Alcoholic brother

Question
Hello,



My name is Katrina and I am 21 years old.  I have a brother who is 26 and has been suffering alcoholism for about 5 years now.  It mostly began when his father died.  I have tried everything to help him, and I thought he hit his bottom after he rolled his car 4 times drunk, breaking his leg and 6 of his ribs.  He was required to go to jail for a few days and to do a treatment program as well as AA.  I talked to him about his experience and he said it was good except AA because it was "stupid".



My brother is generally a very kind and outgoing person, at least he was before his disease.  Shortly after he was "enlightened," he began drinking again and continues to do so from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed.



My mother is also an alcoholic, but on a lesser extent.  She is an enabler for my brother.  I have been in a sense "taking care" of my brother since his alcoholism began.  I am the closest person to him in the world, and I still haven't been able to help him.  I have tried being angry, upset, and helpful and nothing has worked.  He has attempted suicide once before and threatens it all the time.  He has told me directly, "I just want to kill myself. I want to fall asleep and never wake up."  This concerns me because his father died the same way by an overdose on oxy-contin and his grandmother overdosed on an entire bottle of sleeping pills two years ago.  I am very concerned for his life.



On another note, I am having him and my mother over for Thanksgiving next week.  I don't know what to do.  Should I tell him there is no drinking allowed at all?  Should I put him on a limit?  I do not want him to be drunk when he is here.  I just don't know what to do.  I am worried that if I tell him he can't drink here then he will not come at all.



Please help.


Answer
HI Katrina,



That must be hard on you. I would say you are perfectly entitled to say that there will be no alcohol beverages at your home as a condition for them visiting you.



I have a feeling looking at the family history that alcoholism, drug addiction and mood disorders runs in the family as a rogue gene. But genes cab be beaten.



I agree with your brother that AA treatment for alcoholism is pretty useless. It starts from the assumption that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, instead of a disease of the body. Addiction is physical illness (affecting the mind), that prevents the body from producing feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin. If your brother is a reader he should be able to overcome his addiction by himself, by educating himself about the biology of addiction. Of course he needs to be motivated to do so. He needs to understand the biochemical underpinnings of addiction, before he can treat himself. I suggest he read the followings articles:



Why Alcoholics Drink? at

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/WAD.html



Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease at:

http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/alcoholism_treatable.pdf



Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...



Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html



Depression: a Disease of Energy Production at:

http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/depression_energy3.pdf



The first step in treatment is going on a hypoglycemic diet. If problems persist, it is best to consult a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist.



I recommend he also read my book "Getting off the Hook" which is freely available on the internet.



If any further questions please come back.



_______________________________________________

Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychologist

Hon. Editor of

The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.

www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Author of "Getting off the Hook"

Freely available at Google Book Search

Skype: jurplesman