Chris K.

Chris is a psychologist and contacted me because she was worried about the amount of alcohol she was drinking each day.  I explained that alcoholism is a disease of the emotions combined with a physical allergy to alcohol.

Alcohol is only a symptom of an underlying problem. Anyone can stop drinking, it’s staying stopped that’s the problem.

The basis of recovery is balancing your brain chemistry then taking on the task of changing your thinking to change your feelings (emotions) to change your behavior.

If you are a true alcoholic, it is not possible to take the easier, softer way of recovery by trying to control your drinking.  Have you ever been able to control diarrhea?

I find Skype counselling a very effective visual in assessing what the underlying problem is with clients suffering from alcoholism.  This can only be achieved by asking the right questions and looking for clues with their answers and studying their body language. Very few alcoholics tell the truth about their drinking until they reach their rock bottom.

What is a “rock bottom”?   Some people are propelled into my office through a pending court case because of drink-driving, loss of job, family, friends or a suicide attempt.

Others are proactive in their effort to stop drinking and ask for help. My client was concerned about her daily drinking and asked me why she could stop for days, even weeks, but picked up alcohol when feeling, sad, anxious, angry or resentful. She is a psychologist and understands the complexities of questioning and challenging your thoughts, to change your feelings to change your behavior.

Chris’ underlying problem was Emotion Regulation Disorder commonly known as Borderline Personality Disorder.  Did Chris accept this assessment? Definitely not, preferring to believe that 98% of the time she could stop drinking but there was 2% hidden from her intellectual/academic mind. I detected Borderline by observing her aggressive questioning and challenging my assessment.

Alcoholics suffering with Borderline Personality often turn on their Therapist with anger and rage.   Alcoholics are often very intelligent people but their intelligence gets in the way when it comes to analysing the complexities of alcoholism.

Chris continues to drink and believes she can control it.  Her pride has aborted her attempt to find the real cause of her alcoholism.  Alcohol is only a symptom of an underlying problem and the underlying problem is often a myriad of mood and/or personality disorders.   Alcoholism is often perceived a stigma in the eyes of the general public but mental heal issues often ignite additional stigma in the suffering alcoholic.

“If only I could stop drinking” they wail.

My files contain more than 85% of alcoholics suffering with mood and/or personality disorders. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is often undetected in alcoholics raised in dysfunctional alcoholic families.  Around late teens to early twenties, the pattern emerges with:

  1. Self-abuse (alcohol, food and other forms of self-harm)
  2. Moodiness
  3. Impulsivity
  4. Agitation, irritability and aggressiveness
  5. Fear of abandonment or rejection

There are many secondary symptoms including anger and rage.  Hostility towards those trying to help them, including their therapist, is often overlooked.

Alcoholics with personality disorders tend to exhibit problems with impulse control. These problems can manifest as either over-controlled or under-controller impulses.

Unfortunately, borderline personality disorder (BPD) frequently co-occurs with other conditions that impact mental health. Alcoholism is one disorder that is common among people with BPD and takes a long time to professionally diagnose.

There is a remarkable overlap between substance abuse disorders and borderline personality disorder. One study found that about 60% of patients in psychiatric hospitals who have been diagnosed with BPD also have a co-occurring substance use disorder (the symptoms and course of BPD and the substance use disorder overlap).

The most common substance use disorder among people with BPD is alcoholism. It has been estimated that about 50% of people with BPD in inpatient treatment settings are also alcoholics.

Unfortunately, there is also evidence that people with both BPD and alcoholism have more difficulties in their lives and are less responsive to treatment than people who have only one of the disorders.

For example, people with alcoholism and BPD are less likely to stay in substance abuse treatment, have more distress and suicidal thoughts, and are more likely to engage in other addictive behaviours (such as binge eating, sex, shopping or gambling) than those with alcoholism who do not also have BPD.

Why do people with BPD also often develop alcoholism?  Most likely, several factors that account for the high rate of co-occurrence. First, BPD and alcoholism may share common genetic pathways.

That is, some of the genes that put people at higher risk for BPD may also create higher risk for alcoholism. Also, there may be common environmental causes for alcoholism for BPD.

For example, experiences of maltreatment in childhood (such as physical or sexual abuse, or emotional abuse or neglect), have been linked to both BPD and alcoholism.

But, there may also be other reasons for the link between alcoholism and BPD. Individuals with BPD may use alcohol to decrease the intense emotional experiences that are a hallmark of BPD. Because people with BPD have strong emotions frequently, casual use of alcohol may lead to abuse or dependence.

I recommend amino acids to help balance brain chemistry and a good liver tonic to help repair liver damage. Specific amino acids are essential for the liver to breakdown toxins and drugs and also for efficient metabolism in the liver.

Glutamine - This amino acid is required for phase two detoxification in the liver and is required in increased amounts by those who consume excessive alcohol. It is able to reduce the craving for alcohol. Glutamine supplementation is helpful for intestinal disorders such as peptic ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut is the term used to describe an inflamed condition of the lining of the bowel, which makes the bowel too permeable, so that toxins and incompletely digested food particles can be absorbed from the bowels directly into the liver. This increases the workload of the liver and may cause many health problems. Glutamine is essential for the white cells to fight viruses such as hepatitis B and C. Glutamine is converted in the body into glutamic acid, which, along with the amino acids cysteine and glycine, is converted into the powerful liver protector glutathione. Glutathione is essential for liver phase two conjugation reactions used during detoxification of drugs and toxic chemicals.
Livatone Plus is a natural liver tonic containing the liver herbs St Mary’s Thistle, Globe Artichoke and Dandelion, combined with the amino acid Taurine, and Lecithin. It also contains natural sources of Chlorophyll, Carotenoids and fiber. It is available in both capsule and powder form.

The liver is the main fat burning organ in the body and regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism. A healthy liver will take fat in the form of cholesterol and pump it via the bile into the intestines where it will be carried away in the bowel actions provided the diet is high in fiber.

Tyrosine Mood Food - Tyrosine is a natural amino acid - one of the building blocks of protein.  It is required for the manufacture of the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) dopamine and noradrenaline.  These neurotransmitters are required for concentration, alertness, memory and a happy, stable mood.

Magnesium – the great relaxant. Magnesium plays an essential role in maintaining and promoting efficient muscle function and nerve transmission. Magnesium is a vital mineral for hundreds of cellular enzymes involved in the body's energy production and metabolism. It is required by the nervous system to regulate the function of nerves and muscles. Magnesium may also assist in the reduction of stress, nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness.

 

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