Problems with alcohol can range from self medicating drinking - drinking to relieve grief issues or painful life events. This type of drinking wouldn't normally last longer than one year.
Drinking to levels that will harm your health (around 50+ units for men 35+ for woman per week). There will be a steady increase on the amount of units that a person drinks in any given week, (recommended limits for men is that they should drink less than 21 units of alcohol per week and that women drink less than 14 units of alcohol per week). A unit of alcohol is half pint of beer normal strength or a small glass of wine (100ml).
This person will unwittingly move into dependence. They will start having life events caused by drinking. This may be drink driving, family discontent, arguments, problems at work, lateness, being inefficient, losing job or career. Having difficulties with friends or losing friends.
This person will start to organise their life around alcohol and others will be expected to join-in, if they don't join in they will be left behind. They may drink alone or they will become friends with other drinkers who will support their drinking lifestyle. They may lose their reputation, morals and standards and use money to get alcohol that should have been used for food, electricity or other essentials.
Problems with alcohol are an individual experience relative to you. Many people have problems with alcohol some are short term, some are long standing, the important thing is to seek help.
The help that I offer for alcohol problems is dependent on a full assessment of what is happeneing in your life today.
Harmful or Hazardous Drinking. The treatment plan would be an alcohol awareness programme designed to give insight and education on the dangers of exceeding the recommended daily limits also completing a drink diary and counselling to try and help you back within safe limits.
If on the assessment it is found that you have moved into dependence then the advice and therapy would be geared to total abstinence.
If your problems with alcohol are so deep that you require a detoxification, I have extensive knowledge and contacts with Consultant Psychiatrists and some of the establishments that are available to you for this purpose. After detoxification I would offer a course of counselling and therapy geared towards you changing your lifestyle and behaviour patterns in order to support abstinence from alcohol and other illicit drugs.
Time limit: This will depend on the outcome of the assessment and on you and your particular circumstances. This will be discussed further in the care plan.