Pastoral Counseling

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Pastoral Counseling

• Alcoholism

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The Twelve Steps

• We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that
  our lives had become unmanageable.
• Came to believe that a Power greater that
  ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• Made a decision to turn our will and our lives
  over to the care of God, as we understood Him.
• Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of
  ourselves.
• Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another
  human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• Were entirely ready to have God remove all these
  defects of character. .
• Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and
  became willing to make amends to them all.
• Made direct amends to such people wherever
  possible, except when to do so would injure them
  or others.
• Continued to take personal inventory and when we
  were wrong promptly admitted it.
• Sought through prayer and meditation to improve
  our conscious contact with God, as we understood
  Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for
  us and the power to carry that out.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of
  these steps, we tried to carry this message to
  alcoholics, and to practice these principles in
  all our affairs.

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Pastoral operations

• Ignatian exercises
• Humility before God
• Resign will
• Acknowledge sins and repentance
• Confession
• Restitution and purpose of ammend
• Corporal works of mercy
• Prayer
• Virtue

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1 day-30 days-60-90-180-1 year1

• Habits are dispositions that take time to
  acquire, overcome or change.
• Change is a part of life and it takes place in
  increments of time.
• We can see increments related to recovery from
  alcoholism that can be useful in other
  situations, which require a change of habit. We
  can see the struggle to abstain from the habit
  for one day.

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Indications of a possible problem

• When assessing the possibility of alcohol
  addiction there are a few keys to look for
• Blackouts
• Increased energy
• Consequences
• Preoccupation with drinking
• Change in personality

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Blackouts

• Blackouts are spaces of time and events that
  cannot be remembered concerning a previous
  intoxication.
• This is a major red flag because it seems that
  only alcoholics or those who are disposed to
  alcoholism experience blackouts.

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How is it a problem?

• One of the signs of alcoholism is that there are
  problems in a relationship or work environment.
• It causes a problem to someone
• This person is drinker or one involved and acting
  upon him
• Sufficient practical motivation

8
Increased energy

• Alcohol is a depressant. When one has had 3-5
  ounces of alcohol within a short period of time,
  one becomes ill or sleepy and would exhibit signs
  of inebriation.
• Increased addiction creates an increase in
  tolerance (for the first 20 years of addiction
  that is) thus one would exhibit an increase in
  energy from the bodies reaction against the
  depressing effects of the alcohol.
• Some question that will help bring this out
• What happens to you after you have had 3-5 ounces
  of alcohol?
• Do you have more or less energy?
• At the end of a party, what is your energy level
  like?

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Consequences

• If someone experiences negative consequences from
  becoming intoxicated and does not make any
  serious adjustments in their drinking or take
  steps against possible abuse, it may be a sign of
  the denial and irresponsibility that goes along
  with addiction.
• For example, DUI, next week end goes out and gets
  drunk again.

10
Three pictures

• There will always be three pictures involved with
  an alcoholic
• How they describe alcohol addiction. . . .
  Drunk every day in the gutter.
• How they describe their own drinking.
• I can control it.
• I have too much at times, but it is not an
  addiction or problem.
• Or I can stop for months at a time. I went six
  months without drinking.
• I dont get drunk that often.
• What addiction really looks like?
• This involves objective criteria that provide an
  understanding of alcohol addiction.

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Preoccupation with drinking

• Drinking may become a central focus in life. The
  more preoccupied someone is with drinking the
  more concern there should be.
• A few questions that can reveal this
• When you arrive at a party or social function,
  what is the first thing that you look for?
• What are your most common or most comfortable
  social settings?
• How do you release stress?When do you feel a
  need to have a drink?

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Change in personality

• Changes in personality present one of the signs
  that indicate some follow up is appropriate.

13
Drinking to self-medicate

• The practice of using alcohol as a means of
  self-medication is one that can lead to
  habituation.

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Alcohol self-assessment tools

• Are you unable to stop drinking after a certain
  number of drinks?
• Do you need a drink to get motivated or to feel
  comfortable in social situations?
• Do you often forget what happened while you were
  "partying" (having blackouts)?
• Do you drink or "party" alone?
• Have others annoyed you by criticizing your
  alcohol use?
• Have you been involved in fights with your
  friends or family while you were drunk or high?
• Have you done or said anything while drinking
  that you later regretted?
• Have you destroyed or damaged property while
  drinking?
• Do you drive while high or drunk?
• Have you been physically hurt while drinking?

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Assessment continued

• Have you been in trouble with the school
  authorities or the campus police because of your
  drinking?
• Have you dropped or chosen friends based on their
  drinking habits?
• Do you think you are a normal drinker despite
  friends' comments that you drink too much?
• Have you ever missed classes because you were too
  hung-over to get up on time?
• Have you ever done poorly on an exam or
  assignment because of drinking?
• Do you think about drinking or getting high a
  lot?
• Do you feel guilty or self-conscious about your
  drinking?
• Do you feel uncomfortable in social situations
  where alcohol is not available?
• Do you find yourself looking for loopholes as to
  exclude your drinking patterns from these
  questions?

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If you answered, "yes"

• to three or more of these questions, or if your
  answer to any of the questions concerns you, you
  may be using alcohol in ways that are harmful.
• Do not waste your time blaming yourself or others
  for any alcohol related behavior. If you think
  you have or might be developing problems in which
  drinking plays a part, act now. You can get help.

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Marriage Prep or Pastoral Counsel

• Simple
• If there is any concern, error on the side of
  caution and seek help