So, where do we go from here?

Like I said at the start, there are a lot of support services out there. It’s just a case of reaching out and making that decision to stop drinking. You may well have developed an alcohol-related condition by now. you’ll, therefore, understand that for you, alcohol is a poison. It is going to be hard to have to admit to yourself that alcohol is now controlling your life. If you have an alcohol addiction, then stopping drinking alcohol should be carried out under supervision. A program of detoxification may be required. Your local GP or alcohol support group can arrange this. Going “Cold Turkey” is never advisable as this can cause the body to go into shock and even risk slipping into a coma. To stop drinking and get control of your life back again, it’s got to be a genuine conscious decision to want to quit. it’s not going to work if we just say, I’ll cut down on my drinking, or I’ll only drink alcohol free-lagers instead. Sadly we are all only human, and our lifestyles and burdens make us who we are today. There is a quote by B.J. Neblett that goes, “We are the sum total of our experiences. Those experiences – be they positive or negative – make us the person we are, at any given point in our lives. And, like a flowing river, those same experiences, and those yet to come, continue to influence and reshape the person we are, and the person we become. None of us are the same as we were yesterday, nor will be tomorrow.” We may have allowed certain situations from our past that still affect us today. We may not realise it at the time, but our subconscious mind will always remind us of happier times when we were younger, adventurous and wild. Or you could just be a social drinker who has a few drinks every night. It’s these cycles we’re going to have to break to get our lives back on track. But it has to be YOUR decision. Many people when faced with a life of alcohol sobriety, just can’t imagine a life without alcohol. After all, alcohol has been in a way, our best friend. It’s always there when we need it, and it tries to make us feel better, and cheers us up when we’re feeling down. Having to let go of our best friend, can be seen as a form of bereavement. I’ve not had an alcoholic drink for ten years, and life is pretty good without it. If I can do it, so can you. Ask yourself why you need a drink? What is it that’s making you crave alcohol? Once you realise what it is, you can ask yourself. “Okay, so now I know why, what am I going to do to make things right?” This is a case of turning a negative into a positive. Above all be honest with yourself. Try and talk about the journey that’s taken you to this point in your life. Try and share with others. We may all have different stories to tell, but you’ll be surprised that there will be others out there who can relate to what you’re saying. The next thing you’ll realise is that you’re not just helping yourself by offloading, but you’re also helping others too. Once again, your turning negatives into a positive. Speak to your GP about support groups in your area. Or just Google “Local Alcohol Support Groups”. When you next visit your doctor, ask them if you can have a “Liver Function Test”? This is just a blood test, which will show up any signs of liver damage. Depending on the results, further tests may be required, like and MRI/CT scan or maybe even a Fibroscan. This will show how well or poorly your liver is. This is important if your liver is at the Fatty Liver stage, then this is reversible and the liver can repair it’s self. This isn’t a license to carry on drink, but certain lifestle changes need to be made. Start to love and respect your live. AlcoChange AlcoChange is a novel, smartphone-based app and breathalyser to facilitate self-monitoring of alcohol consumption. A pilot study was funded by The Health Foundation as part of its Innovating for the Improvement programme. This may be of great help for those wishing to stop drinking, either by choice or because of medical reasons. It is hoped that this service may be on offer on the NHS in the near future. For more information, please use the following link: http://www.alcochange.com/

Other ways alcohol can have an impact upon the body

A BBC Horizon program back in 2015, asked the question. “Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad?” How bad can our drinking pattern be for our health? Doctors and genetically identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken want to find out. The twins embark on self-experimentation to see the effects of different drinking patterns on their health. With Chris drinking 21 units spread evenly across the week and Xand having his 21 in single weekly binges, how will their bodies differ after a month? Here are both of these episodes which might be of interest to some people. Obviously, much more research is needed.

Is Binge Drinking Really That Bad?

The other worrying factor is the use of artificial sweeteners. The Sainsbury’s Firey Ginger Beer contains Sucralose. It's also known by the brand name Splenda. Sucralose is commonly used as a sugar substitute in both cooking and baking. It’s also added to thousands of food products worldwide. It is said to be approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. But what of the side effects of eating/drinking too much Sucralose • Leaky gut Sucralose can cause bloating, diarrhoea, and gas. It can also damage the binding elements in intestinal cells, making the gut leaky. This can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and worsen chronic liver disease. • Blood sugar levels Sucralose can elevate blood sugar levels, which may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. • Immune system suppression High doses of sucralose can suppress the immune system by lowering T-cell levels. • Drug Effectiveness Sucralose can reduce the absorption of certain therapeutic drugs, including those for cancer and heart disease. • Inflammation Sucralose can increase inflammation in the body, which can lead to problems like obesity and diabetes. • Insulin resistance Sucralose may cause increased insulin resistance. • Intolerance Symptoms of sucralose intolerance include: Headaches Mood changes Dizziness Hives The severity of symptoms can vary widely among individuals and even between different types of artificial sweeteners. I think more advice is certainly needed as many people will be led to believe that they are taking a sensible, healthy option when unbeknown to them, more damage may be being done. I think the golden rule here should be to check out all these sweeteners and colourings and use them sparingly. More information can be found here at the British Heart Foundation website: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/are-artificial- sweeteners-safe