Will’s dad struggles with alcoholism. His grandfather was also addicted to alcohol. His uncle seems to have the same issues. Naturally, Will is worried about the genetic risks of alcoholism. Is he destined to inherit his dad’s alcoholism – the same way he shares his jet-black hair and deep brown eyes? Have genetics determined Will’s…
It’s hard to recognize yourself. After all, you just wanted to help them, right? But lately, helping has been hurting both them and you. It’s called enabling. Your support now goes beyond what’s helpful and healthy. Your “help” is now allowing your loved one to continue their addictive behavior. And for you? Your enabling has…
Jeff didn’t remember feeling like this in college. He had hangovers back in his fraternity days, but not like this. In his 20s, Jeff had the usual headaches and nausea, but he was able to function (somewhat) as he recovered from a hangover. Not now. Now Jeff is in his 40s, and even a small…
Did you know your brain shrinks as you get older? It’s a rather disturbing thought, but it’s all part of aging. The volume of our brains decreases about 5 percent per decade after age 40. Then, after age 70, the rate of decline increases. But recent research also suggests that factors like exceeding safe drinking limits…
Alcoholic monkeys? It’s true. But this troop of green vervet monkeys doesn’t choose the traditional banana for their afternoon snack. They’d rather have a cocktail, since they’re predisposed to finding and consuming alcohol. And they may be the key to finding a new treatment for alcoholism in humans. The Alcohol-Seeking Monkeys of St. Kitts Are…
Leah had her first beer on her 21st birthday. She tasted other alcoholic drinks to see what they were like. She started to have multiple drinks every day. Sometimes she lost count. Leah started to drink at home. She started to need it to start the morning, to feel relaxed, and to sleep at night….
Early recovery is tough. Know what can make it easier? A daily routine. By simply creating a daily routine in recovery, you can decrease your risk of relapse and increase your ability to find sustainable sobriety. Why is Creating a Daily Routine in Recovery Important? Relapse is a gradual process that starts with emotions and…
Addiction is a cunning, ruthless disease. It’s one of the few illnesses that convinces you nothing is wrong. Being in denial about addiction doesn’t stop at the individual level either. Many parents, partners, and families never imagine their loved ones struggling with addiction, especially not at the rock bottom level. There are countless stories of family…
Jeremy’s Story I took my first drink when I was 19. I could have said ‘no thanks’ when my roommate offered it to me. But I didn’t. I chose to put that liquor in my body. And I chose it again the next weekend, and the next. Before I knew it, I was 26, and…
It’s important to recognize the social effect of alcoholism—or how being isolated affects alcohol misuse—as that factor may impact your road to recovery as you navigate the 12 Steps of AA. Your social connections may be a strong influence for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), and on the other end of the spectrum, your ability…
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