The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
If someone started drinking at the age of 13...not a lot but it progressed over the years and got worse when they were 16, 17 and up...to the point where it's excessive drinking quite often...what type of effects does this have physcially by the time they are 19?
My son is 19 now...and he did not drink a lot for about 6 months or so...and now started up again to excess. He tells me he never gets hangovers but he's been saying that ever since I can remember even when he started to drink. He looks drawn and pale. He used to work out and be healthy...healthy colored skin and you could tell he was strong.
I wonder how this affects his brain also...by this age. I know long term is bad with memory...but what about now?
What my limited understanding is as well as causing arrested brain development drinking tends to stunt emotional growth as well. In someone that young anything is possible the good news is it can be reversed at this age provided it's just not so out of control that it continues into later years. I've seen in older people (50+) short term memory loss as well as someone who has "wet brain" which is basically brain damage caused by alcohol. People with "wet brain" from again my limited understanding are never the same again.
The reality is for his own health and for himself he needs to stop now before the damage is done and can't be reversed .. that would be something he would need to talk to someone professionally about. He's only going to stop when he's ready no one can "make" him.
Hugs P :)
__________________
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
Aloha Christie...alcohol abuse, addiction and ism is a progressive process and disease. Most of what he will tell you is defensive of his drinking condition whatever it maybe now. It sounds like he has progressed from abuse to addiction. Pushka gave some good information regarding "arrested growth" and I learned that in college too. When they start drinking as a major endeavor they arrest their growth...mind, body, spirit and emotions...they remain "immature". I cannot remember an alcoholic family member from my journey that didn't display this information and when I took my own assessment over years of recovery (I am also alcoholic) I also found that "growing up", abandoning my early maturity level so that I could operate on the level of my chronilogical age was very difficult. I was surrounded by more mature people my same age but thought, felt and acted much younger. Thank God for Al-Anon and it's patience for members such as I cause I use to almost "stalk" the elders trying to learn what they knew so I wouldn't be trapped in my time warp.
I had my first drink at the age of 9. It was explosive and I was to chase that initial feeling and never find it again into my late thirties. I stopped growing and my personality changed at 12-13. I introverted and drank and resorted to much foolishness. Hangovers or no hangovers is not an indication of no problem because alcohol affects every organ in the body and every facet of our lives including the lives we touch.
Alcohol Effects is important. It was one of my college level courses when I was seeking to understand the chemical and how it had affected my life and the lives of my family and partners.
Keep coming back and Merry Christmas. (((((hugs)))))
Hi there, I would suggest reading the book "Getting Them Sober" by Toby Rice Drews and getting to Al-anon face to face meetings. I hope you are able to have a Merry Christmas! I am sending you love and support on your journey!
__________________
Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
Hi Christie, if you go to the sticky at the top, the one titled "STICKY:Why Alcoholism is "categorized/listed" as a disease by AMA (explained)
There is a youtube link of a woman talking about alcoholism and the physiology of the young brain. It starts out sounding like a religious sermon but then about 5 mins into it, it goes into the addictive brain and how substances effect the younger brain vs the older brain. you might find it helpful.
__________________
I am strong in the broken places. ~ Unknown
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another! ~ Anatole France
