Table of Contents Key Takeaways Denial And Alcohol Addiction – A Defence Mechanism Signs of Denial in Alcoholism How to Help an Alcoholic Loved One The Dos and Don’ts of Talking to an Alcoholic About Their Drinking Stage an Intervention Why It’s Important to Seek Support for Yourself Help Your Loved One Take Back Control of Their Life Are you concerned about a loved one who is struggling with an alcohol use disorder but seems to be in denial? It can be incredibly challenging and frustrating to witness someone you care about refusing to acknowledge the severity of their drinking problem. How ..read more

Table of Contents Does it Make Me an Alcoholic?  How Much Alcohol Does a Bottle of Wine Contain?  How Can I Tell if I’m an Alcoholic?  Diagnosing Alcoholism  The Self-Defeating Cycle of Addiction  Can a Regular Moderate Intake of Alcohol Be Beneficial?  NHS Guidelines on Safe Alcohol Consumption  One bottle of wine per day is a significant amount of alcohol. It is above the recommended guidelines for moderate drinking, which generally suggest no more than two standard drinks per day for men and one standard drink per day for women (because their body chemi ..read more

Functioning alcoholics may ask: ‘how can I have a drink problem when there are no consequences in my life?’ In reality, there are always negative consequences of alcoholic drinking, although these may sometimes go undetected for as long as the drinking itself. Functioning alcoholics are not fully functioning people. They are men and women with a significant drink problem who manage to keep doing most of the essential things in life that normal people do – and even follow a daily schedule – but only just. I am here for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addiction Being a functioning alcoholic is like dr ..read more

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a medical condition that occurs when babies are exposed to alcohol in the womb. It is part of a larger group of medical disorders called Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the more serious FASDs. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome can cause significant physical symptoms, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems. Studies from the USA and Europe suggest that between 1-10% of children have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Researchers are calling for further research to establish how common FAS is in the UK. They believe that Foetal Al ..read more

Suicide and Alcoholism Suicide is a massive problem globally. Did you know that someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds? There are many factors that play a role in suicide risk, alcoholism being one of them. Doctors have known since the 1960’s that alcoholism and suicide are linked.1 People with alcohol use disorders are more likely to think about suicide, attempt suicide and complete suicide.2 Alcoholism is a disease, and people suffering from it need support. With the right help, we can prevent the tragic consequence of alcohol-related suicide.  Are You Ready to quit for good? Call 017 ..read more

Can drinking too much cause cancer? Around 1000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed every day in the UK.1 Cancer is a devastating disease, and it’s important we understand what lifestyle choices put us at risk. One of the biggest cancer risk factors that we can change is our alcohol consumption. Did you know that alcohol causes 4% of all cancers?2  That means that 1 out of 25 cancer cases could have been prevented by a reduction in alcohol consumption. Is alcohol a risk factor for cancer? Yes. Alcohol is classified as a type 1 carcinogen. This means that there is enough evidence to say for ..read more

How alcohol impacts the brain Drinking high levels of alcohol on a long-term basis can have harmful effects on the brain. People who drink heavily are more likely to develop alcohol-related brain damage such as alcoholic dementia. Research studies vary but some have found estimate that 35% of heavy drinkers have alcohol-related brain damage.1 How does alcohol affect the brain? There are several ways in which alcohol abuse can affect the brain: 1. Regular heavy alcohol intake causes thiamine deficiency Thiamine plays a crucial role in keeping our brain cells working normally.  Thiamine d ..read more

The Link Between Alcohol and Insomnia Many people see alcohol consumption as a promoter of drowsiness. However, the opposite may be true. The build-up of tolerance and its effect on brain chemistry can disturb sleep patterns within a relatively short time. Regular heavy alcohol use is likely to disrupt sleep patterns seriously. Alcohol is a sedative that many people consume in the evening to help them unwind and ultimately sleep. This may initially work for them, but tolerance is established in a relatively short time, which requires increasing amounts of alcohol to obtain the same drowsines ..read more

Developing ascites is a direct result of liver scarring Most people have heard of cirrhosis of the liver, but many are unaware that ascites (a-sigh-tees) can develop as a result of liver scarring in cirrhosis. Although Castle Craig is not a specialised centre for treating cirrhosis and its complications, we can help get the person on the road to an alcohol-free life which gives the best chance of recovery for someone with alcohol-related liver disease. Over 7 in 10 cases of ascites is caused by cirrhosis. Ascites can present serious complications in people suffering from liver cirrhosis a ..read more

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Alcoholic pancreatitis is a dangerous condition that develops when alcohol damages the pancreas. If not recognised and treated appropriately, alcoholic pancreatitis can have serious consequences. What is the pancreas and why is it important? The pancreas is a small but important organ found in the upper part of the abdomen. It is connected to the small intestine via a tube known as the pancreatic duct. The pancreas contains two types of glands, which both have very important roles. Exocrine glands These glands produce important enzymes. During digestion, the pa ..read more