Dry January - do you have an alcohol dependency?
14th January 2022
For some people stopping consuming alcohol for January is just part of a wellbeing drive at the start of the year. However, alcohol can become a real dependency, a habit and lead to addiction.
It can be hard to accept you may have an alcohol dependency and lots of people remain in denial for a long time. Acknowledging you may be dependent is the first step and talking with family and friends can be helpful. Sometimes, however, these relationships can be strained and issues simply beyond family help - this may when professional support is needed. If you feel alcohol is controlling your life or you’re being affected by someone who is struggling with addiction, here’s a few suggestions to consider for support:
- Your GP can share information on NHS support, therapy and helplines
- Drinkline can offer support
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide support, the ’12 step programme’ and regular support groups
- Al-Anon Family Groups offer support and understanding to families and friends
- Adfam is a national charity that works with family and friends
- We Are With You offer support and treatment
- SMART Recovery offers support and techniques to help you quit
- The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) offers a confidential service for children of alcoholics
- Rehabilitation - local authorities provide different services throughout the UK. There are many private facilities too
- Private therapy - counselling, psychotherapy, CBT and hypnotherapy can also be effective support and offer a safe and confidential environment to explore issues, as well as offering coping strategies and techniques
I offer professional support, counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, to those with alcohol dependency and also to affected family and friends. I also offer an ‘alcohol awareness hypnotherapy programme’, which is a four-session programme of a combination of hypnotherapy, counselling and psychotherapy. Together we explore drinking habits, address issues, achievable goals, explore different thought patterns and coping strategies to help change thought processes. This programme can be offered following GP consultation - if you would like further information on this, please get in touch or look at my ‘hypnotherapy programmes page’ on my website.
Warning!
If you are dependent on alcohol, stopping drinking suddenly can be extremely dangerous. If you experience any of the following symptoms after drinking, you may be dependent on alcohol and therefore should NOT suddenly stop drinking completely:
- hand tremors (the shakes)
- seizures (fits)
- sweating
- depression
- anxiety
- difficulty sleeping (Insomnia)
- seeing things that are not actually real (visual hallucinations)
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please consult your GP before stopping drinking, to ensure you do so safely. Help is out there; you are not alone. If you’re struggling with alcohol dependency, please seek support.
I don't need alcohol to see the world in its depths, I carry the sun in me.
_______________
Lamine Pearlheart
