Hi Some stats for Alcohol addiction anyone got any more to add?

Comment

Comment by Carrol McHenry Jr on March 14, 2010 at 4:56am

Thank You for these stats!!! I'm very interested in the use of Hypnosis for Alcohol cessation.

Comment by julian mockridge on November 26, 2009 at 2:58am

hi both

i have come in a bit late with this thread. i work as a counseller, trainer and team leader for a drug and alcohol drop in, needle exchange and treatment agency. we use talking therapies ( cbt, counselling skills, motivational interviewing ) and complimentry therapies. we offer advice on housing, debt mamnagment, managing emotions ect. many of our clients have come through 12 step rehabs and some attend meetings. my opinion is that the 12 steps are not enough for most people to enjoy sustained emotional recovery. many clients attend lots and lots of meetings ( which is great in the early stages) and without dealing with there main emotional issues can end up attending more and more meetings hoping that things get better. this can lead to resentment and desperation.
many 12 steppers i have met are anti therapy for some reason and hold what i would perceve very judgemental views concerning other approaches. i have also met some very happy and stable people as well.
i am aware that i can only talk from my experience and this stuff is only anecdotal!
i am a hypnotherapist ( part time practicse) and would love to hear about what approaches yoy have used to work with addiction.

kind regards

julian

Comment by Kimberley on August 7, 2009 at 4:01am

Hi Tom
you are obviously a very lovely person, and have come to help people for exactly the right reason, I enjoy your spririt, thank you for reflection on stuff with me, I am not a believer in God but I do believe in something higher, cant give it a name sorry, I believe in good and interconnection. I have never had a problem with alcohol or drugs so I can't really put myself in your situation but I know that with hyponotherapy I have had an awful lot of success in helping people change the way the react to circumstances . I'm not whiter than white had a few of my own moments. Its really good that we can chat this way without imposing views on one another x

Comment by Tom on August 4, 2009 at 12:24pm

Kimberley...hello
to be frank... open and...making myself vulnerable...I was in a desperate situation....you know these situation where we ask God for help...even though we hardly believe...like sitting in an airplane and it gets into turbulence... at least i did ask God for help then...
I was in a situation ...where I asked for GODs help ...because I was desperate...and after many months of praying ...someone had told some that I didnt feel well ...they invited me over for a coffee and then later told me to come to a meeting...what I found in the meeting was people with hope and a solution...and people who had turned their lives around...and was living a life so different from what they used to live...and the came from all walks of life...there was respect helpful ..caring ..loving people
like when I do hypnotherapy...with people ( havent done to much.. I coach young unemployed people to help them find job) I try to create a positive ...vivid... memory of the future ...where their unconscious has a future to be drawn into ...where peoples lives are the best possible future ...we can have..I think there is no conflict between 12 step and hypnotherapy...12 is a form of hypnosis ...there is a future ...good bright positive...and you meet people that are living examples of that....you can see... feel... hear...people changing
Labelling ...arent we all labelling ourselves in so many ways...if a label ..makes my life better ...I dont mind...yes there are people..who has big egos ...
because in 12 step groups there are no leaders ...just trusted servants...yes ..people get stuck...dont we get stuck...seems like we are describing any group or movement in our societies....
If something is releasing you from yourself and you think you need that to feel better....( alcohol ..drugs...smoking ...sex...eating ...shopping ...gambling....other obsessive compulsive behaviours...) its difficult to belive your life will get better without it ...even if you deep down inside knows its destructive..its very hard to brake those patterns....hypnosis is probably that tool...though we need to find someone capable of directing us....;-) I dont think I would have found it left to my own devices....GOD....as I understand IT could :-)

Comment by Kimberley on August 4, 2009 at 7:37am

Hi Tom
I'm so glad that you found your direction as I know so many people never do. Have you used hypnosis with alcoholics or addicts? How do you find it compared to the 12 step programme?
Once again just exploring the alternatives really, I understand continuity is important , however there are also stats to indicate that groups and therefore lables can reinforce negative behaviour by keeping some people stuck with a lable and often they will stay in or become dependant upon the group for their identity and thus the lable.Do you think you might ever have found the answer and direction within without the group? ...: )

Comment by Tom on August 4, 2009 at 7:08am

Hello again Kimberley
yes ..I am aware that the orange papers exist...I did have a glance at them...thinking ...wonder why someone is prepared to go trough all that effort to find all the negative things about a fellowship that actually saved so many lives and also have such an open attitude for all kinds of people...carrying an really spiritual message ...of equality..both for womens right ...sexual orientation -....and religious or non religious...yes ...I do find that they are a bit fixed and have some kind of cult for the founders...still I dont care about it...looking at availability for most people...not for the few ,,who can afford rehab...and still rehabs are referring people to meetings..because they know that continuity is important...if society would provide the resources..for hypnotherapy...good..i would be happy abput that...if someone needs to pay ...1000:s of pounds...they might not have...12 step is good...it also provides a style of living that is so much more than just stop the drinks..it changes attitudes..maybe not as quick as hypnosis..still it does it and its free for anyone .. telling someone that they are an alcoholic ...is maybe better than seeing them dead or someone else...or doing all the other things the statistics told us...what is the problem admitting we are powerless over alcohol or other drugs...if our lifes are going down the drain?..if admitting might save us?
Yes this is an interesting subject....there is no straight answer to me...GOD showed me my direction...because I asked for help...I didnt get the help i wanted..I got something so much better and something my intoxicated little me ..would never had figured out...;-)

Comment by Kimberley on August 4, 2009 at 6:15am

Hi Tom
great to hear your well. Sorry I didn't mean to sound as though I was dismissing A.A. I know they do magnificent work. I got the stats from here. http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html
Just playing devils advocate but based upon hypnotherapy principles isn't telling people they are alcoholics for life giving them that subliminal message?
It is dangerous to affirm that people alcoholics for the rest of your life.
Hypnosis can be used to substitute other behaviors and thoughts that their SUBCONSCIOUS mind can adopt as new beliefs. Let me know you thoughts I love a good debate x

Comment by Tom on August 3, 2009 at 11:32pm

Hello Kimberley, Interesting statistics. Yes alcohol and other drugs including prescribed ones do make an enourmous harm in society.
I am also very interested to work with these matters in my job as a Hypnotherapist. I am 10.5 year clean from my own addiction and never touched any substance during this time...and have no intention to during the rest of my life.... had my share and dont know what it will add to my life.
Though I am a little bit curious about your stats about 12 step contra hypnosis..12 step programs have millions of people coming to meetings around the world and also it is free. It reaches people in areas where it would be difficult otherwise , and it has an ongoing social structure for people who otherwise might be without any social connections. Think of the really homeless and disconnected people.
Best regards Tom