Specialist Addiction Psychologist

When you're trying to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s natural to focus on setting goals. “I’ll only drink on weekends” or “no more wine on weeknights” but if you don’t know why you want to make those changes, it’s hard to stick to them. This is where values come in.

As a clinical psychologist, I often talk to clients about values and why they are the most important thing to consider when trying to drink less alcohol.

I'm going to begin with a story about Ian. 

Depending on your current relationship with alcohol, there are lots of benefits to drinking less alcohol such as improved sleep, a clear head, better health and wellbeing. Before we dive into those, let's explore how mindfulness can help. 

It's like your partner has two different personalities. The person you got into a relationship with and the person they become when they have been drinking. You're constantly walking on eggshells not knowing what version you're going to get! When you speak to them about it they have forgotten what they were like when they were drinking or they apologise only to act that way again the next time they drink.

Frustrating is an understatement to describe how it feels to watch your loved one destroy themselves and be powerless to do anything about it.

It can be confusing and hard to understand why they would continue to drink or take drugs when it's causing them and the people around them so much harm.