Hypnotherapy Associates Blog

Jan 2014

• Alcohol - Are you drinking to much?

  31
  Jan

  by on Fri 31 Jan 2014 16:12:32 GMT

  Many people start the New Year with a commitment to cut down on Alcohol. Perhaps you have had a dry January, or have simply made a commitment to reduce your consumption, or you may simply be aware of a desire to get back in control of your drinking. If you have had a dry January, you have probably experienced some of the positive change that comes from living alcohol free and would now like help to continue with this. Many people have a dry January, and then slip back into their old relationship with alcohol for the next 11 months. If this feels like you, then Hypnotherapy can help you take a different path, so that perhaps this could be the start of lasting positive change.

  So would you like to change your relationship to alcohol? At Hypnotherapy Associates we see many clients who have felt that their use of alcohol was out of control and experienced the negative impact on not only their work and relationships, but also their health!

  The fact that Alcohol is the most socially accepted drug can sometimes blind us to the way it actually affects the body and mind. On the mental level, excess alcohol consumption affects our mental agility and decision making. It also makes us mentally sluggish, and more prone to mood swings. One of the main organs that alcohol affects is the liver. It is widely recognised now that liver health is strongly linked to emotional wellbeing, which is why excessive alcohol use can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. On the physical level, the risk of major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are up to 40% higher when excess alcohol is consumed on a regular basis over a prolonged period. There are other physical problems to consider too around the areas of sleep, fertility, and digestion.

  Knowing all of these evidence based facts, how is it possible that so many people still continue to drink well in excess of the NHS recommended limits? One thing that makes it possible is denial. I once saw a client who was drinking so much that they couldn’t even hold a pen steady enough to write their name, and yet they were still to some degree in denial about the fact that their relationship to alcohol was a problem.

  One thing that keeps us in denial is the stress and anxiety experienced around the fear of change. As human beings we tend to habitually stick with what is ‘known and familiar’, even if what we ‘know and familiar’ is living a life much less than our true potential. However, once we begin to relax into ourselves in healthy, rather than alcohol induced, ways, the fear of change quickly turns into a curiosity about what might be possible – and so it was with this client!

  Over a few Hypnotherapy sessions we worked on a number of things. One was the underlying belief that they had been carrying for years, which was that Alcohol is something that is ‘grown up’, that makes people real adults. This client also had beliefs around what alcohol meant about themselves as a person. For many people, alcohol is involved in the early days of trying to ‘fit in’ socially. Many clients report that their problems with Alcohol started at University, as with my client.

  Alcohol can mask fear in social situations, and help us feel more comfortable, but once we begin to tap into the natural confidence in ourselves then we no longer need alcohol as a social crutch, and so it was with this client!

  As well as tapping into natural confidence and updating outdated belief systems, we also worked on reducing cravings for alcohol so that this person felt back in control. The cravings for alcohol are of course a problem, but the real problem is the lack of control and choice that people experience around these cravings. Once the element of choice is re-introduced, people generally begin to feel back in control of their drinking and are able to either moderate, or stop completely. This client chose to moderate, and this was the right choice for them.

  Another area that we worked on was that of the emotions. Anxiety and depression can seem strong and overpowering, but the MP3 downloads I created for this client helped them to maintain more emotional balance and make good progress through the first 2-3 weeks. The livers capacity for healing itself is amazing, and as the liver heals, so do the emotions. Likewise, as we learn to live with a healthier relationship to alcohol, we become more mentally clear – and once again, so it was with this client.

  This client now has a healthy relationship to alcohol and is progressing very well in life, love and work. Their health is back to a good level and they have many other activities and interests that don’t involve hours in the pub. All of this was made possible through just a few hypnotherapy sessions, and a willingness to follow a few simple tasks. 

  Consider for a moment just how much better you would feel if you felt back in control of your drinking. What might you be doing with the time and money that is not lost in long binges in the pub? How positive would your outlook be for your work and relationships? How would it be to have mental and emotional clarity, along with better physical health?

  At Hypnotherapy Associates we have seen many clients for Alcohol related problems. Alcohol can be a positive thing when enjoyed in moderation, or it can be a poison that controls your life. Whatever you want your relationship to alcohol to be, we at Hypnotherapy Associates can help you achieve it. Whether you want to simply cut down, or stop altogether, we are here to help you reach that goal and become better at being yourself in the process.

  For more information on how this can happen, or to book an appointment, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

  Hugh Osborne, Addiction Recovery Coach at Hypnotherapy Associates