Is There A Short Cut To Getting Sober?

Anyone can stop drinking, it’s staying stopped that is the problem.  Some people can go for a week, a month and even a year and then something happens that shatters their emotions and they pick up the drink. The old saying in AA is: The drunk takes the drink and the drink takes the drunk.

A high percentage of people are addicted to this substance just like those addicted to sugar and suffer with obesity. They use food for comfort and the alcoholic uses alcohol for comfort. The gambler uses gambling to take away their emotional pain.

There is no such thing as a “social drinker” if you are alcoholic.  Check out the Questionnaire and get back to me if you fail!

I generally ask my patients “Does alcohol cost you more than money?” meaning:

1. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
2. Have you ever felt guilty after drinking?
3. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
4. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
5. Have you ever tried to cut down on your drinking?
6. Have you ever tried to stop drinking?
7. Does drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
8. Have you ever been in trouble with the law, domestic violence or drink driving offences?
9. Do you drink alone?
10. Do you resent the advice of others who try to get you to stop drinking?

If you answered yes to any one of the above questions, there is a definite warning that you may be abusing alcohol.

If you answered yes to any two or more, the chances are that you have become alcohol dependent.

If you have tried to stop and find it extremely difficult, then ask your doctor for information about two drugs that will help take away your craving for alcohol.  I prefer not to use these drugs because once you rely on a drug to help you quit drinking, the minute you stop taking the drug you risk the old emotions returning and that pull towards the bottle becomes a battle of wits.

The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommended therapy. While this information might be helpful, it is not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of your healthcare practitioner.  It is only a suggestion and you should take this information along to your doctor and ask him/her if you think either of these drug deterrents may assist you to stop drinking alcohol.

• Naltrexone is a prescription drug. It belongs to a group of drugs known as opioid antagonists and it may assist alcoholics with their compulsion to drink. It’s the first drink that causes the problem, not the 5^th or the 6^th Therefore, Naltrexone can be prescribed to people with alcohol dependence. Naltrexone is taken as a tablet. The length of the course will depend on each person’s needs and situation. Talk to your doctor about Naltrexone and its suitability for your alcoholism.

• Campral is another drug that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in a person who is addicted to alcohol. Campral works by restoring this chemical balance in the brain in an alcohol-dependent person who has recently quit drinking. Campral is used together with behaviour modification and counselling support to help a person who has recently quit drinking alcohol continue to choose not to drink.  Campral is not likely to be helpful if you have not already quit drinking or undergone detoxification. It may not help you if you are also addicted to other substances besides alcohol.

The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about your problem with alcoholism to find out about the various drugs that may assist you with the compulsion to drink.  I’m just letting you know that there are a couple of drugs on the market that may be of assistance with your efforts to stop drinking and stay stopped.

I spoke about Antabuse last week which has been around for alcoholics for more than 50 years. The newer drugs have different effects on the brain chemistry and different contraindications.  Talk to your Specialist.

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 Pure 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 and I have included it in my Ultimate Gut Health Powder! 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.

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.