Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 8/31/2009

Question
Hello,
My mom has been with an alcoholic man for over 20 years.  In the beginning he was a social drinker however now is a bad alcoholic. He has gotten two DWI's and developed pancreatis this past May. They have lived together off and on over the years and he is currently living in her home.  He has tried to stop drinking without out any help since being hospitalized in May.  My mom and I are going to attend our first Alnon meeting this week.  She is enabling him to drink and to drink and drive.  She is thinking about trying to get him out of the house so she does not have to watch him die.  I am getting married in a month.  I want him to be able to attend as he is like a second father to me and do not want my mom to have to be alone at the wedding however I am not sure he can be trusted and will cause embarrassment.  He tried attending AA meetings in the past but with little success.  At this point in time, he has stopped taking all his medications and does not even care about his health.  Can you please offer any advice?  Should he be removed from her home at this time?  She can not go on living and worrying about him and neither can I.  Please, let me know if you have any advice to offer.
Thank you.
H

Answer
Hi Heather,

As a Nutritional Psychologist I can advise you that alcoholism is mainly nutritional disease. Although AA is well-known in my opinion they do not pay attention enough to the underlying biochemical disorder that underlies alcoholism. If he is motivate the person should be able to treat himself by reading and understanding the nature of the disease.

He should read my book "Getting off the Hook", which is freely available on the internet.

Please read the following articles:

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

Alcoholism is a Treatable disease at:
http://psychonutrionaltherapy.blogspot.com/2009/07/alcoholism-is-treatable-disea...

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

and then study:

And then study: Summary of Self-help Psycotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#PSYCHOTHE...

in its entirety from beginning to end. It includes a program showing you how to overcome a negative self-image, and assertiveness training program, communication course and values clarification course.
You may require the help of a CBT counsellor to successfully complete this program, but many people can help themselves by reading the articles.


_______________________________________________
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