Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 7/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

Thank you for reading my question. My husband and I have been together for 7 1/2 years. When we first met he had a speed addiction and admitted to having issues with alcohol in the past. Soon after we met I fell pregnant with our daughter and my husband worked hard to stop taking speed, as far as I'm aware he's been clean since that time. Soon after stopping the speed, he started drinking and that was 6 years ago. At the moment Michael is still drinking though he is constantly trying to stop. He appears to go through cycles of not drinking, then allowing himself to only drink a little but, then going on a bender for a couple of days, then being completely out of control and hiding the alcohol from me so that he can drink 24/7, he is heading towards this last stage at the moment.

Michael is adamant that he does not want to live this way but I don't know if he's got the determination or will power to ever really stop. He's tried counseling, hypnosis, he's been to AA meetings and was about to go to a rehabilitation farm just before he got offered a new job.

My wish for him would be to go stay at the farm and have people around him who could look after him and support him to get sober and learn the skills to live a life without giving into alcohol every few months.

We now have 3 children, my parents were alcoholics and I swore that my children would never have to go through what I did as a child but I feel as though I have failed them because by staying with my husband I am enabling his drinking and exposing my children to a life which is not desirable or healthy.

Can you please give me any information or advice that could tell me how I can help my husband, and is their any hope for my marriage?

Regards,
Nicole

ANSWER: HI Nicole,

There is no way your husband can stop drinking by sheer willpower. It is a disease and needs to  treated like a disease with the help of a nutritional doctor, clinical nutritionist or a nutritional psychotherapist. I believe it is good idea to go to a proper withdrawal program and then get nutritional treatment.

Please read the following articles to get an understanding of alcoholism and its treatment;

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 Psychotherapist.

Also read my book "Getting off the Hook" below.


_______________________________________________
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


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am completely aware that alcoholism is a disease. I was hoping that you could give me some information that I could use to help my husband get on the right track or tips that may help me to approach him about going to a dietician. I feel like by doing nothing I am enabling his drinking and can't sit back and watch him do this to himself and his family. Does this make sense?

Answer
HI Nicole,

The trouble is that if your husband does not want to see a counsellor, nutritionist or any other help, there is little we can do. He has to be motivated to do so. I would ask him to at least read the articles I have mentioned. But if he does not want to do anything about himself you or I cannot do anything to get him better. Does he understand that he has a medical problem?

I don't know whether you are in a position to give him an ultimatum.
_______________________________________________
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