On Day 24 in the shadow of the recent tragedy in Auckland I got to thinking about the effect of alcohol on relationships.
Day | Monday 24th July |
|---|---|
Days without alcohol | 39 |
Funds raised | $3,387.86 |
Badges earned | 3 weeks Dry |
I'm feeling | Nervous |
Position on leaderboard | 5 |
Fuel on the fire
Moderate consumption of alcohol may be relatively harmless, but excessive or irresponsible drinking often leads to significant challenges in personal and social dynamics.
This week we heard the Police Commissioner speaking about the shootings in Auckland and saying that the Police see people like that offender all of the time, they just don’t usually carry guns.
How many times have we heard about violent offending that is at least in part fueled by alcohol?
Loss of inhibition
Booze impairs cognitive functions, including communication skills. Excessive drinking leads to loss of inhibition, misunderstandings, and impaired judgment. Miscommunication escalates into arguments, and all too easily descends into violence, all too often towards intimate partners.
Even in quiet leafy suburbs, alcohol fueled parties have been known to escalate into near-riot situations.
Personal life
In intimate partner relationships, Irresponsible drinking can erode trust in a relationship. The loss of inhibition and heighted aggression that are so often associated with inebriation can lead to exaggerated expressions of feelings and over-reaction to imagined slights.
Over time alcohol can permanently alters emotional states, a fact the families of alcoholics are all too familiar with.
Scary statistics
Worldwide, alcohol is said to by a contributing factor in 35% of intimate partner violence episodes. Where one or both partners misuse alcohol, they are 50% more likely to separate.
And alcohol is a factor in 40% of child-abuse cases.
While alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly and moderately, its adverse effects on relationships are too significant to ignore. Irresponsible alcohol consumption can contribute to communication breakdowns, trust erosion, emotional disconnection, escalated conflicts, financial strain, intimacy issues, and health and safety concerns. To maintain healthy and thriving relationships, it is essential to be mindful of alcohol consumption and its impact on the emotional well-being of families.
Just one more reason to cut back for a while.
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