Although social attitudes may have shifted, a heavy drinking and party culture remains part of the gay scene, particularly in urban areas. As a result, many gay men will struggle with alcohol dependency, something that can be constructively addressed through counselling and psychotherapy for gay men in London.
Beyond the peer pressure to drink to show you’re having a good time, many gay men drink for reasons relating to low self-esteem and confidence. These issues may not be unique to the gay, bisexual and trans community but are often exacerbated by external and internalised homophobia, body image and identity issues. This is where private counselling in London can offer valuable support.
Gay men in particular are more likely to have issues with alcohol abuse than any other sexual demographic, and are more likely to continue drinking into later life. This increased reliance on alcohol can severely impact both physical and mental health, in the process threatening careers and relationships.
Taking action to take back control
It’s important to acknowledge when drinking becomes a destructive behaviour (when your drinking becomes binge drinking, or begins to affect your health or day to day functioning), and address this behaviour by analysing underlying reasons and triggers. Psychotherapy and counselling for London gay men can provide a conduit for addressing these issues.
Below is a summary of just some of the potential health implications of alcohol addiction amongst gay men in London.
Infectious diseases
Heavy drinking suppresses the immune system, enabling infections such as tuberculosis, peneumonia, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Alcohol abuse, alongside the abuse of other substances, is also recognised as a key factor for gay men engaging in riskier sexual practices, which in turn increases exposure to many of these diseases: heavy drinking is linked to a threefold increase in the risk of contracting STIs.
General health risks
Drinking to excess causes a wide range of potentially life-threatening health conditions, from cancer (as the body converts alcohol into a potent carcinogen called acetaldehyde) to pancreatitis.
Among the most common conditions are cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and cardiomyopathy, cirrhosis of the liver, dementia, depression, high blood pressure, nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, and epilepsy. Drinking to excess also increases the risk of serious accidental injury.
Getting support
For more information about alcohol addiction and gay men, or to discuss booking an appointment for counselling and psychotherapy, contact me today.
You can call Justin on T: 07717 664177 or justin@justinduwe.com
