Statistics seem to indicate a connection between alcohol and drug
abuse and domestic violence, but some researchers question the cause-and-effect
relationship.
Studies of domestic violence frequently document
high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) involvement, and AOD use is known to
impair judgment, reduce inhibition, and increase aggression. Alcoholism and
child abuse, including incest, seem connected also.
On the surface it seems hard to argue with the
numbers. Ninety-two percent of the domestic abuse assailants reported use of
alcohol or other drugs on the day of the assault, according to a recent JAMA
report.
Another study
shows that the percentage of batterers who are under the influence of alcohol
when they assault their partners ranges from 48 percent to 87 percent, with
most research indicating a 60 to 70 percent rate of alcohol abuse and a 13 to
20 percent rate of drug abuse.
Battering is a socially learned behavior, and is not the result of
substance abuse or mental illness, advocacy groups claim. "Men who batter
frequently use alcohol abuse as an excuse for their violence. They attempt to
rid themselves of responsibility for the problem by blaming it on the effects
of alcohol," they say.
Alcohol does not and cannot make a man abuse a
woman, but it is frequently used as an excuse. Many men drink and do not abuse
anyone as a result. On the other hand many men abuse women when they are sober.
It can be easier for some men and for some women to believe that the violence
would not have happened if a drink had not been taken.
It's part of the denial process. Alcoholism and
battering do share some similar characteristics -- both may be passed from
generation to generation, both involve denial or minimization of the problem;
both involve isolation of the family.
While Alcohol abuse may not be the cause for
domestic violence, it does usually lead to the destruction of the family
unit. That in its self should be enough
to get help in stopping the alcohol abuse.
If you find that you want to stop your alcohol
abuse, contact us at Above It All
Treatment and Recovery Center and we will design a personal program with
you in mind. This will start you on the
road to an alcohol free life and assist in the rebuilding of your family unit.
Like many people, at the start of the year, I made a resolution to decrease my alcohol intake.
ReplyDeleteDrink Less in Seven Days by Georgia Foster has really helped me stick to this resolution. Georgia is a clinical hypnotherapist and alongside the written version of the book, there are also 4 "Hypnosis Hub" recordings that readers are encouraged to access to help them with the program.
One of the great things about Drink Less in Seven Days is that Georgia (and I"m going to call her Georgia because she kind of feels like a friend) is totally non-judgemental about how much you drink, why you drink, why you feel you drink too much etc. I feel that this is an area where people carry a lot of shame and negative feelings and to have someone who approaches an emotional issue like this with absolute objectivity is helpful in driving the desired behaviours. She's on your side!
There are two main parts to Drink Less in Seven Days. The first is how your amygdala (the part of your brain that deals with emotions and fear/stress responses) can actually work against your efforts to quit or reduce your drinking. It shows you how to move your decision to drink away from this very instinctive part of your brain to your prefrontal cortex which is the part of your brain that is more concerned with considered decision-making.
I found this part of the book fascinating, particularly the parts where she spoke about silencing your inner critic.
However, it was the second part of the book, where Georgia broke down different personality types. what triggers them to drink and how to circumvent these triggers that I found most useful. (Also fascinating, if like me you love a good theory of behaviour and the ability to proclaim "Yes!!!! That's me!"). Because it makes total sense right? If you drink out of social anxiety (which is me a little bit) your methods to success will likely be different to someone who drinks because everyone around you is (also me a little bit).
The biggest take away for me was starting to understand what triggers my wanting to drink and learning alternative strategies should I decide not to. I think a really important thing about Drink Less in Seven Days is that it is NOT about quitting drinking altogether. It is about cutting down to a level that you are comfortable with, whatever that is for you. And this feels more manageable than quitting altogether.
The cru of this type of book though is does it work?
So here's the real deal. I started this program in January. It's now March and I can count the times I have drunk alcohol on one hand. During this time I have been to pubs, bars and restaurants, entertained at home and been entertained at other people's homes so it's not like I have been hiding myself away. I have been around alcohol and people drinking as much as I ever was.
Will I drink again? Almost definitely. For me, this experiment was never about giving up altogether. And I have far too much fun making cocktails for this to give it up completely! However, I feel that moving forward I will be able to drink in a more mindful considered way.
Thank you to Georgia Foster for a thoroughly fascinating book that does exactly what it says on the cover!
Here's a link to The 7 Days To Drink Less Online Alcohol Reduction Program.
John