Recovery from alcoholism is a day-to-day process, starting with the final drink.  It occurs in the present with some planning for the future. In my analysis of failure of the alcoholic to cope, guilt belongs with the negative emotions that lead to failure.

The lives of most alcoholics have included many shameful, illegal, immoral and stupid actions. Our advice to alcoholics is to repair any damage, physical, financial, legal, and personal or whatever than can be fixed, make amends for what can be amended and then forget the past. The fact of being an alcoholic must be accepted, because that has important implications for what can and what can’t be done in the present and in the future.

Dwelling on the past, feeling guilty about the devastation that was caused, feeling guilty about being an alcoholic or allowing anyone to make him or her feel guilty is not only a waste of time but is actively destructive. What has happened in the past is now history and nothing can change that.

Guilt and resentment about being an alcoholic is extremely common. These emotions are harmful because they lead to irrational action in the present and increase the chances of relapse very markedly.

The problem of guilt can come from external sources. Spouses and families are the main culprits. Statements such as “If only you hadn’t spent a fortune on grog we would now own our house” are commonly made to the alcoholic. These remarks can lead to guilt feelings and trigger off the relapse behaviour, which of course, leads to even worse financial situations.

Families of alcoholics need to accept the fact of alcoholism, to accept that what happened in the past cannot be changed and that they, too, need to live in the present, making it as happy as possible. Making the alcoholic feel guilty is not likely to achieve anything except more suffering.

The key to dealing with alcoholism in the family is staying focused on the situation as it exists right now. Alcoholism is a very progressive disease. It doesn’t reach a certain level and remain there for very long; it continues to get worse until the alcoholic seeks help. You can’t allow the disappointments and mistakes of the past affect your choices today, because circumstances have probably changed.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a program for living in the present.   Step 7 has had a marked influence on the alcoholics we counsel:

“The chief activator of our defects has been a self-centred fear – primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands. The difference between a demand and a simple request is plain to anyone.”  The 12 Steps & 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcoholics have a self-centred fear of not getting what they want. Stress is their point of view about the way the world ought to be versus the way it actually is and the gap between those two thoughts is their stress.  If they can accept the way the world is, just for today, their stress is greatly reduced.  No point in ruminating about the past or racing ahead to the future; they have to live in the ‘now’ if they are to enjoy their recovery.

The first step in recovery is to make a conscious decision to begin to think rationally about one’s behaviour, to give away the impulsive, irrational, emotional ways and to adopt a problem-solving approach to life.

Before counselling a new alcoholic patient, it is necessary to assess their ability to absorb and retain what is going to be said to them. 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.

Tyrosine Mood Food is necessary for the manufacture of dopamine and noradrenaline, which are required for concentration, alertness, memory and a happy stable mood.  Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for the sense of satisfaction – why do we drink? To feel satisfied.  It is also the reward neurotransmitter – why do we drink?  It rewards us and makes us feel better about life.

To help the alcoholic relax I recommend Magnesium Complete as it will assist in the reduction of stress, nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness. I take Magnesium Ultra Potent Powder because it suits me to use the powder format and to help prevent muscle cramps at night.

L-Glutamine helps to remove ammonia from the bloodstream to lower levels of toxic ammonia that build up when liver dysfunction is present. A practicing alcoholic has a very inflamed liver and needs to detox and heal, if the body is to recover from alcoholism.  L-Glutamine is the most amazing amino acid in the body! It is vital for healthy intestinal function and may help with inflammation of the intestinal tract. It is also vital for muscle growth and healthy muscle function. It also assists muscle recovery after exercise. I always put my patients on an exercise program to help heal their mind, body and spirit. L-Glutamine also supports efficient brain function. Glutamine is found in our Ultimate Gut Health.

Livatone Plus is a powerful formula that can support liver function when there are more chronic liver problems. It is beneficial for a sluggish bile flow and gall bladder problems or if you have lost your gallbladder. It is beneficial in reducing abdominal bloating, burping and flatulence and provides extra antioxidant protection for the liver when required.

Allergies are related to poor liver function which reduces the liver’s efficiency in cleansing the blood of toxins (such as antibodies and chemicals like alcohol.) Such toxins over stimulate the immune system causing it to pour out inflammatory chemicals. Read Dr. Cabot’s book The Liver Cleansing Diet.

 

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.