Alcohol destroys everything it touches. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around 95 thousand people die from alcohol-related issues every year. It makes alcohol abuse the third leading preventable cause of death across the United States. From 2011-15, people died from chronic conditions like liver disease, heart disease and stroke, liver cancer, breast cancer, and hypertension caused by alcohol abuse. Not only does alcohol affect the person who abuses it but also their family and friends. In this article, we talk about ways alcohol can destroy relationships. Let’s get right into it. Because alcoholism affects not only one life but ruins several lives, it also impacts the lives of adult children of alcoholics. Most children also get start consuming alcohol after watching their elders.
Ways Alcohol Destroys Your Relationships
1. You are not Fully Present
Typically, people drink to avoid uncomfortable emotions and thoughts because they are not comfortable sitting alone. Due to this, they can not solve internal issues and lack self-awareness. And because of this, they can not be there for their loved ones, even in times of crisis.
In addition, alcohol can cause short and long-term memory loss. Heavy drinking can alter the structure of an alcoholic’s brain. Because of this, they forget intimate conversations or arguments with their loved ones. Suffering from memory loss can also impact their ability to be truly there for their family and friends because they can not be emotionally intimate.
No one can bear to see their loved ones suffer because of them. So, if you need help with your alcohol addiction, the Delphi Health Group provides rehab services for all addictions, including alcohol addiction.
2. Alcohol can Cause you to Become Selfish
People who struggle with alcohol addiction also lack self-love. Self-love is crucial in a relationship with loved ones, as without it, one can not show love to them. On top of this, alcoholics overcompensate for their lack of self-love, guilt, self-loathing, and shame with a big ego. In addition, they will victimize themselves, forgo all accountability, and blame others for their problems. For example, they could lose their job because of their drinking habits, but they will blame their boss.
3. Alcohol Causes you to Victimize Yourself
As mentioned in the last point, alcoholics tend to blame others for their misfortunes. They do this because they do not want to take responsibility for their suffering. In addition, they think they have a “valid” reason to drink because of the pain and suffering in their life. While it is true that life can be harsh sometimes, one must also look at their contribution to their pain. Usually, one’s pain is self-inflicted, and all they have to do is end the cycle that can have devastating effects by seeking immediate help.
4. Alcohol can cause Erectile Dysfunction
Research has shown that heavy alcohol use can cause erectile dysfunction (ED). It can mess with the brain’s signals to the penis that tell it to fill up with blood. In addition, it also impacts the production of testosterone, which is another factor that can cause erectile dysfunction. Testosterone is a crucial hormone in men and controls their sexual functions.
Usually, erectile dysfunction is a temporary problem, but with heavy alcohol use, it can become a permanent one. The sexual intimacy issues coupled with one’s emotional intimacy issues, a big ego, constant self-victimization, and no care for others are not attractive traits in a partner. It can frustrate your partner and push them away, and before you know it, they are gone.
5. Alcohol can Cause Divorce
Research conducted by an online divorce company in the UK shows that 1 in four divorce filings was due to heavy alcohol use. Alcohol abuse can drive spouses or partners apart. It changes the person’s personality, and they become secretive and start to hide things from their partners.
Alcoholics usually hide things because of their guilt and shame. But, eventually, it can lead to them telling lies to cover up the addiction. For example, they will lie about why they were late from work, their mood swings, why some of the money is missing, or why they disappeared.
For any healthy relationship to function, trust is integral. Relationships can not cope without it because open and honest communication can not happen without trust. And once it is damaged, it can be very hard to repair.
6. Alcohol Causes Unnecessary Arguments
Heavy alcohol use requires a lot of money. It can lead to arguments with your loved ones about your spending habits. These arguments happen because they are worried that you are driving yourself to an early grave. After all, alcohol negatively impacts your mental and physical health. They may also be worried that you are choosing alcohol over them.
Whatever the reason for the arguments, they are often hurtful and destructive for your relationships.
Conclusion
Alcohol is a terrible choice for many reasons. It causes you to lose sight of yourself and not be emotionally present for your loved ones. In addition, it makes you selfish and constantly, you might victimize yourself. Additionally, it can cause sexual intimacy issues and can also lead to divorce due to the secrecy and lies. Lastly, it can cause unnecessary arguments that lead you to say hurtful things.
