Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 9/12/2009

Question
My son is 40 years old and I'm sure has been an alcoholic since he was in his teens.  He has stolen from his brother and from me.  I keep making him leave, and he's gone for a few days then comes back because "he has nowhere to go."  He has no job, no car, no driver's license.  I give him jobs to do and pay him and resent it every minute.  I call him names and feel terrible about it afterward, but I just can't stand seeing him drunk all the time when I know the reason he is 40 and has nothing is all because of drinking.  he tries to make me feel guilty by saying "I don't know any mother who would let her son sleep on the streets," and I come back to him with "I don't know any mother who has a 40 year old drunken son depending on her."  I finally retired 3 years ago and it's been one thing after another with him since then . . . I'm afraid I'm going to get so stressed out I'll have a heart attack.  I'm 66 years old and this is not what I thought retirement would be.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Please don't say Al Anon because I've tried that.  I don't want to know how to live with an alcoholic - I just don't want him around.  Thank you.

Answer
HI Nancy,

This is a most distressing situation you are in and there are no easy answers. The point I want to make is that alcoholism is a physical illness, and can be treated the physical way in the hands of a good nutritional psychologist, clinical nutritionist or nutritional doctor. Of course he has to me motivated to be treated, for without it it is impossible to get treated. I can explain the disease and its treatment, but it is up to your son and you how you are going to use this knowledge. The other point I want to make is that you have prior responsibility to your own health. I cannot go on paying the manipulative game of playing mother and son. He is an adult now!!

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...

Please get a referral to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist.

I so hope you can find a solution.

_______________________________________________
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