SC, at my worst I was drinking about a bottle of brandy a day. When I accepted that I needed professional help and checked in to a private psychiatric hospital to take the first steps in dealing with my alcohol abuse and clinical depression the boss psychiatrist there was very blunt (he is still my psychiatrist - I see him about twice a year for a brief "How is it going?" chat).

He said something along the lines of "Listen carefully Kiwi. You are a gifted scientist. You know what alcohol is doing to your brain. You are committing slow suicide. I can't save you but I can support you."

That was just what I needed to hear. Now, about ten years on, my brain is working well again and I feel far more healthy.

My PN is now stable apart from (as I mentioned above) flares in hot and humid weather.