Alcohol therapy can help whether your goal is to drink less, to stop, or to understand why you drink as you do. We will discuss how to manage your safety while you decide what you want.
What it is
Alcohol is legal for adults, but it is a drug that affects the brain and body, and regular heavy use can lead to dependence. The NHS advises not drinking more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and spreading it over three or more days if you regularly drink that much.
Signs drinking may be becoming a problem
- Drinking more, or for longer, than you meant to
- Trying to cut down and not managing it
- Thinking about drinking a lot of the time, or planning your day around it
- Needing more to get the same effect
- Hiding how much you drink, or feeling ashamed about it
- Shaky, sweaty, anxious or unable to sleep when you have not had a drink
- Drinking affecting work, money, health or relationships
None of these means you are "an alcoholic". It means it is worth looking at. Your GP is a good place to start, and the NHS has a list of signs and support services.
Effects and risks
Short term: impaired judgement, accidents, risky decisions, arguments and blackouts. Longer term: liver disease, heart problems, some cancers, depression and anxiety, memory problems and dependence. Drinking can also interact dangerously with other drugs and medication.
Withdrawal and safety: read this if you drink every day
If you drink heavily and regularly, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and a serious confusional state (delirium tremens), and it can be life-threatening.
- Do not stop abruptly without medical advice if you drink heavily every day.
- Speak to your GP or a specialist alcohol service about a safe, supervised reduction or detox.
- Call 999 if you or someone else has a seizure, severe confusion, hallucinations or cannot be woken.
Wanting to stop is a good reason to get proper support first, not a reason to try to manage it alone. I am not a medical service and cannot prescribe or supervise a detox.
What therapy can offer
- A place to talk honestly about drinking without being lectured
- Working out what alcohol does for you (relief, confidence, sleep, numbness) and what else could do some of that work
- Practical strategies for cutting down or stopping, at a pace you can manage
- Support while you are also seeing your GP or an alcohol service; therapy works alongside medical care, not instead of it
- Space to decide your own goal (moderation, abstinence, or somewhere in between) and to change your mind
If it is someone you love
If someone you love is affected, you can have support of your own, whether or not they get help. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Should I see a doctor before I change how much I use?
If you drink heavily every day, please talk to your GP or a local alcohol service before cutting down, because reducing suddenly can be dangerous. You can also find a local alcohol service yourself.
Is it dangerous to stop drinking suddenly?
It can be, if you drink heavily and regularly. See the section above on withdrawal and safety.
How do I know if I am an alcoholic?
Clinicians tend to talk about patterns of drinking and dependence rather than labels. The signs listed above are a better guide than a word, and if several apply, it is worth talking to someone.
How many units are in a drink, and what is 14 units a week?
One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. The NHS advises men and women to keep regular drinking to 14 units a week or less, spread over three or more days. In its table, a pint of higher-strength beer (5.2%) is about 3 units, a standard 175ml glass of wine (12%) about 2.1, and a single 25ml shot of spirits 1.
How long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?
The NHS says withdrawal symptoms begin within 6 to 12 hours of your last drink and usually last 3 to 7 days, although some can last a few months after heavy drinking. They include anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea, sweating, tremor, hallucinations and confusion. A seizure needs 999, so if you drink heavily, speak to your GP or an alcohol service before stopping.
Can your liver recover if you stop drinking?
Often, in the early stages. The NHS says fatty liver usually recovers if you stop drinking, and alcohol-related hepatitis may partly recover, but cirrhosis, the scarring stage, generally cannot be reversed. Early liver disease often has no symptoms, so a conversation with your GP can be worthwhile even if you feel fine.
Does alcohol cause anxiety and depression?
It can make both worse. The NHS lists anxiety and depression among the longer-term risks, and says regular drinking at high-risk levels can worsen mental health. Drinkaware describes a cycle: alcohol brings short-lived calm, anxiety returns as it wears off, and more drinking follows. If you recognise that pattern, it is something we can look at together in therapy.
Does alcohol help you sleep?
It may help you drop off, but it makes the sleep worse. Drinkaware says even a couple of drinks can affect sleep quality, because alcohol cuts the time spent in REM sleep, so you wake feeling less rested. It also makes you lose more fluid, so you may be up in the night. If you drink to sleep, we can work on what else might help.
What alcohol treatment can I get on the NHS?
The NHS says a GP is a good place to start; they can arrange an assessment and point you to local community alcohol services. Support can include alcohol counselling, support groups, talking therapies such as CBT, and medicines to help you stop or reduce cravings. Most detox is done in the community, and some people have a short stay in a medically supported unit.
How can I help my partner who drinks too much?
You cannot make someone stop, but you can still help. Choose a calm moment, listen more than you talk and try to avoid blame. If they are physically dependent, the NHS says stopping overnight could be harmful, so a GP or alcohol service needs to be involved. Drinkline is free and confidential if you are worried about someone else’s drinking: 0300 123 1110. NHS alcohol support