Why Have I Been Able To Avoide Being Addicted To Alcohol And Drugs?

[therisa]

Not sure, why I have avoided the traps of alcohol and medication dependence, like so many other people have fallen prey to. For there is a history of alcoholism, on my mom’s side of the family, which my brother is, one. And there was always beer or hard liquor, around the house, with my dad drinking it. Or becoming hooked on either legal or illegal drugs, like too many people, I know around me, in numbing their pain. No way, am I claiming to be a saint, in the way that I have dealt with my PTSD and depression. In many ways, my coping mechanisms have damaged my health even worse.

But what prevents a person, from becoming dependent upon these means to cope with their traumatic pain? Is it genetics or something else?

 

[twopenny]

I wonder if anybody's ever done any research??

I've managed to avoid it too - for me it may be because I associate them with my mother, who was the one who abused me, so I avoided them because of that. Or maybe they're just not my thing. I barely drink, and I don't do drugs. I am now on medication, but for a grand total of two days, and as a temporary measure while I wait for the therapy units of the nhs to stop passing me about and make their minds up which can help me.

I have been known to binge eat occasionally - never remotely close to an eating disorder, but that would be my prop if I let myself.

I suppose it could be genetics too - I watched a documentary once that suggested some people may have a genetic predisposition to addictions of all kinds.

 

[therisa]

If a study was done, Twopenny, would people give an honest answer to the researcher, or the one, they think the researcher wants?

 

[mamachick]

I think people use different things to cope. Some dissociate, some are over eaters, some abuse alcohol or drugs or gambling or sexual addiction, some develop borderline personality disorder (and are addicted as well), some have OCD.

I have a very good friend who was married to an alcoholic and raised 2 daughters with him and they divorced when the girls were grown. She has OCD/perfectionist and is a hoarderer. She has some traumatic background, (not ptsd officially) and dad was alcoholic and mom abusive.

Her children treat their alcoholic dad better than they do her. She does not understand. She still has many resentments about living with an alcoholic (I know how bad that is from my own past), but she does not see the harm she has caused to her children in any way. Her perfectionism can be very hurtful-to anyone in general at times, but I can only imagine how difficult for her daughters growing up. OCD/perfectionism/hoardering prevents her from intimacy-it is a protective barrier to letting anyone in. It serves the same purpose as those who are addicts.

There are many ways for are trauma to play out in our lives. Often we set out to avoid what we grew up but in an attempt to avoid create just as much dysfunction in another way without help. Coming from alcoholism, I swore it off most of my life and then abused after age 47 for a couple years. I do have an addictive personality. I smoke.

 

[DMerish]

I think people use different things to cope.

My mother was hit by a drunk driver. I always found the flavor and the smell of alcohol distasteful.

I'm a (closet) smoker. Soon to be quitter - my plan is to get addicted to exercise :D

 

[therisa]

Like you, Drew, I can't stand the taste of alcohol, and my body reacts very fast to it, when I do. Can count on one hand, the number of times, I have tried alcohol, since 1987.

Yes, Brat, your observations are right, but am scared that I will be tempted and lose myself, to this daemon.

 

[Britt.f7]

I grew up with the knowledge that my grandpa was an alcoholic, though I never saw him drinking. We never had alcohol at our family functions. That was on my mother's side, and that was who I grew up with. On the other hand my dad and stepmom(especially her) drank like fish. I don't think there was ever a gathering without alcohol. When I was 16 and inpatient, they had me go to an al anon meeting because of it.

I have stayed away from drugs(completely) and alcohol(mostly, until recently) because of family history and because I never want to be not in control of my person.

I have been drinking wine at night, not enough to get me drunk, and it bother's my kids some because they are not use to that. This house has been a relatively free from alcohol since they were babies. Started up when my mom died two years ago. I know I should quit, and I do from time to time. I guess it does relax me at night. I'm starting to want it more. I am working on quitting because of my teenage boys. Truth is, I like the taste of wine and fruit juice just doesn't cut it.

 

[therisa]

Wine is, a waste of good grape juice! :P

 

[Britt.f7]

:laugh: That's funny Therisa.

 

[therisa]

Am glad, you got the humour, Britt. :D

 

[piratelady]

There has been some problems in alcohol in my family so I try to monitor my intake closely. I did go through a period where I was drinking more than I should. I was able to take a step back though and make sure it didn't become a problem. Also, my ex was an alcoholic so I think that also makes me a little more weary of letting that turn into a problem.

 

[Orglethorp]

There are alcoholics and drug addicts scattered around on both sides of my family, but my father (and abuser) is the worst of them all. Somehow I've also managed not to fall into that trap myself.

I think there are a number of reasons for it - not the least of which being my strong personal feelings toward addiction. I won't let myself do it. On top of that, I hate the sights, smells and effects of the drugs I witnessed being used as a child. Many, many people out there think marijuana isn't that bad compared to many other drugs out there (and I agree it isn't), but the scent used to be one of my biggest anxiety triggers.

I've also never been drunk. I don't drink often, and I'm very cautious, but I've also never found my limit and that terrifies me. My mother was always able to drink my father and all his buddies under the table, so I guess I've inherited that from her. It's both a relief and a source of stress for me. I don't know if that puts me at a greater risk of addiction or not.