Alcohol Addiction
If you’re battling to cut down or stop drinking by yourself it might be time to get professional support. Learn how with the help of counselling, and therapy you can reclaim control of your life.
Counselling and Therapy for Alcohol Addiction
Going to the local pub to get an iced cold beer or a fun night out with friends is pretty much a normalised part of UK pub culture. But when drinking becomes an integral part of everyday life that it becomes impossible to go a day without it, that’s when it morphs into a real danger.
Alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often a misconstrued and normalised disorder simply because it’s normalised to drink for leisure. However, when constant misuse happens it can negatively impact your relationships, work, and personal life. Oftentimes, there’s an emotional underlying factor that drives alcoholism in people.
But with the help of specialist psychotherapy, counselling, and relapse prevention, people struggling with an alcohol problem can reclaim their agency and no longer be dependent on alcohol.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of an Alcohol Problem?
The first but most crucial step in treating alcoholism is acknowledging its presence. Most people struggling with AUD are in denial that they have a drinking problem and oftentimes may need the nudge of a friend or family to see how it’s negatively impacting their lives.
Below you’ll find some tell-tale signs that a person is struggling with alcohol addiction and might need professional help.
- Frequent day drinking
- Increased alcohol tolerance
- Only going to occasions when there’s alcohol involved
- Prioritising alcohol over hobbies or even responsibilities
- Isolating from loved ones and drinking alone frequently
- Lying about drinking habits
- Trying to cut down on alcohol use but finding it hard to accomplish
- Drinking constantly despite the toll on the body and mind (grogginess, mental fog, exhaustion, etc.)
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like body tremors, nausea, excessive sweating, etc. when not drinking
The key to identifying alcohol use disorder is when drinking disrupts your life so much that you can no longer function without it. It becomes a fixture and a necessary part to survive and the detrimental effects only compound over time.
What are the Negative Effects of Alcoholism?
Alcohol addiction doesn’t only affect the physical body but also the mind. Since it’s a powerful depressant, it numbs down a person’s racing thoughts and can even have a calming effect. This is why people often destress by drinking; it can help put off thinking about current stressors whether it’s about relationships, work, or other aspects of their life.
However, the more frequent a person drinks, the more they build up their tolerance which means the shorter the calming effect lasts and the longer it takes to achieve it. This vicious cycle of chasing the previous effects of alcohol is what makes it addicting.
Donna Marie Thomas
Hello, my name is Donna, I am a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and Registered Member of BACP based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
I have a passion for helping people to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life via a person centred approach to therapy tailored to meet each individuals specific needs.
Get in touch to find out more or book an appointment with me today.
How Does Alcohol Addiction Develop?
There’s no single reason why alcohol addiction develops, and it is in fact driven by multiple factors unique to a person’s situation. Research shows that there are genetic, psychological, and environmental factors that play into alcoholism.
Every person can develop it because of a combination of these multiple factors. Below you’ll find the common causes of alcohol addiction and how it presents.
- Family history
- Childhood trauma
- Social environment
- Traumatic or stressful events
- Co-occuring mental health disorders
Counselling and Therapy Options
Treating alcoholism is unique to each person, which is why they can find the multiple approaches of psychotherapy and counselling incredibly helpful.
Behavioural therapies are important components of treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders. Below are the common evidence-based therapy approaches used for alcohol addiction treatment.
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Mindfulness-based therapies
- Family therapy
It’s important to understand that addiction differs from person to person, which also means that treatment can differ accordingly. With the diverse strategies available today, you can access combinations of specialist treatment that is personalised to your own challenges.
Benefits of Counselling, Therapy and a Personalised Relapse Prevention Plan
Sobriety is a long-term journey, and it can even be a life-long pursuit. After the initial recovery phase, it doesn’t mean that all the external and internal triggers have disappeared fully. Instead, this means that you now have to actively apply what you have learned in therapy.
Alcohol relapse, while it may have a lot of stigma, is actually normal and to be expected. The key is having a relapse prevention plan in place to help you continue the work you did in treatment and also build your resilience.
Here are just some of the benefits of what a personalised relapse prevention can do for you during your recovery journey from alcoholism:
- Identification of triggers and warning signs
- Empowerment and ownership
- Improved coping skills
- Improved self-awareness and insight
- Resilience building and preparedness
- Support and accountability
How Innerworth Counselling Can Help
The recovery process for alcohol abuse is a journey, and for many a lifetime commitment. There isn’t a quick fix or a magic bullet to treat it, however with counselling and therapy you will receive a safe, soothing and confidential space where you can begin to discuss and understand the root causes of your alcohol addiction.
It is also a space where you can begin to explore both the emotional and physical aspects of your alcohol addiction and learn a range of techniques which will allow you to cope better with the symptoms enabling you to take back control of your life.
Take the First Step Now
I offer private therapy, and take a person-centred approach, meaning that I’m non-judgemental, see clients as equals, and collaborate on your healing journey together.
If you feel you could benefit from therapy for symptoms of alcohol abuse, please book an initial consultation. You don’t have to prepare for this, just come as you are and we can look into how I might be able to help.
Additional Information
Here are some links that you may find helpful:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA supports the recovery and continued sobriety of individuals throughout the UK. Meetings are available both online and in person.
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Drinkaware
Drinkaware offer a range of confidential helplines and chat services for anyone who is concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s.
www.drinkaware.co.uk
Samaritans
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on: 116 123.
www.samaritans.org
Contact me today to book a confidential consulation
What My Clients Say
Jason Osborne
I shall be forever bewildered by the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. I had always remained sceptical until my very last session, then the “weight” that suddenly lifted was both physical and emotional and continues to benefit both myself and those around me three years on – thank you Donna.
Jason Osborne
Abigail Johnson
I’ve finally found a solution to my dependency on food. Your weight-loss therapy sessions have seriously transformed my life. Honestly, I could cry, I am so happy and feel like a totally new person, inside and out! Truly amazing Donna.
Abigail Johnson
Charlotte Dickinson
I went to see Donna because my anxiety and depression had spiralled out of control. I now have skills and techniques that I can use for the rest of my life to help me cope with any challenges. Thoroughly recommend psychotherapy from Innerworth Counselling. Donna is warm, professional and clearly passionate about what she does.