Do you ever get nervous about how you might interact with alcohol in a social setting? Have you felt that sinking feeling on the drive over to a get-together, worried that people will encourage or even pressure you to drink without understanding how important recovery is for you? Or, if you are still actively drinking, do you worry that you might stand out because of the amount you drink when you’re spending time with casual drinkers?
As we head into the holiday season, many people look forward to the joy of family functions and office holiday parties. While many people choose a dish to bring and don’t give it another thought, people living with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be more concerned about the stigma and social repercussions of handling alcohol.
If you are worried about yourself or a loved one facing the stigma of AUD, it is important to know that you are not alone. Between 2021 and 2022, 2.5 million people in Texas were living with an AUD.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we know how isolating stigma can feel, and that’s why when you receive treatment with us you receive access to the largest recovery alumni network in the San Antonio area. It is also why we are breaking down the stigma of AUD.
Stereotypes are over-simplified assumptions, such as those made about people living with AUD. There are multiple stereotypes surrounding AUD.
These include assumptions that people with AUD are:
These and other stereotypes create a stigma around AUD. Misconceptions held by the general public often make people afraid to discuss their experience with alcohol; this fear of judgment is often people’s biggest reason for hiding AUD. Many people experiencing AUD also may fear allowing others to witness or know about their condition because it could lead to the loss of intimate relationships and professional opportunities.
Often, this sense of stigma is internalized for people with substance use disorders, whether from their local communities or the wider portrayal of AUD in pop culture.
Unfortunately, this stigma is not limited to personal and professional relationships and can influence someone’s relationship with their healthcare providers, as well. People struggling with AUD may delay seeking healthcare or not feel that they can be fully truthful with their provider.
This can create a serious danger for people living with an AUD.
Stigma creates severe isolation for people with AUD, and they are often left feeling demoralized about their excessive alcohol use. It is important for people living with AUD and their loved ones, to understand the ways that this stigma creates real dangers that pose a threat to long-term health.
The truth is that the experience of AUD differs from person to person. Not every person is going to drink daily to the point of being in a stupor, hiding bottles around the house, getting violent, lashing out, and losing their job. People are not stereotypes.
If you’re basing your understanding of AUD on stereotypes, it can be easy to write off excessive alcohol use by telling yourself that you or your loved one doesn’t have an issue because you don’t fit the stereotypes.
The first step to dealing with AUD is recognizing that there is a problem. However, due to stigma, many people do not want to self-identify as a person with AUD. This makes it very difficult for people experiencing AUD to identify their problem and receive the care they need.
Once people get over the first hump of recognizing the problem, they then need to take action to get help. Stigma can make this difficult because, even if they know there is a health concern, they may not believe that recovery is possible. Stigma often leaves people feeling personally responsible for the issues they face and that they are not worthy of the care of others.
This can be a challenge for people who have been managing addiction for a long time; they may be afraid that healthcare providers will shame them for not seeking help sooner. Alternatively, they may have already had negative experiences with healthcare providers when attempting to receive treatment in the past.
The stigma that people experience around AUD does not stop once they have left treatment. Many people who are in recovery or have already left their treatment program still have some difficulty being open about their history. Because AUD is so stigmatized, many people who have overcome it are afraid that members of their community will not believe that they have truly changed or will assume that, since they are no longer drinking, they must not have had a serious problem.
It is not always a confrontation that people fear. Often, judgment comes across in body language and other nonverbal cues, such as avoidance. Many people who have stopped drinking have a hard time being open about their experience because they fear rumors will cause acquaintances to make assumptions about their character without having the opportunity to present themselves for who they are now.
The truth is that AUD, like other substance use disorders, often stems from an attempt to self-medicate and cope with difficult emotions or life changes. Because AUD is so tied up in people’s emotional well-being, stigma and harmful perceptions from others can be a major trigger for return to use. Recovery is often a difficult time in a person’s life even in the best of circumstances, and stigma can compound that stress.
To reduce the judgment that people with AUD experience, it is important for us to address stigma when we see it in our daily lives.
Confronting stigma begins with confronting it within ourselves. It is important to evaluate our own beliefs about AUD. Consider the beliefs you hold about AUD and whether or not they accurately line up with resources, like this one, and the lived experiences of people living with managing this disorder. The first step is doing the research, so you’re already on the right track.
This often means changing the way we talk about people experiencing AUD. One technique is to use person-first language. So, instead of calling someone an “alcoholic,” you can validate their personhood first by saying “a person with AUD.” This also often means refraining from using words like “drunk” and other pejorative terms that make people feel worse in difficult situations in which they are already struggling.
When you’ve made those changes for yourself, it becomes easier to identify stigma when you see it in your wider community. When you hear people making harmful assumptions about someone living with AUD, try gently correcting them by pointing out destigmatized ways to discuss the topic.
Whether you’re looking into treatment for yourself or a loved one, you are taking the right steps to find a life after AUD. There are many barriers to treatment, and stigma is chief among them. While stereotypes may make you feel like recovery is out of your grasp, it is important to remember that positive change is always possible. You can and will recover with the right treatment for you.
A strong alcohol rehab should provide you with long-term support that helps you from the moment you step into their facilities through your recovery, whether that’s days, weeks, or years. Recovery is not always linear, and any facility you choose should be capable of treating the symptoms of AUD, as well as any underlying causes or mental health conditions.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we want to support you on your journey to recovery. Whether you are dealing exclusively with an AUD or with a more complex dual-diagnosis condition, we are ready to help. Today is the first day of your new life. If you want to leave alcohol behind and move towards recovery, just give us a call anytime at 866-957-7885.
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