Why Alcohol is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching Your Goals
Fact: Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. And it is associated with numerous diseases: cirrhosis, diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal diseases being just a sampling. Most people don’t know the basic facts about alcohol consumption and how it impacts your body. Furthermore, alcohol abuse has been proven to derail you from your goals. Here’s why.
Brain Function
Impaired brain function is measurable. Decision making and motor coordination are impaired. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) said, “We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far-reaching effects…debilitating conditions requiring a lifetime of custodial care.” Permanent brain damage is possible.
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Under the influence of alcohol, drinking and driving doesn’t seem like a challenge. But when you wrap your car around a tree, kill someone, and end up in jail, it’s tragic. One of the first things police ask in most violent situations is if alcohol was involved.
Employment
If you want a career, avoid excessive drinking. Alcoholism is a daily occurrence that follows you to work. NIAAA says that 14 million people (1 in every 13 adults) have a substance abuse problem and a job.
Eventually, coworkers will smell the alcohol on your breath. They’ll notice your slurred speech, excessive tardiness, or overall irresponsibility. Termination is inevitable for those who can’t gain control of their alcohol addiction.
Many people have heard of the ‘functional alcoholic’ and many alcoholics use this type of person to justify their actions, believing themselves to be in that category. Unfortunately less than 20% of alcoholics fall into this category, and many can be considered functional at the moment, but rarely are they able to keep up with it indefinitely.
Source: The Recovery Village
Romantic Relationships
Did you ever dream about falling in love and having children? If you struggle with alcoholism, your familial yearnings probably won’t come true. NIAAA reports, “The Dietary Guidelines…can increase stroke, violence, suicide and some forms of cancer.” Infertility is also linked to alcohol abuse.
Not only that, but alcoholism and domestic violence or abuse are very commonly found within the same individuals. It’s not a pretty sight, nor one that many people like or want to discuss, but it’s reality for thousands of individuals in the United States alone. In fact, according to The Law Offices of Bradley Corbett, “1 in 4 women in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence, and 15 million children were exposed to domestic violence each year.”
Source: The Law Offices of Bradley Corbett
Family and Friends
It has been found that alcohol plays a significant factor in domestic violence and other crimes. Alcohol also makes you unreliable and dishonest. Your erratic behavior will be difficult to tolerate. Arguments can escalate to violence.
Alcoholism is also closely related to murder. The Journal of Criminal Justice found that, “A direct role for alcohol is based on indications by the finding that homicides were associated with a heavier than usual episode of drinking.” One of the things police ask in most violent situations is if alcohol was involved.
Source: Journal of Criminal Justice
Financial Security
Long-term unemployment jeopardizes your pension, 401k, savings, and home. You are more susceptible to living in poverty. Crime ensues.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence said, “Alcohol and drugs are implicated in an estimated 80 percent of offenses leading to incarceration…” One of the first things police ask in most violent situations is if alcohol was involved.
Source: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Handling stress and managing your life in a healthy and productive way is sometimes some of the best ways to help you overcome the obstacles that are blocking your way. That includes sleeping well, and putting good thing in your body and your environment. All of that being said, if you feel like it’s hard to do on your own and you need support, please seek professional help.
Steven Kuhn’s H.I.T. principles (Honesty, Integrity, Transparency) can help you make an immediate impact, whether for yourself or your career. Learn how to transform your time and change your life today!
