Gazza :(

[Mattspur]

Thanks for sharing that.

Can I ask...what do you think makes someone drink to oblivion?

Difficult question to answer on a forum as you could write a book on the subject. And many books have been written.

This quote from a very well respected book on the subject sums it up best for me:

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one. They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks—drinks which they see others taking with impunity. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery".

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Same age as Gazza, and that season when he returned from 1990 W/C, I witnessed our team being carried by one fantastic player.. and that last game of that season so tragically ended or curtailed his career at the very top. Without that injury he'd have gone on to be one the worlds greats.

 

[Mattspur]

His case must be different from 99.9% of the hundreds you've known. Gazza is/was a superstar, everyone loves him, wants a piece of him. Nowhere to hide

How his agent can allow Gazza to appear in that state is unbelievable. He needs strong sensible helpers around him. Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be the case

Whilst his situation is not the norm, it is not as different as you may think. I'm sure if I gave you 30 seconds to run off a list of famous people who have or have had alcohol and/or drug problems, you could do it, and some. And they're just the ones you know of.

Completely agree with the second part of your post.

 

[Glasseye]

I'm not sure about that. It may depend on your local health authority. I got counselling (and medication) on the NHS in Kent to address my depression which was the root of the problems but I couldn't start the process until I had stopped drinking so you may be right.

The majority of areas will have treatment for addiction, this can include a variety of methods, including hospital detox, home detox, residential detox, this would be to deal with the physical addiction first of all. As far as I am aware and in my experience you do not have to have stopped drinking to access these.

However following that is the treatment to deal with the mental addiction, these can include residential rehabilitation usually up to 2 years, or accessing community services such as one to one person centred counselling, or group work, most addicts will be encouraged to access a support network the problem is that once you have got through the detox, a lot of people will not recognise the need to get rid of the mental addiction, and this is where a lot of relapses will occur. At this step you are expected to be drink or alcohol free before they will allow you to start this part of the rehab, and will often there will be tests to check this.

Programs such as 12 steps, encourage you to continue to attend sessions for the rest of your life, recognising that the addiction never goes away. The important aspect of is having the support network to help you explore what is the most suitable style of rehab, and there is a lot of research which has gone into the different types of treatment. Sometimes though it may take a person 3 or 4 attempts to find the right style which suits them.

In this particular instance with Gazza, unfortunately has often surrounded himself with the wrong people the leaches, and people like his agent whom appear to take advantage of him.

 

[NEVILLEB]

My instinct, is that, with any form of addiction, the psychological cause must be addressed. Sadly, alcoholics are often dismissed without anyone trying to really understand where the addiction comes from.

Anyone who themselves has been very ill, or suffered mental illness, has some understanding and empathy for others suffering themselves.

At some point we will all fall and have to pick ourselves up again.

Someone might appear to be weak, but you don't know how much they are carrying on their shoulders. Maybe far more than you could bear.

 

[MyNameIsNicolaBerti]

I'm not sure about that. It may depend on your local health authority. I got counselling (and medication) on the NHS in Kent to address my depression which was the root of the problems but I couldn't start the process until I had stopped drinking so you may be right.

Yeah, it's the last bit I am referring to. If it's the mental health issue that is causing the addiction in the first place it seems absurd to demand some comes off of it first before they get any help. By then it may be too late.

 

[Glasseye]

Yeah, it's the last bit I am referring to. If it's the mental health issue that is causing the addiction in the first place it seems absurd to demand some comes off of it first before they get any help. By then it may be too late.

Its not as clear cut as that in most areas, when a person has a problem with alcohol or drugs, the first step is admitting it, and approaching for help, when this happens they will be allocated an alcohol nurse, or drugs social worker.

This is when the work starts, first of all its about getting the person stable, this may mean they continue drinking, but at a safe level, for example, if he is drinking a bottle of vodka a day, then it would be safer for the person to drink 6 cans of strong lager, and so forth.

The emotional support and informal counselling starts here as well, identifying the potential triggers that cause a person to drink etc, as well as supporting the person to a point where they want to stop drinking. Its at the point where the person wants to stop drinking thats when the various options of detox which I said in my earlier post and following that rehab.

So yes a person has to be dry before they go to rehab, and this is where they support them deal with the mental health side of things, but this work will start long before that, its just the formal process will start when completely dry. The main point of this being, is that the support can only be provided when the person acknowledges that they have a problem, and want to deal with it as opposed to trying to mask it with drink and drugs.

In serious cases a person can be sectioned if they are deemed to be a risk to themselves or other, but all they can do there is enable the person to go through the physical detox, if the person does not deal with the mental health side of things, although some drugs will work, then the person is likely to relapse again

 

[NEVILLEB]

Does anyone on here know Gazza or have access to him?

 

[Vecellio]

Distressing to see..he looks like Jabba the Hut in the Mirror pic, they chose the worst one, the bastards..But when i watched the vid he's still funny despite everything, just obviously been on a binge for days..WTF is the agent thinking allowing it to go ahead with him like that though..? Borderline criminal.

I loved/love the guy too..he was a football god, and pure theatre. Probably my favourite ever player.

Maybe a complete change of environment might help? I know Bestie used to get away from the press a little and enjoy relative anonymity in the states. The way the UK press are every time he fucks up like this it'll be a repeat. Don't like to think about this but seems that at anytime could be his final binge..

 

[MyNameIsNicolaBerti]

Distressing to see..he looks like Jabba the Hut in the Mirror pic, they chose the worst one, the bastards..But when i watched the vid he's still funny despite everything, just obviously been on a binge for days..WTF is the agent thinking allowing it to go ahead with him like that though..? Borderline criminal.

The agent was on BBC radio earlier saying he only saw him have three beers and previously had not seen him drink for two years.

Not sure if I buy that.

 

[dagraham]

The agent was on BBC radio earlier saying he only saw him have three beers and previously had not seen him drink for two years.

Not sure if I buy that.

I think the agents eyes were blinded by all the pound signs in front of him. How they could allow him to go on stage like that is a disgrace on so many levels. From a human perspective and as his agent he's supposed to be acting in Gazza's best interests.

It's so sad to see and I fear that he's possibly beyond help.

As someone who has also suffered from addiction( although of a different kind), I know how much of a grip it can take.

The best thing Gazza's can do is disappear from show biz/public appearances for ever and be around people who want to know him as a bloke, not as a celebrity

 

[The Apprentice]

Having grown up with an alcoholic father I'm not sure how much sympathy I have for Gazza.

 

[Khilari]

Tragic.

I know a guy near where I live with the same symptoms. Shaking, irrational outbursts, etc.

It turned out he had a problem with the C1 (top) joint in his neck. Made him appear insane. They stuck him on valium and sent him off to psychiatrists.

I have a sneaky feeling that all the injuries and bangs Gazza has had to his body that he too has a problem with his spine. Hence the Valium. Sure, there are lots of other issues too but this can be enough to make you go crazy. The booze and drugs become mood alterers because you constantly feel depressed/crazy

No I think it's the copious amounts of EtOH he has poured into his liver and the results are probably permanent brain damage also.

He shows sign of acute alcohol withdrawal in the Sun video clip and needs hospitalisation soon.

 

[Redfap]

He needs to get out of the UK immediately. I just fear that he has nobody close to him looking out for him. He needs to move to Canada/USA/AUS and live a more anonymous existence.

I know in reality this is very tough and huge step.

I don't want to believe it is too late. He has made some mistakes but he doesn't deserve this life. He is a genuine person and character something that is rare in not only football but also society these days.

 

[thfcsteff]

Look I idolise him too.

There are plenty of alcoholics who seem help and turn their lives around. Equally there are many who do so with fewer resources and public support!

Not all alcoholics are the same. Not all alcoholics suffer the same mental health issues. You'd be a foolish man to judge on this one mate...

 

[thfcsteff]

Does anyone know what, if anything, Tottenham have done as a club to support Gazza through the years and try and see him back to health? I know it is ultimately down to Gazza to help himself but it seems crazy that between the many clubs he has played for, with all the resources at their disposable, he has still ended up in this situation.

I actually do know implicitly that the club have done a massive amount (through the excellent Tottenham Tribute Trust) and continue to be involved in helping him as best they can.

 

[dk-yid]

I actually do know implicitly that the club have done a massive amount (through the excellent Tottenham Tribute Trust) and continue to be involved in helping him as best they can.

Yeah, I also seem to remember hearing about Mabbut taking care of him and helping him out.

 

[antlesh]

Does anyone on here know Gazza or have access to him?

Why? Are you going to go and find him with a fishing rod some chicken and try and turn him round?......

Joking aside as a lad I would wear the number 8 and shout here's Gazza and try and weave in and out of players just like him..... I read his book as a 15 year and am halfway through his new one now. I watch my son idolize the likes of Bale and think that was me with Gazza.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Why? Are you going to go and find him with a fishing rod some chicken and try and turn him round?......

Exactly! haha

All he needs is a little pep talk and he'll be fine

Joking aside as a lad I would wear the number 8 and shout here's Gazza and try and weave in and out of players just like him..... I read his book as a 15 year and am halfway through his new one now. I watch my son idolize the likes of Bale and think that was me with Gazza.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Desperately upsetting to hear. I refuse to watch that clip. There were two seasons where he was as good as Maradona, and that's how I choose to think of him.