dopamine neurotransmitter, which is the centre of satisfaction and reward, you will improve. The next step is to untangle your complicated emotions with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and use Mindfulness to help you live in the 24 hour zone. Active meditation is a daily requirement to help substance abusers give their liver respite and hope for longevity. Thinking about addictions! It's quite a challenge to think of addictions in this way. The loop that is set up between the mind and the body encourages addictions to 'hang around'. Some examples can be easy to understand and chocolate is one! Are you are chocoholic? Other examples can revolutionise our thinking - say the feeling of shame, or unworthiness, or being a victim or a bad relationship. I am sure you have heard the expression 'out of the frying pan into the fire' when applied to a relationship. Let us take an example of feeling unworthy, having low self-esteem and a lack of self-love in a long-term relationship. The neurochemical habit of being unworthy is established - it is familiar and natural to feel this way about ourselves based on the interaction with our long term partner. One day we summon enough courage to separate and we look for another relationship. Unless we have really learned the lessons involved about loving self and self-worth, the body and mind invariably want the same neurochemicals to fire again. We feel the same feelings and think it's love’, so we find someone who sparks the release of those chemicals from the brain (Dopamine Neurotransmitter) that feed the body to make a feeling. Out of the frying pan and into the fire because we are addicted to the neurochemicals that produce those feelings. Our Inner Voice is always working – it never rests That Inner Voice - the sabotaging voice is the voice that keeps us where we are now. It keeps us in our comfort zone. Our comfort zone includes all habits - good and bad. Let's look at the example of you deciding NOT to be a victim any more. With great intentions you start the day and perhaps walk into a cafe to grab a coffee.  Something triggers your memory of how your partner really hurt your feelings at yesterday's family picnic. You're mind now goes to all the other times your partner has hurt you - over many years. You now start to feel bad. Your voice of self-talk says 'You're no good. You'll never be any good.' Your Inner Voice tells you that you can break your promise to yourself - your original commitment of deciding not to be a victim. It continues to sabotage you 'You'll always be the same. You can't help it - your dad and mum abused you, so what chance have you got? You can't change - you'll never change.' If you stop those automatic thoughts you will feel really uncomfortable - out of your comfort zone. Besides you lost your wallet this morning and the car wouldn't start so you have good reasons to be a victim. So you act on your internal voice - your self-chatter - you become more comfortable accepting that you are a victim. So, be aware of all your own habits and patterns, particularly the negative ones. When you are aware then you can do something about it. As well as 100% vigilance, you need to take care of your nutrition and dietary supplements. I recommend Tyrosine Mood Food, necessary for the manufacture of dopamine and noradrenaline, which are required for concentration, alertness, memory and a happy, stable mood. Tyrosine is required for the manufacture of adrenalin in the adrenal glands and most alcoholics suffer with adrenal exhaustion. The state of your liver has a big impact on your state of mind so that those with a fatty liver may find themselves irritable and moody with a poor memory and difficulty keeping up with life’s demands. Depression and poor sleep may be associated with a fatty liver and these things resolve when we improve the liver function.  I recommend Livatone Plus, a more powerful formula that can support liver function when there are more serious liver problems due to alcoholism. L-Glutamine is an amino acid and has been shown to improve brain function in alcoholics, resulting in improved sleep, decreased anxiety and a reduced craving for alcohol. Glutamine can be found in our Ultimate Gut Health Powder. Vegetable juice has been successfully used to clear out fatty livers too. Juicing, along with the above supplements, B-vitamins and Vitamin C, may be a real long-term help with damage of the liver. Dr. Cabot has a great juice book that’s easy to follow and has recipes to help rejuvenate your liver - it is called Raw Juices Can Save Your Life. Magnesium Ultra Potent can be taken before bed to assist with a deep and restful sleep. It also helps to reduce stress, very beneficial to a recovering alcoholic.  Magnesium is also known as the “great relaxer”. Dr. Cabot’s book, Help for Depression and Anxiety is an excellent read for recovering alcoholics.   The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.