A strong positive relationship has been established between the occurrence of stressful life events and/or trauma, and psychological disorders and alcohol dependence, which is made worse by the fact that it is a long-term relationship. Alcoholism can be attributed to adverse childhood experiences that have led to trauma, resulting into depression and sometimes suicidal tendencies. In the same vein, childhood trauma has been stated as a causal factor leading to alcoholism in adolescence as well as in childhood. This is because of the link that has been established between early childhood traumas and psychological and mental health issues, in this case specifically an alcohol dependence (Wade Jr, Becker, Bevans, Ford & Forrest, 2017).
Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism by people who have experienced trauma. In a way, alcohol use is considered a form of self-medication. Jester, Steinberg, Heitzeg & Zucker (2015) present coping mechanisms as mediator of the relationship that exists between childhood trauma and alcohol use. This is especially so for children whose parents were violent, either to the children or to the spouse, who never learnt positive coping mechanisms. Such children have also been found to suffer from impaired mood regulations, emotional instability and unavailability in future relationships and violent tendencies.
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Children who are brought up by alcoholic parents develop neuroticism, a personality trait that makes one experience feelings of anxiety, depression and general moodiness. It is a fact that the severity of alcohol dependence in adults can be directly linked to the level of childhood traumas experienced. This effect was traced back to neuroticism. The most common type of childhood trauma was that which was caused by emotional abuse, and also by physical abuse. Children in alcoholic homes are often the ‘punching bags’ for their parent’s frustrations. They are also subjected to verbal abuse, often a reflection of their parents’ mistakes and regrets in life. The verbal abuse and neglect of the emotional needs of children leads to emotional trauma. Many people are never able to fill the emptiness created by lack of expressed love, thus resorting to alcohol to numb their feelings and their pain. This kind of exposure to alcoholism via adverse childhood experiences is referred to as environmental risk (Schwandt, Heilig, Hommer, George & Ramchandani, 2013). Alcohol dependence has also been attributed to genetic and biological factors, implying that children from families that show alcohol addiction are also likely to be alcohol dependent.
Noting that the more severe childhood trauma was (abuse or neglect), the more severe the alcohol dependency, it is conclusive that genetic and environmental factors are not the only causalities. The experiences of each individual also play into this relationship. This implies that trying to overcome alcohol addiction cannot be done by simply treating the symptoms. One has to dig into their childhood experiences and seek factors that could cause their resorting to alcohol in adulthood (Van der Kolk, 2017). The solution thus lies in interventions that shall not only target and work on the symptoms attributable to trauma, but shall also deal with the alcohol dependence.
My Background
I was brought up drinking alcohol. My parents drank and would sometimes give me sips of their alcohol. I would say that my drinking was not a personal choice, but a result of the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. At the age of fourteen, I was raped by my older cousin, who was very drank at the time. Later, part of me remembered what happened while the other part of me wanted to pretend that it never happened. The result of my rape was a pregnancy that my parents forced me to terminate, leading to a 10-year period of barrenness. The trauma I experienced at such a young age led to my sinking deeper in alcoholism. After my gastric sleeve surgery, I conceived and gave birth to a beautiful daughter, whom I named Kiriko.
Action Plan to Hold Myself Accountable
Being a recovering alcoholic calls for one to take action plans in daily doses, one step at a time. These action plans can be eating a perfectly balanced diet, drinking sufficient levels of fluids, proper medication and/or as prescribed by health care practitioners and having enough sleep. The outdoor is a nurturing environment for the body and the soul. Activities such as hiking, sun basking, gardening, biking or dog walking are essential for the general well-being of an individual. Exercise is also an essential element of recovery, where one pushes the body to higher levels of heightened activity that gives one a natural ‘high’.
Part of my action plan to hold myself accountable is getting the naltrexone implant, engaging myself in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and actively and positively seeking counseling services. Also, taking on meditative approaches such as breathing exercises and yoga is very helpful in developing a health body and mind. This can be done through sports, gym practice, aerobics and general stretches.
Perhaps the greatest part of recovery that cannot be underestimated is having a strong support system. One has to go to great lengths to keep in close contact with family and friends. As often happens, most alcoholics tend to push people away from their lives rather than nurture loving relationships with them. One can keep in touch with family and close friends by allowing the general flow of conversations, sharing meals and drinks with them and learning how to openly express oneself. Also engaging in creative processes in regard to one’s area of passion, skill or interest is very instrumental in recovery. Creative activities such as writing, painting, drawing, sketching and dancing are channels through which one an express himself. The idea of ‘me time’ is also a bold statement where one takes time off daily activities to engage in acts of self-love, self-care and nurture of self. This can be via engaging in activities that lead to relaxation of mind and body. These activities could include listening to music, reading one’s favorite books, taking walks in serene places and journaling one’s thoughts and feelings to keep in touch with the inner self. By being conscious of every little decision and every step taken, recovery from alcoholism is a possible feat.
References
Jester, J. M., Steinberg, D. B., Heitzeg, M. M., & Zucker, R. A. (2015). Coping expectancies, not
enhancement expectancies, mediate trauma experience effects on problem alcohol use: A prospective study from early childhood to adolescence. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs , 76 (5), 781-789.
Schwandt, M. L., Heilig, M., Hommer, D. W., George, D. T., & Ramchandani, V. A. (2013).
Childhood trauma exposure and alcohol dependence severity in adulthood: mediation by emotional abuse severity and neuroticism. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research , 37 (6), 984-992.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2017). Developmental Trauma Disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for
children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals , 35 (5), 401-408.
Wade Jr, R., Becker, B. D., Bevans, K. B., Ford, D. C., & Forrest, C. B. (2017). Development
and evaluation of a short adverse childhood experiences measure. American journal of Preventive Medicine , 52 (2), 163-172.
