Alcohol Dependency Syndrome (Case -5)

This is my first case in DocVita platform where registered as a Counseling Psychologist on 25^th May 2022.

 Client booked an appointment online through Google meet but took permission to talk on WhatsApp call on the night of 04^th July 2022 at 21:30 to 22:30 – a one hour session.

Your Psychologist: https://docvita.com/all/specialist/mr-suripeddi-koundinya-psychologist

Name: Mr. Sambh Jain (not original)

Gender: Male

Marital Status: Unmarried

Date of Birth: 30^th –May -1996 (1: 30 P.M.)

Birth Place: Delhi

Current Location: Mumbai

Education: BBA LLB (Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor of Legislative Law)

Occupation: Finance

Interests: Sports

Chief Complaints

Introvert

Weekly Alcohol Addiction

Love Breakup

Abusive during Inebriated condition

Session -1 (04-July-2022)

Personal History

At the age of 19, Mr. Sambh started habit of drinking alcohol (beer & whisky). Since childhood, he gone through stressful life as his both Parents used to argue a lot and eventually his father started living separately from 2002 leaving behind his mother and brother. When he joined Law College in 2015 for 5 yrs. course, he felt aloof, not making any friends and finally made an addiction to alcoholic drinking. He was good at both in studies and sports in school days. He had a Back Injury in 2016.

His father is an income tax officer while his mother is a lawyer. After 8 years of separation from 2002, his father came back as changed man and reunite with his family.

Mr. Sambh is working in a finance company in Mumbai since 2019 November but between 2020 March to 2021 July, he came back to Delhi to work from Home. Now he is in Mumbai during the time he contacted me through phone.

In 2017 April, he befriended a Girl from Gurgaon, Haryana, near to Delhi city. They fall in love with each other and he proposed her in 2021 which she accepted. They got engaged in 2022 January. 

Problems started from March 2022, when he argued with her on phone while drunk. She already knows his drinking habits, so forgave him from time-to-time. By the end of March, they planned and went to a Goa trip. There in one night in loaded whiskey, he abused her badly. After returned from the sojourn trip, she announced breakup with him because she scared of his bad behaviour. This happened in the first week of April.

Ashamed of his bad attitude in inebriated condition, he took steps to resort to consult therapists in DocVita platform. Although he consulted 3-4 therapists, he was not happy and finally connected to me.

In other side, his girlfriend also started drinking alcohol and went to depression. Her family had taken her to psychiatrist whom prescribed some medicines for relief.

Now my client, Mr. Sambh is staying in triple bedroom flat with online friends. His roommates also have alcohol drinking habits which encouraged him to have whiskey (400 ml) in weekly sitting only on Fridays / Saturdays. He Joined Cult fit fitness classes in June.

Tests conducted:

As patient was diagnosed with Alcohol dependency syndrome, I have given him to fill up below tests:

a)       SADQ-C (Severity of Alcohol Dependency Questionnaire) – 20 items scale.

b)       AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) – 10 items scale.

Tests Results:

a)      SADQ-C Score is 11.

A score of below 16 usually indicates only a mild physical dependency of Alcohol. Not require medication.

b)      AUDIT: Score is 25.

A score of 8 or more is considered to indicate hazardous or harmful alcohol use.

Treatment Plan:

I have given some tips to cope up with present alcoholic situation for him:

a)       To drink Thums Up mix with Sprite in replace to Whiskey

b)      Join yoga classes and spend evening time at Sports club.

c)       To plan a short weekend on Saturdays and Sundays and to have heavy meals in the dinner to get good sleep.

d)      Note daily activities in a Diary.

I asked him to do above activities for a month before planning a next session in August 2022.

Session -2 (08-Aug-2022)

Mr. Sambh was sober for 2 weeks after the first session. On 16^th of July, he got missed call from his lover, later he calls her, and she denied dialling to him. This happens repeatedly for 3 days, finally she blocked him. Due to this situation and his roommates force, he again started drinking beer. But this time, he reduced alcohol content.

This is quite an improvement because it takes time to get out of addiction at a once. Progress should be slowly. I told him to concentrate on above treatment plans especially plan a short trip on weekends as he is more tempted Friday / Saturday to have alcohol. He said that he will improve his condition.