Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 5/23/2009

Question
my partner has cluster B traits, drinks heavily and goes off despite requests from myself and the children requesting him not to. We are in another country 1000's miles from home, where i am working  and he has been drinking and acting out. I have last week taken away his access to money and we are on a break, he's sleeping in a separate room. This is because he is drnking and verbally abusing me. he is not violent.  He consistently going out when he knows that this hurts us more than anything. I have asked him to come back home and not to stay at a friends house drinking, he has refused, i have just told him not to come back if he continues to behave like this. He put the phone down, he has little or no money and nowhere to stay. I feel that perhaps i have pushed the the ultimatum too far but he sliding out of control. We are supposed to be going to see a psycologist in Australia in two weeks. He has agreed. However i at this point dont know what to do, he may get really drunk borrow off friends and i am sure will accuse me of putting him on the street.  He is not suicidal but can get very drunk and put himself in problems and may affect my job here.  Should i make contact with him or just leave it and wait and see what happens. I do not have access to professional support here. My question is did i do the right thing ? and What other boundaries can i put up nothing seems to work until hes goes off the rails totally and then comes back apologising I am a medical professional myself and understand very much about borderlines .  I would really appreciate some help this weekend
Thanks for listening

Answer
Hi Trish,

Well, they say that an alcoholic has to reach his rock-bottom, before he is ready to seek treatment. The trouble is that when he is ready it is difficult to get the right treatment, because most treatment modalities overlook the biochemical underpinnings of alcoholism. You being a medical professional makes it a bit easier.

For alternative approach to the treatment of alcoholism please read:

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

Treatment of Drug Addiction at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/treatment_drug_addiction.html

Addiction (Alcoholism) 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...

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html

Silent Diseases and Mood Disorders at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/silentdiseases.html

Also read:

Summary of the self-help psychotherapy course at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#PSYCHOTHE...

in its entirety. It looks at biological as well as "pychological" factors that helps a person to achieve their full potentials. After eliminating biological handicaps, it concentrates on the self-image as being at the core of one's personality affecting most departments of life, social interactions with others and includes an assertiveness training program, articles on communication leading to significant relationships and values clarification. It gives an insight into oneself as well as of other people, providing one with the tools to establish satisfying relationships.

Ask to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or Nutritional Psychologist.

I hope I have been of some help.

_______________________________________________
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