Hi Dr. Weathers,

I thought I'd give you an update on my mom. After we talked, I followed your advice, and found mom a different psychiatrist.  He doesn't specialize in alcoholism, but was nevertheless very kind and patient and nonjudgmental.  Rather than blame all of her problems on her drinking, like others have done in the past, he acknowledged it but didn't talk about it much, focusing instead on the anxiety on other issues that led to the drinking in the first place. 

Four months later, she is still taking both medications he prescribed her, and is doing wonderfully.  She's not angry, tearful, or anxious, but she's not a zombie either. On your advice, she started reading about mindfulness and meditation, and has been meditating every day for a couple of months now.  She said that this enables her to stay "one step ahead" of her thoughts and emotions, and now she's more able to stop herself from thinking negatively.  She uses the Insight Meditation app (free on Android and Apple) to time and keep track, and through the app, she has met fellow meditators, which also helps her to have a sense of community.

Anyway, I just want to say thank you again for your positivity, your help, and for just being out there, educating others on alcoholism and making a huge difference. Your charisma, combined with your expertise and clear explanations of scientific concepts behind alcoholism have really helped me to get through to friends and family members who were formally of the "tough love, she did this to herself, just don't talk to her, she's just choosing to drink" frame of mind.  They wouldn't always listen to me, but they would watch your videos, and that helped get us all on the same page.  I can't thank you enough.  If you are ever in the area, I would still love to meet with you!  I'm especially interested in hearing your thoughts about how I could follow in your footsteps and help people here locally.  I don't have a psychology background, but I am a nurse trained in meditation who loves science and has a fair amount of free time on her hands!  :D

Well, I will go for now.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

~K