Emotional upsets are caused by the way we talk to ourselves about our problems. It is our perceptions and thoughts that cause us to be depressed, angry, fearful or jealous. It is not the way people behave towards us that create these feelings; it’s how we interpret them.

Intense negative feelings can lead to self-defeating behaviours like alcoholism. It is important for the alcoholic to learn how to change bitter anger and hostility to annoyance, to change depression to sadness, and to change anxiety to concern through changing their belief system.

Low self-esteem is the major toxic belief we can have about ourselves and the cause of all our self-sabotaging behaviour. Depression and anxiety are embedded in this toxic belief and linked to co-dependency behavioural problems like alcoholism. It’s a belief that produces feelings of not being “good enough.” Feelings are not facts, and alcoholics suffering from low self-esteem, have to question and challenge their belief system in order to improve their feelings of low self-worth. Low self-esteem is the catalyst for alcohol dependency.

Alcoholics are born with a different brain chemistry coupled with an allergy to alcohol. Low self-esteem haunts them from childhood until relief comes with the first drink. They feel 50’ tall and bullet-proof after that first drink and continue to chase that elusive, transitory thing called happiness.

Alcoholics learn that they are not good enough. Some didn’t get the love, nurturing and emotional support they needed and they then believed it was because they were unworthy (this is an unconscious feeling – a toxic belief they have about themselves).  Changing your belief system (inner change) ultimately produces an outer change, leading to a healthy self-image (ego).
The alcoholic’s abnormal insecurities and fears are drowned in a sea of alcohol enabling them to get through life.  When the alcoholic puts down the drink, they are still left with their abnormal insecurities and fears until they decide to seek professional help from a qualified addiction specialist.

Everyone suffers from insecurities and fears from time to time, but these do not have to be permanent. The emotion of fear can be something good, but it can also cripple people. Fear is a natural and unavoidable reaction – a safety measure….. flight or fight. It is our safety measuring stick and prompts us to act in the face of real danger – not imaginary.

The problem with fear is not the fear itself. The problem is the consequences of fear-based decisions and behaviours, especially subconscious fears that often don’t surface until something is falling apart or unbearable. Fear becomes abnormal when the fear is imaginary. The alcoholic has abnormal insecurities and fears manifesting in low self-esteem, sensitivity, depression, aggressiveness, restlessness and irritability. Abnormal fears arise out of feelings of powerlessness in the past – a legacy of co-dependency growing up in an alcoholic environment.

However, when we stop making the past our scapegoat for the present, we can begin to take charge of our future. Alcoholism can be put into remission by stepping back into the past and facing those unfounded fears that may be controlling you today. The word ‘remission’ does not mean that it will go away. It just loses its intensity but is always lurking in the background. Alcoholism is cunning, baffling, powerful and very, very patient.
Once you identify the bad feelings associated with unfounded fears from your past, whether they be fear of abandonment or fear of rejection, you can accept them for what they are – feelings from the past – and talk about them with your counsellor or doctor. Once these fears are known and addressed, you have a good chance of staying motivated in your quest to win the battle with alcoholism.

Before I start counselling a new alcoholic patient, I need to assess their ability to absorb and retain what I am going to say 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 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 can be found in our Ultimate Gut Health Powder.

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.