There’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” type of treatment for alcohol use disorders, just as there is no such thing as a “stereotypical” face of alcoholism. The unshaven, disheveled look of a middle-aged man holding a beer bottle inside a paper bag, staggering from one place to another, maybe an image that enters our minds when we think “reeling drunk,” but if you know someone or have a loved one who has a drinking problem, you know well that alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes. Problem drinkers don’t usually seek treatment for their drinking habits, especially if they are blinded by their apparent ability to hold it together in real life. But most alcoholics will tell you that something is missing. There is an emptiness they can’t put a finger on, and this sense of emptiness is most palpable with those who are dearest to them, like their son or daughter. In a recent episode on the Dr. Phil Show, Dr. Phil staged an intervention for a daughter and her mother who is struggling with alcoholism, a disease that isolates the drinker from loved ones and turns their world upside down.
An Alcoholic’s Rationale for Drinking
It’s hard to admit you have a drinking problem when your life hasn’t fallen apart yet. That’s why so many individuals don’t see themselves as “problem drinkers” but their problem becomes more conspicuous to everyone else around them. Here are some possible thoughts that may run through a drinker’s mind:
• I only drink when I’m stressed, but my drinking hasn’t created any crises.
• I’m on top of my bills, I have a great family and I love my spouse. An occasional glass of wine won’t hurt anyone. Where’s the harm?
• I have found other ways to cope with stress, such as healthier dieting, yoga, and exercise, so my drinking is just one more way for me to relax and unwind.
• I can control my drinking. I am still in control because I’ve been able to stick to the limits I set for myself.
You may tell yourself that you only drink during dinner, oblivious to the fact that you also drink before and after the meal. As if your family members might notice, you stall the drinking until everyone is fast asleep and then you turn to the wine. The drinking becomes more progressive, and soon enough you can’t stop thinking about it. You try to control it, telling yourself this is going to be your last drink, but every time you fail to stop, you think you need to keep trying. When you do occasionally succeed in controlling yourself, you (mistakenly) think you’re fine and that you’re still in control. Whether you realize it or not, every occasion becomes a reason to drink.
Are Mothers in a Unique Position for Alcoholism?
According to a study published in the Wall Street Journal, researchers have found a strong correlation between female drinkers and highly educated women with high-income careers. Studies have shown that women’s bodies respond differently to alcohol than men’s bodies, and as such, their physiological differences place women at higher risks for developing adverse health effects from alcohol consumption. In addition to women’s increased vulnerability to alcoholism, mothers experience a phenomenon called “mommy guilt,” a term describing conflicting inner feelings about self-care versus care for children. If a mother lacks additional support, such as parents, in-laws, a spouse or significant other who will take care of the kids while she leaves to take care of herself, she will feel extremely guilty for “abandoning” her kids. The challenges of motherhood will inevitably turn mothers to unhealthy coping mechanisms if they do not find the support or network they need.
Mother’s Day: Giving the Gift of Sobriety
Give the gift of sobriety to someone you know, whether it’s to yourself, a friend or relative. Watch the wondrous journey of recovery unfold before your eyes as your loved ones participate with both feet in! As Dr. Phil mentioned on his show, New Method Wellness is a premier dual diagnosis treatment center that offers a wide array of holistic programs that will help rebuild people’s lives without alcohol or drugs. One of the nation’s best alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers, New Method Wellness is often recommended by Dr. Phil and is also featured on the Emmy Award winning A & E’s Intervention.
For more information about our holistic programs, please call 866.951.1824 today!
