Addiction Counselling London
Central London, Camden, Kings Cross, London NW1
Glen Gibson - Dip. Counselling, MA Psychotherapy, Dip. Psychotherapy
UKCP & mBACP Accredited Male Addiction Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Binge Drinking, Alcohol Problem, Alcoholism & Alcohol Addiction

From Drinking Moderation To Escalation Initially we may drink alcohol moderately, as a reward, way of unwinding, relaxing, to relieve pressure, change our mood, the way we feel or maybe not liking ourself. Things may build up inside and we have used alcohol to mask these. We can have a good day and "deserve a drink", a bad day and "need a drink", and an average day and "why not - just one". What started off as being enjoyable, having a positive effect, may have become out of balance, detrimental, as we become more of a binge drinker, heavy drinker. It can be as if there are two different sides of us. Whether or not we are going along with the label "alcoholic", as if sleepwalking we may slowly lose our self, drift into drinking more. We may have get caught in something we find hard to manage and turn to our familiar "comfort", so drinking alcohol gives us a structure to fall back on, becomes a crutch or a sedative to dull everything, get us off to sleep or be sexual. At some level we may get on with our life, yet we may feel scared inside, lacking our own structure. (Holding the glass in our hand may also be a prop for us, which we have become dependent on.) Drinks separate us and can kill us psychologically, if not physically. We may want to stop drinking, yet we let the lure of alcohol to take over. Our drinking rituals and routine may have begun to take priority over other activities. Used to blocking things out (see Our Addiction Associations, Addiction Triggers) and turning to alcohol for some time now, we might as well continue drinking, "you know you want to really", "just one", "it won't be the same without a drink", "what the hell" - may be what we tell ourselves. By now we may have an alcohol problem, alcohol addiction, which we struggle to acknowledge. A part of us may deny we have any alcohol problems, yet another part, wanting to change our life, may now be seeking alcohol treatment, alcohol counselling.

Our level of drinking alcohol may be social, sporadic, all or nothing (binge drinking), heavy at times, problematic or too dependent (some may gulp their alcohol down, no longer tasting it, savouring it). Our alcohol dependence now gives us a strong desire for alcohol, as we spend a lot of our time wherever we can where alcohol is available. It is as if we have to follow our urges, as our thinking and concentration becomes distorted and we shut things out. Getting slowly or blind drunk may have increased. Disconnected, we may have neglected other needs, pleasures, interests and relationships with those close to us, including our partner. "I can cope, or stop any time I want to" may be our mantra. We may also experience loneliness, loss, anxiety depression and low self-esteem, as our moods rise and fall. Anger may play a role. Bypassing our conscious choices, we may have become slowly addicted to alcohol and now seek alcohol treatment, alcohol counselling.

Effects Of Drinking Alcohol Alcohol problems affect all of us, no matter what our education, profession or class. Conflicting messages may go round in our head. We may have tried to stop, cut back, but slip back into drinking and by now we may feel we are wasting so much of our life. Over time we may have developed a physical or psychological dependence on alcohol, struggling to control our alcohol consumption. Apart from the range of health and physical effects, our level of drinking may also affect our work and relationships as the quality of our life declines. Sexual problems may also increase. We may slowly become isolated from our family and friends, and become increasingly lonely - even in the company of others. When in drink we may care less about our behaviour, become disinhibited. Conflict with those close to us may escalate and we may deny that the impact of our drinking affects other struggles we now have. We may also have memory lapses - blanking out, financial difficulties or suffer the legal consequences of our drinking, e.g. drink driving. Alienated inside, we may also experience the world as alienating. As our levels of drinking increase, so too does the risk to our health and safety. We may have become permanently tired, forgetful, put off things, or not complete them. Alcoholics - we will never be one of them, so we may battle inside between not needing any alcoholism treatment, yet also realise help with our alcohol problem is exactly what we need.

We may now be in trouble with our drinking, whatever label we give to it: alcoholics, binge drinking, drinking problem, alcohol concern, alcohol problems, alcohol dependency, alcohol compulsion, drinking addiction, alcohol addiction, alcoholism. Chained to alcohol, we may consistently hide, and often forget, what we do to blank something out, so we don't dwell on things (besides we use being drunk as an excuse - our "get out of jail free" card). We may begin to use alcohol as our "treat" (despite another voice inside saying "No"), an outlet for other difficulties we struggle to face. In despair, hungry inside we may turn to drink to try and fill this insatiable need, emptiness or anguish. A feeling builds up that we have to drink, and a red mist can come upon us with an almost primitive desire for instant gratification without thought or consequence, "whatever I'm doing, wherever I'm going, where can I get a drink" may be our preoccupation. We may enjoy the feeling of being out of control (and even the blackouts) so we don't have to take responsibility. Besides, "why would we want to lose, give up our dependable friend" - may be our logic. Becoming a shadow of who we were, our very identity can become interlinked with our drinking, as if we become attached to it and can't let go. We may have got into tricky, dangerous situations. Guilt, shame, humiliation and self-hatred may be our companions. Our need, cravings for a drink may stop us taking care of our other needs, as if nothing else, no consequences really matter anymore, as darkness may come over us. And when our cravings come from just thoughts, it can help to remind ourselves, that we are not our thoughts. So when we observe the thought, the craving can lose its power over us, when we acknowledge the thought, yet create a sense of attachment from the thought. We may want to wake up and feel OK again, yet underlying feelings, e.g. our loss or grief, may be in the background. Despite previous promises to stop drinking, our problems with alcohol may have accelerated as a way of managing our pain. We may become self-obsessed. Hitting a wall and passing through it, we may be drinking ourselves towards oblivion, questioning how to stop drinking, seeking alcohol treatment, alcohol counselling.

Alcohol Dependency Counselling Alcohol may have a vice-like grip on us and worried for ourself we may be seeking alcohol counselling, whether or not we are addicted to alcohol or have an alcohol dependency. Each person's story is unique as is their road to a recovery in stopping or moderating drinking alongside overcoming underlying issues. Some of us will need to learn to cut down through mindful drinking (drink response-ability). Others to stop drinking entirely (sobriety counselling, alcohol abstinence). Either way we need to manage our triggers, no longer allow alcohol to dominate our life and alongside alcohol-free days, have plans, concrete, clear rules if, how, when we drink, if at all. And when we stop, we have a sense of wellbeing, more energy, vitality, clarity of thought, a better quality of life. We also need strategies for socialising differently, turning our life around. (See also Overcoming An Addiction)

Alcohol Treatment, Alcohol Counselling Questions Regarding our problems with alcohol and wanting to stop drinking, alcohol misuse, alcohol addiction we may wonder what alcohol help is out there, and have numerous questions about our problem drinking.

• Alcoholics anonymous - what does it means to be a member of alcoholics anonymous?
• Drinking alcohol - how do I stop drinking alcohol? How to stop excessive drinking?
• Drinking addiction - what is a drinking addiction?
• Treatment for alcohol - does treatment for alcohol addiction work, and what is alcoholism treatment or alcohol addiction treatment?
• Alcohol abuse treatment - what are the alcohol treatments, treatments for alcoholics?
• Alcohol abuse - what is alcohol abuse? What is the treatment for alcohol abuse?
• Alcohol binge drinking - what is alcohol binge drinking, binge drinking alcoholism?
• How to stop binge drinking? I have binge drinking problems and need binge drinking help, how can I stop binge drinking?
• Problems with alcohol - I have an alcohol problem, do alcohol problems ever go away?
• Alcohol addiction - do I have an alcohol addiction? What is the treatment for alcohol addiction? What might help for alcohol addiction? Is overcoming alcohol addiction possible?
• Alcohol addiction - addicted to alcohol, am I an alcohol addict?
• How to stop drinking alcohol - how do I stop drinking alcohol? What are the ways to stop drinking alcohol? I want to stop drinking alcohol - how to stop drinking alcohol on your own?
• Alcohol addictions - what are alcohol addiction symptoms?
• Alcohol dependency - what are alcohol dependence symptoms and am I alcohol dependent? Do I have an alcohol dependence and what is the treatment for alcohol dependence? Is alcohol dependency something you are stuck with?
• Drinking problems - I have a drinking problem, is problem drinking something I have to learn to live with or can problems with drinking disappear?
• Alcohol addicts - am I an alcohol addict?
• Alcoholic help - Am I an alcoholic? How do alcoholics get help? What alcohol help is specifically available to me? How to help an alcoholic? My partner has alcohol problems - how can I offer them alcoholic help?
• Treatment for alcohol abuse - what is alcohol abuse treatment?
• Symptoms of alcoholism - what are alcoholism symptoms? What are the signs of alcoholism?
• How to give up alcohol - how can I stop drinking alcohol? Is giving up alcohol possible? If so, how to give up drinking alcohol? How to stop drinking alcohol?
• Treatment for alcoholism, treating alcoholism - what is the recommended treatment for alcoholics?
• Help with alcoholism - what alcoholism help is available? How successful is help for alcoholism?
• Alcohol counselling, counselling for alcoholism - what is alcohol counseling? What does an alcohol counsellor do? Is counselling for alcoholics available individually or for groups?

Range Of Unhelpful Habits, Distractions, Addictions Counselling London

Alcohol Problem

• Binge drinking, alcohol problem, alcoholism, alcohol addiction, being an alcoholic

Internet, Computer, Technology & Communication "Addiction"

• Sex Addiction - Pornography Problem, Porn Addiction, Online Sex, Internet Sex & Cybersex Addiction, Masturbation Addiction
• Online Chat Addiction, Text Chat Room Addiction & Internet Dating Addiction Counselling London
• Technology Addiction & Gadget Addiction Counselling London
• Internet Overuse, Internet Addiction & Computer Addiction
• Mobile Addiction Counselling In London, Email, Text, Telephone Addiction, Nomophobia
• Social Media Addiction Counselling London
• Addicted To Games - Computer Games Addiction, Online Games Addiction, Video Game Addiction & Computer Gaming Addiction Help

Other Obsessions, Compulsions Or "Addictions"

• Stress Eating, Emotional Eating, Comfort Eating, Binge Eating Help, Compulsive Eating Counselling, Food Addiction Therapy
• Fitness, Gym & Exercise Addiction
• Compulsive Shopping, Compulsive Spending, Shopping Addiction & Shopaholism - Shopaholics, Shopping Addicts, Addicted To Buying, Online Auction Addiction, Credit Card Addiction
• Gambling Problems, Compulsive Gambling, Online Gambling Addiction
• Money Obsessed - Addicted To Money, Money Addiction, Money Obsession, Trading Addiction, Counselling London
• Work-Life Balance, Workaholism, Addicted To Work & Work Addiction
• Busyness addiction, addiction to activities
• Worry addiction
• Perfectionism Counselling London
• Addicted to beauty, glamour
• Approval addiction
• Addicted to self criticism, self-blame
• Addiction to fixing others, addicted to pleasing others
• Romance addiction, love addiction, serial yet uncommitted relationships, addiction to conflict, bad relationships
• Addictive Element To Certain Attachment Styles
• Caretaking, codependency
• Emotional affairs, limerence
• Emotional addiction
• Addiction to talking
• Addicted to gossip
• Addicted to dramas
• Addicted to anger
• Addiction to shame, self-blame
• Addiction to pain, suffering
• Addicted to sleep
• Procrastination
• Clutter, messiness
• Addiction to spirituality
• Addicted to meditation
• Religious Activities - Obsession With Religion, Religious Addiction

... back to Unwanted Habits & Addictions Counselling London