by Shannon Morris

Created on: January 26, 2007   Last Updated: May 20, 2007

There are many "myths" about alcoholism. As an adult child of two alcholic parents, a sister, granddaughter, and wife of an alcoholic, and someone who has struggled with her own alcoholism, I have realized that there are no myths about alcoholism except one. That is the myth that alcoholism can be explained or defined and that the "rules" apply to all alcoholics.

Myth #1- When a person drinks they show their true colors. This myth is a complete falsehood. One or two drinks my allow a person to let go of their inhibitions enough to say or do things they would normally be too shy to say or do. Is that their true personality? Maybe. When someone who is normally a decent, caring person drinks to excess and beats another person to a bloody pulp, is that their true colors? I don't think so. Alcoholism impairs your ability to think rationally so you say and do things you would never, under ordinary circumstances, say and do.

Myth #2- Alcoholism is caused by genetics or heredity- Alcoholism does seem to "run in families". I believe it can be genetic. I also believe it can be caused by many other factors. I have known people who consider themselves alcoholics who are not genetically predisposed to the condition because of a family history of alcoholism. Instead these people began drinking for a variety of other reasons. One such person, found out many years later that they have a mental health condition. One that is now easily treatable but years ago was not. They began drinking as a way to "self-medicate". The alcohol helped them feel less anxiety. Another alcoholic I know grew up in a family where alcoholism was not a problem at all. This person was abused by someone outside of the family and they turned to alcohol as a means to ease the pain caused by the abuse. Sometimes alcoholism can seem to be genetic because children raised by alcoholic parents, so often grow up to repeat the cycle. Is this definately because of genetics or because of learned behavior. I think both. It's the nature versus nurture question and I believe that there may be a genetic predisposition to alcoholism in some cases but certainly not in all.

Myth #3- An alcoholic CAN drink again or an alcholic CAN'T ever drink again. These are both myths. It depends on the alcoholic and the nature or their alcoholism. I know someone who had a very serious drinking problem. They went to a psychologist who worked with them on stress management skills and some deep-rooted psychological issues stemming from their

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