Talking To Yourself?

A common – indeed, almost universal – problem among people who are misusing alcohol is the way in which we to talk to and about ourselves.

When the phone rings, typically, the caller begins, “I’m an alcoholic and…”

Because of the universal brainwashing AA and its Steppers have inflicted on the culture nearly everyone has come to believe that self-medicating with alcohol makes one an “alcoholic.” Worse, you are now suffering from a life-long, progressive, incurable disease over which you are powerless.

How’s that for a recipe for depression? Along with anxiety and a desire to avoid the whole issue.

Yet, as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) would ask, where’s the evidence? I doubt you will be too shocked to learn that there isn’t any. None. Just the opposite.

In fact, self-medicating with alcohol is a symptom, not a “disease.” Logically, then, if whatever is being medicated is relieved the symptom will subside. That’s not only logical, it is what works to curtail the misuse of alcohol.

Which brings us back to “Talking To Yourself.”

Various branches of psychology note that how you talk to yourself and about yourself has a major, perhaps even dominating, influence on your behavior. An easy example comes from sports psychology. If you constantly tell yourself you are going to fall off the balance beam, drop the ball, miss the basket, etc., what do you suppose the result is going t0 be?

And if you continually call yourself a “powerless alcoholic” what do you suppose you’ll become? Not because of alcohol, but because of what you’ve been telling yourself. Reinforce that by isolating yourself with other “alcoholics” who are terrified of growing up, getting a life, and returning to being “normal,” and what do you suppose the odds are you will ever escape this self-imposed trap?

We’ve heard from hundreds of people who know that AA is a cult that they have outgrown but the brainwashing has run so deep they are terrified to leave. You can find their “escape posts” on Facebook if you look. Turns out it’s far harder to kick the 12 Step habit than it is alcohol.

Do yourself, and others, a favor. Skip that dead end: in your head, your behaviors, and in your beliefs.

Then let us help you treat whatever – loneliness, depression, boredom, anxiety, trauma, unbalanced relationships, etc. – your over use or misuse of alcohol reveals. Let’s work together to get you back to normal or, as usually happens, better than normal.

Confidentiality

We have often written about being the only confidential program in the country. In support of this assertion, we note the following conditions which would violate your privacy:

  • Groups of any kind;
  • Residential programs;
  • Disappearing for 30 days or more;
  • Unprofessional and para-professional staff;
  • Insurance reimbursements;
  • AA;
  • Hourly staff;
  • Exposure to other clients;
  • Exposure to cults;
  • Brainwashing.

In contrast, we:

  • Work only with individuals and couples;
  • We’re Intensive Outpatient (and our offices do not indicate what we do);
  • You need only be here for 5 days;
  • Follow-up is done in person, by phone or Skype at your discretion;
  • Other family, spouses, partners, or friends are included only at your request;
  • The staff consists of Dr. Barnes, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Norcross and the office therapy dogs, Scruffy and Phoebe who are notoriously tight lipped.
  • We do not accept insurance;
  • We do not refer you to AA or any other pseudo-support group;
  • There are no hourly staff;
  • You never see another client;
  • You are protected from all cults;
  • You are deprogrammed from 12 Step mythology.

Really – you don’t want an “alcoholic” label following you for the rest of your life. It’s a label that will jeopardize you professionally, personally, and martially – not to mention that it’s rarely true.

Protect yourself, and let us help. It is, after all, one of the things we do.