Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Addictive Personality

While in the process of writing a novel about my father’s life, I often wondered how he became an alcoholic.  Although, alcohol is an addictive substance, people react differently to it.  Some people do not become addicted.  However, that doesn’t mean there is no risk of addiction associated with it.  The answer is that some people have addictive personalities, which make them more susceptible to addiction.

My father was born out of wedlock during an era in time where this was considered a great shame.  He was not acknowledged by his paternal side of the family.  And I believe the root of his alcoholism came from carrying that burden of shame his whole life.  I’m sure he felt unwanted and undeserving. 

He most likely turned to alcohol at an early age to deal with the troubles in his daily life.  This, in turn, negatively impacted his personal relationships and family life.  I used to get so mad at him for being a drunk.  But I now have a better understanding.  All I can do now is work hard to break the cycle of generational addiction that still plagues my family.


Hi, I’m Liz Hawkins and I’m a recovering Adult Child of an Alcoholic.

#ACoAAwareness

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