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Difficulties with drinking alcohol: facts.

We have many years, experience working in the area of Alcohol Addiction Counselling in Crawley West Sussex, counselling people with Alcohol problems, binge drinking, heavy drinking and alcohol dependency.

With this in mind, we realise that problematic drinking comes in a mixture of forms.

Even if you drink sporadically, you can have a problem. If you are irregular drinking always turns into a binge, you could have a problem. There can be serious consequences when intoxicated; the cost can be disastrous, sometimes resulting in injury or loss of life should your behaviour be reckless.

Uncontrolled behaviour, under the influence of alcohol, can lead to, loss of life or injury, should you decide, for example, to drink and drive. Other consequences of reckless behaviour, could be a jail sentence, loss of relationships and loss of employment.

In the UK, the daily recommended units for alcohol, if you are a man, is 3 to 4 units of alcohol per day (or 21 units per week) and if you are a woman, you should not have more than 2 to 3 units per day (or 14 units per week). (For more details, please look at the Drinkaware link at the bottom of the page).

Is there more than one drink problem?

Studies have found there are 4 stages of alcohol drinking – social, heavy, problem and dependent. What’s more, each stage increases the risk to your health and psychological well-being and safety.

However, I only drink socially.

Undoubtedly, people have been drinking alcohol for millennia. Drinking socially with people is a great way of relaxing. Nevertheless, if you exceed the daily recommended units, you may have a problem. Furthermore, if you match any of the statements listed below, you may have an alcohol problem.

What is heavy (hazardous) drinking?
Heavy drinking does not mean you are dependent on alcohol. You know you could stop drinking without withdrawal symptoms if you wanted to. Never the less, for one reason or another, you continue to drink heavily.

Medical problems associated with heavy drinking.

• Weakened brain function: Long-term alcohol abuse has been found to damage the brain.
• Stomach problems.
• Cancer.
• Cirrhosis of the liver.
• Hepatitis: a blood-borne virus which damages the liver, and also weakens immune systems.
• High blood pressure.
• Reduced resistance to coughs and colds and other infections.
• Reduced sexual performance in men.
• Damaged unborn babies: women who heavily drink during pregnancy put their unborn child risks of foetal alcohol syndrome.

Say Alcohol addiction used to be called alcoholism and comprises by 3 or more of the following occurring together.
Raised tolerance to alcohol (needing to drink more to get drunk).

• Physical and psychological problems when alcohol intake is reduced (withdrawal).
• Drinking more or for longer than intended.
• Repeatedly trying, but failing to cut down or give up.
• Spending time planning the next drinking session, drinking or recovering.
• Prioritising alcohol over other parts of life.
• Continuing to drink, in spite of knowing that it will cause you harm.
• Drinking beyond your safe limit does not mean alcohol dependency is unavoidable.

Researchers are still unclear why some people develop alcohol problems, while others do not.
Nevertheless, many people progress from drinking socially to heavy drinking at times of stress, this can be only for a short period, but in some cases, people progress to alcohol dependence.
However, alcohol is only a temporary solution to life’s stresses and strains. Alcohol can actually increase the feeling of depression and anxiety.
How common are alcohol problems?
In a 2006 survey, of drinking habits in the UK was undertaken. The survey found:
• 23% of men and 14% of women drank more than the recommended limit.
• 50% of women and 35% of men had exceeded the daily UK, Drinkaware, recommended alcohol limit on at least one day in the week.

To put this in perspective, around 20% of Male at 8% of Females are likely to suffer from alcohol abuse or dependency at some point in their life, with around 5% of the UK population currently dependent at one time.

How Eleos counselling can help

Counselling/psychotherapy has been found to improve the chances of full recovery from an alcohol problem significantly: whether that is a dependency or heavy/ binge drinking.
Obviously, counselling can be difficult; we at Eleos Counselling appreciate that. Indeed, often looking at the past can be painful; but without looking at your past, any treatment or recovery plan can be like a plaster on a wound that needs stitches and medical care. Furthermore not looking at your past is only repairing the problem short-term.
Below is a list of how counselling can help your alcohol problem.
Provide information about alcoholism, heavy drinking and drink dependency and discuss with you a recovery programme.
Offer you a realistic recovery pan based on your personal needs.
Work with you to uncover the underlying issues, triggers which are often associated with alcohol problems.
Give you tips and techniques to help with successful recovery and long-term sobriety.
Support you emotionally encourage you through your stages of recovery.