Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 6/29/2009

Question
I had a friend who I dated off and on for 3 years. I recently had to call everything off with her because of her alcoholism. Her behavior was becoming more and more unacceptable. I came to a startling conclusion a few weeks ago that I had been enabling her this whole time, and I feel bad about it. All of her "friends" do the same thing. Her parents are the worse though. She is a single mother and she often has her parents watch her 10 year old son so that she can go to the bar. Of course that's not what she tells them. She gets drunk and takes guys home and says she's being responsible because she could not drive. These guys often get her favors for there "kindness" and she has developed quite a reputation. She is unemployed so she does not have much money, but her parents pay almost all her bills for her. Which means more money for drinking. Over the years I got to know them pretty well and they know she has a problem, but not the extent. Should I sit down with them and explain the situation?

Answer
Hi Brian,

The way you describe this, I would agree that her parents are enabling her. This means she would not be motivated at this stage to treat her alcoholism. Without any motivation - or without her rock-bottom - it is unlikely that she will get better. The trouble is that when and if she is ready for treatment, most treatment agencies for alcoholism fail, because most overlook the biological aspects of alcoholism.

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