Addiction Recovery Therapy

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most common drug of abuse in the western world. Most people in the UK "use" alcohol in some way for enjoyment, but for some of us, drinking can become a serious problem. Most people don't realise that alcohol causes much more harm than illegal drugs like heroin and cannabis. It is a tranquilliser, it is addictive and it helps to cause many hospital admissions for physical illnesses and accidents.

Many of these problems are caused by having too much to drink at the wrong place or time. They include: fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, spur-of-the-moment casual sex. Alcohol can make you do things you would not normally do. Drinking alcohol can help cause accidents at home, on the roads, in the water and on playing fields and finally alcohol has been linked to more than 40% of all suicides every year. No less than ¼ of the population of men and a seventh of all women in the United Kingdom drink more than they should.

Change is difficult and must be a process involving both a change of our minds as well as a change in behaviour. We all find it hard to change a habit, particularly one that plays such a large part in our lives. There are three steps to dealing with the problem:

• Realising and accepting that there is a problem (Contemplation).
• Getting help to break the habit (Action).
• Keeping going once you have begun to make changes (Maintenance).

The Stages of Change Model was first described by Prochaska and DiClementi in 1991.

Alcoholism and drugs like cannabis can also mask other mental health problems such as depression. One might drink to "loosen up" or "wind down" when one is anxious or stressed, or drink to forget when feeling depressed. We know that there is a connection in that self-harm and suicide are much more common in people with alcohol problems.

Alcohol helps us to forget our problems for a while. It can help us to relax and overcome any shyness. It can make talking easier and more fun, whether in the pub, a club or at a party. It is a very effective way of feeling better for a few hours.

Importantly, regular drinking can leave us tired and depressed. There is evidence that alcohol changes the chemistry of the brain itself and that this increases the risk of depression. Hangovers create a cycle of waking up feeling ill, anxious, jittery and guilty. Regular drinking can make life depressing - family arguments, poor work, unreliable memory and sexual problems. If we drink alcohol to relieve anxiety or depression, we will become more depressed.

If you are depressed and lacking in energy, it can be tempting to use alcohol to help you keep going and cope with life. The problem is that it is easy to slip into drinking regularly, using it like a medication. The benefits soon wear off, the drinking becomes part of a routine, and you have to keep drinking more to get the same effect. CPT offers specialized programmes dealing with different forms of addiction, including alcoholism, CPT also addresses underlying problems of depression, anxiety and loneliness to improve quality of life and build a life that is worth living.