Western Counselling

Why Can’t I Stop Drinking?

Overcoming alcohol addiction

How to stop drinking and start a recovery life

This is such a common lament we hear from people trying to quit and feeling more and more hopeless and miserable with each attempt.  “I make daily decisions to stop drinking, but never do” and “I obsess about alcohol when I don’t have it” also “Alcohol helps me control the way I feel – without it I can’t cope”

Alcohol detox can be unpleasant, with some clients experiencing hallucinations, shakes and insomnia. Others seem to sail through the process of withdrawal with no feelings of discomfort.  Whichever you prove to be, it’s the maintaining and sustaining sobriety that proves to be the most difficult.

There are various thoughts and explanations of why it can be difficult to stop, there’s both a science perspective and the emotional wellbeing point.

Western Counselling was founded in 1982 and has always supported alcoholics to achieve and maintain longterm sobriety

Text RECOVER and your FIRST NAME to 82223 and we will call you back
Apply for our residential treatment by completing our online form

I will briefly explain them and you can make your own decisions, take what you like and leave the rest as is said at the start of every Al-Anon meeting…

Scientific analysis

Scientists discovered that due to differing brain structures, alcoholics manufacture a chemical – Tetrahydroisoquinoline THIQ – that is very similar to heroin: when heroin is used and broken down in the body, a by-product is THIQ, a scientist in Houston, Texas discovered alcoholics produced this chemical too.  When alcohol is consumed by a “normal drinker” the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, this toxic substance is changed into acetic acid, then to carbon dioxide and water which is dispelled through the kidneys and lungs.  For an alcoholic this happens too, however, THIQ is also produced and stored in the brain.  THIQ quantities that rigger escalation to alcoholic drinking is believed to differ from person to person, however when it happens they will behave just as compulsively as someone craving heroin.

There are studies that demonstrate this abnormality in body chemistry is genetic and by exploring family genographs, a disposition can be traced to the production of THIQ.

There is an evidenced link between addictive behaviours and trauma.  This can be an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), emotional, sexual or physical abuse or traumatic experience including divorce, bereavement etc.  Trauma will be personal to the individual and what may be traumatic to one may not be considered as serious to another.  What can then happen is individuals will self-medicate the pain of the trauma using what ever substance – including alcohol – or process (gambling, exercise, eating, purging, gaming, sex & love etc) whatever they feel works best for them.

This self medicating fills a “hole”. They “use” to feel better and stuff that hole to feel whole again, a cyclic pattern that is destructive and a self fulfilling downward spiral.

When we try to stop drinking alcohol we find the compulsion too strong, we use the alcohol to feel better, to forget, to drown the pain or fill the void.  Only by acknowledging the trauma and pain, acknowledging its existence and coming to terms with the damage, can we start the process of moving on and Letting Go – a term we use a lot in addiction recovery.

We can all have our own thoughts on why we cant stop drinking, however, we all can find recovery, it’s a decision we take to change our lives and then a further decision we make every day to not return to that self-destructive pattern of behaviour. Recovery and treatment is available and it works, if you work it.  It’s your choice.

It’s not the third or fourth drink that’s the problem it’s the first, and this is true of all addictive disorders.  Every day we make a decision that just for today we won’t consume alcohol, or whatever our substance/behaviour of choice may be.

Some people may feel they need to be removed from society to get some sober time and this is often when they will consider a treatment centre, residential rehab perhaps like Western Counselling.

Removing oneself without a treatment element can be considered “doing a geographical” – thinking the grass is greener, or by going somewhere whilst the usual triggers will not occur.  This is highly unlikely because treatment gives you opportunities to explore your experiences, trauma, drinking patterns and find new ways to deal with triggers, pain and difficult feelings.  Treatment is an opportunity for you and those who love you to heal.  Treatment is an opportunity to remove yourself form your reality, learn new, healthy patterns for your life in sobriety.

Western Counselling was founded in 1982 and has always supported alcoholics to achieve and maintain longterm sobriety

Text RECOVER and your FIRST NAME to 82223 and we will call you back
Apply for our residential treatment by completing our online form

from Western Counselling https://www.westerncounselling.com/blog/addiction-issues/intervention/overcoming-alcohol-addiction/
via Alcohol