Discipline and alcohol consumption

Discipline and alcohol consumption

Most of us love a drink or two, but when does alcohol consumption become a serious problem and what can we do to control it?

I have clients come to me with serious relationship problems associated with alcohol but consider a life without drinking a frightening prospect.

I am a strict believer in allowing clients to make their own decisions on these matters so the question I ask is what do they want to do about the relationship alcohol has with them. Most opt to try and control their intake of alcohol.

Having made this decision, I then ask them to write out a safe alcohol consumption plan.

This usually contains things like: use smaller glasses, fill glasses to lower levels, drink water after each glass of wine, determine that one bottle will be enough for two people at dinner, don’t have alcohol in the house, have two alcohol-free days a week, sip rather than gulp, have tea directly after drinking, tell friends they are trying to reduce alcohol, etc.

The next step is to read it once a day for two weeks.

The next question is, does the client have the discipline to carry it out? The answer is usually no.

This is because the brain has already set up pathways to pleasure itself and it will fight any attempts to change things by self-discipline. Becoming aware the brain will fight change allows clients to see the fight they have on their hands. Thirty percent of us can do anything using willpower, leaving 70 percent of us having a real problem controlling a drug change.

To help, I suggest writing down all the problem situations in their lives that have been associated with alcohol. Writing down these stories and reading them to me externalises the problem.

It is now no longer in their heads but out in the open for all to see.

The next step is keeping a diary of the progress they make. Again we read this information together, knowing there will be lapses.

Slowly but surely, doing this continual writing and storytelling allows the brain to receive new information to imprint on why there is a real need to change old pathways.

It is also a great idea to look at what clients do with their lives. Could and would they like to do be involved in meditation, yoga, play more sport, join a club, go to the gym, read more, walk a dog, go to the movies, write stories, change jobs, enrol in an educational course, etc.

By doing this exercise clients, can see what they are missing out by drinking excessively. Once the brain engages in new activities it opens up new pathways to change compulsive behaviour.

Controlling alcohol consumption is a hard job and relapses can be expected, however, writing down stories about why we want to stop and thinking of other things we can do all help us in the struggle for personal discipline. And we all need good discipline to get there with alcohol.

The first step is to write an alcohol consumption plan. Good luck.

INFO: Gerry North is a gay and lesbian counsellor and can be contacted on [email protected] or visit www.gaycounselling.vpweb.com.au

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