Bottled Up: Help for families of alcoholics and those struggling with alcoholism

If you have come to this podcast concerned about your drinking, or that of somebody else, well done! It's a difficult step to take and should be applauded! In this episode John and Lou talk about how to assess your own drinking with four criteria – wellbeing, wealth, welcome (are you welcome?), and welfare. This assessment is something you can make personal to you, and is an important step in making changes that may help you and loved ones.

We understand that it is difficult for people to assess drinking. But if you, or your partner, can assess their own drinking, then a fundamental step is taken towards addressing any problems with alcohol.

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you think there is a problem with alcohol? It may be a question you are asking yourself, or somebody you know or live with is struggling with alcohol and it is affecting you and the family. In this episode Lou and John look at the signs and symptoms associated with alcohol problems, how to assess a possible problem and first steps to address problem drinking.

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many people want to reduce their drinking and there is no doubt that it will be beneficial to you in many ways. Whether you're living with an alcoholic, a heavy drinker, or want to moderate your behaviour, in this podcast John and Lou talk through what you need to consider when reducing your drinking and methods you may want to consider.

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast is for the family and friends of problem drinkers and also those who are concerned with their own drinking. Controlled drinking can be a solution for some drinkers. It requires discipline and breaking the habit. In this episode John outlines what is has to be done to attempt controlled drinking. Please understand controlled drinking does not work for everybody.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lou and John answer listeners questions and concerns. Topics answered include getting your social life back, how to ignore your drinker undermining your progress and trying to talk to an alcoholic who finds the subject very difficult to confront. If you have a question for Lou and John please email [email protected] with the title "Podcast question".

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For John it was looking in the mirror and seeing what he had become which finally stopped him drinking.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we learn how an alcoholic may think and feel, and their struggles, as John talks openly about his many years addicted to alcohol. Of course every recovering alcoholic will cite different causes and reasons for their addiction, but through John and Lou’s conversation you can understand more about an alcoholic’s mindset, their behaviour and find common threads from which you may be able to have a greater insight.

John has been sober for more than forty years, his story is remarkable and inspiring as he went, ”from a drunk to a doctor in a decade”.

There is always hope, and John’s story is testament to the power of hope, self-reflection, and change.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relapse can happen. But the alcoholic can learn from it and actually improve their chances of recovery.

It took John two years to get sober. Here he talks about relapse and the process of recovery – it's extremely useful for both families and problem drinkers.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Lou and John talk about the complicated road of recovery. The alcoholic has stopped drinking. This is a big moment. It is hopefully the end of so many painful moments which have taken their toll on you. But recovery can be the end, but it can also be the start. It is a delicate moment in which both the drinker and the family rediscover who they are, how they have changed, how they relate to each other and how they heal.

It is a time of vulnerability - you may be reluctant to feel hopeful, you may hold on to anxiety, you may suffer real difficulties as hidden depression, worry, or changed expectations (all wrapped up in hyper-vigilance) swirl around. This is not unusual and do not be hard on yourself if you have such feelings, seek help and guidance if you need to.

For more information go to www.bottled-up.com

NOTE: Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When encouraging change there needs to be carrot and stick. The Intervention is the ultimate stick. There have to be consequences for the alcoholic if they do not respond to the intervention. Plan the intervention carefully and be prepared to stick to the consequences the alcoholic will face if they do not change.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.

For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.