Domestic Violence and Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Drug and alcohol addiction occurs in all fields as well as all demographics and backgrounds. No one has guaranteed immunity from the potential for addiction, and no one has an absolute destiny for it. Of course there are certain biological as well as lifestyle and background elements that can indicate a stronger propensity for it, that doesn’t mean that anyone cannot get caught in this chronically destructive disease. Meanwhile, there are certain life circumstances that will frequently entice substance abuse, and can also be part of developing a chronic addiction struggle. Unfortunately, domestic violence, while it is not due to nor does it directly cause substance abuse, is a tragic life circumstance that frequently includes substance use. You can search a recovery forum for more information on dv and substance abuse.
One of the reasons why many victims of domestic violence begin using a alcohol or drugs, and many times for the first time in this extreme manner, because they are common form of self medication. It’s much easier to tolerate ongoing verbal, emotional and even physical assaults when one has a few drinks in their system. And while this might seem like an immediate relief from circumstances, and a seemingly effective one at that, an ongoing domestic violence relationship can be a major factor in light alcohol use spiraling into a chronic addiction.
There is still a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the dynamics of an abusive relationship, and while it’s important to accept that substance abuse does not directly cause, or automatically correlate to an abusive relationship, it is frequently part of one. And if there is an initial propensity for addiction, this is certainly one of the life circumstances that can help propel the addiction further and push someone into greater pits of despair and substance use. An easy way of understanding this is to consider the amount of people who have a drink in the evening or after work to help let go of the day’s tension and reduce stress . When that is compounded by assaults in your own home, and no end to the stress it brings, it makes perfect sense that a person would have a drink or two in order to try and ease some of the pain and anxiety that goes with it. And this is the reason it is so easy for this self-medication practice to escalate into full blown addiction. If you’re a victim of domestic violence, there are resources, shelters and support for you. If you’re struggling with addiction, there are also some excellent resources to support your recovery. Every city, such as the drug rehab Atlanta , and state has their own referral programs. Consult yours, it’s not too late.