Drinking
verb \ dri*nking\ take (a liquid) into the mouth and swallow
Who knew that such a simple definition could hold such meaning, and potential a catastrophic outcome when overused. Parents play a huge role in families but mom’s have a particularly key part. We are attached at the umbilical cord for nine months, so it only makes sense that our mom’s daily lifestyle indirectly and directly impacts us. Recent studies show it’s become trendy for moms to combine happy hour with play dates, or to reach for an afternoon cocktail to take the edge off a hard day with the kids. For several moms, this works just fine. But for women predisposed to alcoholism, soon happy hour changes into a daily habit, and before you know it every day becomes a hard day. Because of the special relationships that mothers carry, this type of addiction can cause trauma in the family in multiple aspects. We’re kidding ourselves if we think that our addiction to any mood-altering drug or activity isn’t affecting our kids. More than 2.5 million women in the country abuse alcohol, according to the National institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
This can play a direct factor in the family dynamic. When you start making mistakes, like missing the kids sporting events or forgetting to make their lunch, or picking them up from school because you’re absent minded. Most young people don’t really want to say that their parent – especially a mother – has a problem, let alone a drinking problem. Because children are raised to think it is the parent’s choice to drink when and how much they want, and the child just needs to pull up their big kid pants and accept it. A lot of children tend to place blame on themselves for their parents drinking, thinking they were the ones who created the problem. Many of these children encounter common symptoms like low self-esteem, aloneness, guilt, feelings of aggression or impulsive behavior. They don’t understand how complex addiction is. For some reason, it has become more socially acceptable and socially tolerable for fathers to be alcoholics, but not mothers. Because mothers are known as nurturers.
According to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, seventy-six million American adults have been exposed to alcoholism in the family. Alcoholism is responsible for more family problems than any other single cause. Each person in the family is affected differently by a mothers drinking. Alcoholism also has negative effects on the husband of the alcoholic mother or wife. The spouse usually has feelings of hatred, self-pity, and wants to avoid any social outing. Daily parenting tasks and responsibilities tend to get shifted to the spouse of the alcoholic. This, in turn, can cause bitterness and resentment which eventually can lead to divorce.
It is common for families to use denial to justify the mothers alcohol dependency. At first, it is understandable because each family loves and wants to protect each other, but there comes a time when denying the depths of this negatively affects each person in the family.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol, please let us know. Contact us at 415.724.7767 to learn more about how hypnosis can help with addition. We can work to help you find the root causes behind those frequent “bad days.” Hypnotherapy can make a huge difference in the lives of individuals struggling with drinking and alcohol addiction. If you’re ready to see how hypnotherapy can change your life, check out Refind’s programs today. We offer programs with a variety of lengths and focuses tailored to help you where you need it. Contact us for a free 30-minute consultation session. To book your appointment, click here.