Perhaps the most common of misunderstood, condemned, and accepted addiction in our culture: drinking and alcoholism. Inappropriate drinking is common and accepted in every nook and cranny in our society, from presidents to the homeless. Most people have one serious alcoholic in their family or extended family. Most have someone they are close to that drinks in order to alter their mood, even if for a few hours to relax. Most people do drink to alter their mood to comply with a social situation, to relaxation or to de-stress from the day. Many people don’t drink every day. Some drink inappropriately once or twice a year. Alcohol is the elixir of all time. For centuries people have been distilling fruit, grain, anything that have sugars that can transform into something that will make them feel “good” when they drink it. What does this say about human nature? Perhaps it implies that we need something to help us cope, to bring us down from the day, to feel better about things. Here is the question: is this the right way to cope? Will this way of relaxing be ultimately healthy for you? Does drinking rob you of something essential and precious about yourself? We will explore these questions and more in this series on drinking and alcoholism.
Wendy Hill, M.A., Ph.D. candidate (2013) has been in private practice in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy in San Diego and Encinitas for over thirty years. As a therapist and counselor Wendy specializes in transforming self-defeating core beliefs. Her therapy includes using hypnosis and counseling to treat anxiety, depression, addiction, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, relationships, self-confidence, and life challenges. Her website is www.wendyhill.com.