Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 12/12/2009

Question
I have been married to my husband for a little over two years.  We have had a wonderful and fulfilling relationship that we began immediately out of college.  Our college years were filled with nights at the bar, parties, and we were both in industries where our jobs kept us from living life during the daytime (i.e. we went to the bars after work, A LOT).  He loves to brew his own beer, tour breweries, is facinated with liquor.  It's a passion of his.  

I mentioned to him, once, how his frequency of drinking makes me nervous.  When he can't sleep (almost every night), he takes a drink.  I asked him to stop drinking liquor like that.  I mean, I drink a beer or two every night, and I'm not concerned about me.  Only now, since I've talked to him about it, I don't see it.  But he still does it.

Over Thanksgiving I found an almost empty bottle of Early Times whiskey, tucked in the couch of the basement ("his" room).  I asked him about it, and he denied that it was his, that someone must have left it here.  I went along with it.  

Today, looking for a pair of ear-phones in his bag, I found a FULL bottle of the Early Times whiskey (which is gross, by the way).  

His dad drinks too much, and I don't want us to have to go through that.  He doesn't ever get drunk.  Rarely, in fact.  Once every two or three months, and only when we are partying (same with me).  

I just don't know how to feel right now.  We are 26/27, still young, and we still have parties revolving around alcohol.  I am just very upset that he feels the need to hide it from me.  That aside, is this normal?  I am just so concerned, angry, and frustrated with this situation.

Answer
Hi Emily,

You are faced with a situation that many loved ones of alcoholics face. He seems to be in denial about his alcoholism, and so long that last there is little you can do. Alcoholism is a destroyer of relationships. It also seems that he may have inherited a rogue gene for alcoholism, as his father was an alcoholic also. However genes can be treated. His need to ingest alcohol is greater than his need for your love.  The only way I can help you is by getting you to understand why some people become addicted and others do not. This has to do with a biological flaw that underlies one's personality. However with modern science this can be be beaten, but you need to be motivated to overcome alcoholism. Please read the following articles:

Why Alcoholics Drink? at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/WAD.html

Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/alcoholism_treatable.pdf

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

The first step in treatment is going on a hypoglycemic diet. If problems persist, it is best to consult a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist.

Also read my book Getting off the Hook which is freely available on the internet.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman