Myths About Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

If the person has had second chances and failed, they will have plenty of excuses. Do not attempt to talk to the person when they have been drinking or are stressed. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ When the alcohol wears off you have symptoms of withdrawal. These could include tremors, sweating, nausea, insomnia, seizures, and hallucinations.

However, despite great efforts to educate people on what alcoholism is, there are still many myths and misconceptions about the nature of the disorder. Alcohol can potentially be addictive, but this doesn’t apply to everyone. Individuals may be genetically predisposed myths about alcoholism to develop alcoholism; for one person, one drink may be enough to lead to a downward spiral if the person has a family history of alcoholism. Others may drink heavily and frequently, but their drinking behaviors do not necessarily lead to alcohol addiction.

Fact: Those who start drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent adults.

They might see a homeless person or someone who is dealing with financial problems or even someone who can’t hold down a job and whose life is in peril. This, in turn, can lead to myths about alcoholism, many of which aren’t true. Alcohol impairs your ability to drive and slows down your reaction time long before you appear intoxicated. Even if you eat before you drink, splash cold water on your face or roll down the window to let the cool air wake you up, that will not stop your body from experiencing the effects of alcohol. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. /alcohols-effects-health/overview-alcohol-consumption.

The unfortunate truth is that it’s more difficult than that. It can be incredibly hard to quit alcohol without any help, specifically because of the withdrawal symptoms it causes. By calling the lowest point “rock bottom”, alcohol addicts might assume that their life can’t get any worse and continue drinking. When you’re at “rock bottom” it can feel impossible to get help. Instead of referring to alcoholics who have lost a lot as hitting “rock bottom”, we should instead think of ways we can help them and lift them back up, like encouraging them to get treatment. A lot of people believe that addicts choose to be addicts, but that’s not the case at all.

Myths About Alcoholism

My alcohol consumption increased with every failed attempt to try the next “new thing” that never seemed to work. While this might fit the description of some who are suffering from alcoholism, it hardly fits the description of everyone. Many alcoholics are highly successful, well-educated people. In this article, you will find the 5 most common misconceptions about alcoholism, along with how they affect people. The morality model of addiction looks at alcoholism as a result of someone’s failure to choose right over wrong.

There is no one right way for how people should achieve sobriety. In fact insisting that a newly sober person takes a path that does not suit them could even be detrimental to their recovery. Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Grosso is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience assisting individuals and families struggling with addiction, depression and trauma. He is the Clinical Director and Co-Founder of Nsight Psychology & Addiction.

Myth: It’s OK to get drunk every once in a while.

If, after completing the formal treatment programs, an individual is still not feeling confident in their sobriety, they may want to enter an aftercare program or sober living residence. Recovering alcoholics find valuable support through continuing therapy, participation in 12-step groups, or sober living homes. Studies show that people who continue in some type of aftercare have a better chance at long-term abstinence and recovery.

It takes about 2 hours for the adult body to eliminate the alcohol content of a single drink, depending on your weight. Nothing can speed up this process—not even coffee or cold showers.