How do I change ?

One of the most difficult and recurring questions asked of me is How do I change?

The answer to that in many respects is already known to the person involved because everyone is changing constantly that is the very nature of matter. However when it relates to alcohol which ultimately is why I am often asked this question there are some simple ideas to be remembered.

1. What do you seek to change?

2. What do you seek from the change?

3. Where does the power to change lie?

It is vital to understand the beast of change and where the power lies for in doing so the power is restored to the rightful place and control over the process becomes simplified.

How do we decide on the right approach?

I was asked the question today whilst doing an interview for Radio 4 about the effectiveness of my approach to alcohol. I answered with the utmost honesty in saying I don't know how effective my approach is but I can also say that prescribed formulae for dealing with alcoholism don't necessarily work either.

We cannot take a one size fits all approach to addiction or problem drinking. It is individuals who drink and we must use the psychology of learning to overcome individual problems. Each person needs to be treated equally and differently depending on their circumstances.

The debate continues

Some time ago I was asked the question will what I'm drinking kill me? My honest answer to that person was I don't know, and neither does anyone else!

When a group of experts sit down to look at the situation they find they must come up with some guidelines. However where do they get the information from? Recently members of the groups responsible for setting our daily guidelines have been calling into question their own findings.

Essentially the information relies on individuals telling the truth about drinking habits and medical professionals accepting without embellishment those amounts. As this is unlikely to happen the scientists making recommendations do so on shaky ground. The problem is to prove how much booze causes a problem we will have to kill someone with alcohol. Not exactly ethical

Check out the video

Here's part of a recent news broadcast http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Drink-Asbos-To-Ban-Troublesome-Drinkers/Video/200908415371551?lpos=video_Article_Related_Content_Region_4&lid=VIDEO_15371551_Drink_Asbos_To_Ban_Troublesome_Drinkers

Lets Start to Debate Alcohol

Now there is an age old question, 'When is a drunk too drunk to know?'

The real question is what is drunk? Do we need alcohol to be drunk? Is everyone feeding us half truths or worse outright lies?

I've been working within the alcohol field for over a quarter of a century and I have to say I do not have a polarised view. I neither stand with the drink manufacturers or the abolitionists. I have free thought and I am able without pressure to generate freedom of debate. I do not accept what the drinks industry alludes to nor do I demonise drink in the same way that the so called professions do.

I want people to have information so that they may make an informed choice. After all isn't that what democracy is about? The right to make informed choice?