Going Through A Tough Time? Alcohol's Not The Solution

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Going Through A Tough Time? Alcohol’s Not The Solution

September 5, 2012
Author: Chris M. Alexander

An abusive father and a traumatic childhood was what Nancy had grown up with. 25 years old today, she sat in an alcoholism rehabilitation centre, pondering over the unfortunate turns her life had taken and how it led to her problem of alcohol abuse.

Nancy is not alone. Many in the US resort to finding comfort in a bottle of alcohol when faced with traumatic life experiences. Studies have found a strong association between people being treated for alcoholism and a history of child abuse or other form of emotional trauma. Incidents such as the sudden death of a loved one, robbery, being taken hostage, or being in a natural disaster can also trigger sorrowful feelings.

While alcohol may temporarily dampen your emotional pain, it is just a temporary solution. It just numbs the senses for a while, and when its effects wear off, feelings of fear, stress, sorrow, anger and helplessness resurface with greater intensity. Continuous reliance leads not only to alcoholism, but may also lead to chronic depression and other health problems.

Clearly, booze is not the way out of the ups and downs life throws at you. Then how should one deal with emotional stress?

Get The Support Of Friends And Family
Talking to a loved one about a problem can be a great catharsis. Ask someone to listen and talk to you if you’re going through a tough time. They may not know what to say at first, but over time, they’ll understand and be quite supportive.
Take The Path To Faith
Religion and faith can be very comforting and give a lot of hope to many. If you do believe in some religious school of thought, try joining your neighborhood’s religion community, or even talk to someone in the clergy for guidance and support.
Get Into Some Routine
Stressed and sad, doing anything may seem like a heavy burden. But you have to get into the groove by sticking to a schedule of taking meals, doing mild exercise such as 15-minute walks, or even taking up a new hobby temporarily to divert your mind. But don’t take on too much either.
Avoid Major Decisions
Having gone through a trauma, you may not be in a position to make the best judgment for yourself. Avoid major life-changing decisions until you feel more in control and seek the help of people you trust in this.
Give Yourself Some Time
It may take more than a few weeks, sometimes months, to get over the trauma you may have gone through. Take some time to deal with it, even if it means being alone at times, but for a few moments only.
Seek Professional Help If Need Be
Are your low feelings persisting for too long? You feel overwhelmed and cry thinking about the traumatic event, even though months have passed since? Have you been avoiding people for too long and your relationships are suffering? These may be signs that you need to see some therapist and get professional help.

Remember that trauma and alcohol never go hand in hand. If you are suffering, find comfort in more lasting, meaningful ways rather than through temporary solutions.

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