So back in the day second-hand smoking really changed public opinion and paved the way for legislation to make bars and public places smoke-free. There was some resistance, I resisted it myself particularly when us smokers weren’t allowed to smoke in say pubs or in shopping centers.
When the impact of second-hand smoke was explained, people started to make the link that someone else’s smoking was the reason for their asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, heart disease, or lung cancer.
As this understanding grew, more people gained the information and the confidence they needed to take a stand against a person’s cigarette smoke. The awareness enabled people to think about doing what they needed to do to protect and repair their own health, regardless of whether the smoker stopped smoking.
So, let’s apply the second-hand smoking analogy to drinking
From personal experience one of the major second-hand impact of dads drinking for me was
Living in constant fight-or-flight stress response, which was repeatedly triggered, never knowing whether I would find dad dead, or injured as a consequence of falls.
Or all the arguments with other family members and friends about dad’s alcohol consumption and his behaviour and my inability to walk away.
The emotional abuse caused by his manipulative behaviour, like the time he told me he had cancer by way of justifying his drinking, which was a lie.
Or trying to manage his mental health, such as dealing with late-night calls that he was going to kill himself.
Feeling constantly defeated and exhausted by dad’s inability to see how he was slowly killing himself and having to stand by and watch him commit slow suicide.
15 years on, I have come along way, I have been able to heal from a lot of the consequences of second-hand drinking. Some people might say OR think “trace its time to move on” but I can’t, I feel so passionately for those who are still suffering in silence and who are often overlooked because all the attention is focused on the addict.
I feel grateful that there is more and more research being done into second-hand drinking and the effects. A study in 2015 found that an estimated 53 million adults — or nearly 1 in 5 — said they had experienced at least one harm attributable to someone else’s drinking in the past year. NOW that’s a lot of people!
It’s a relief to hear researches are starting to recognise what I and others affected by a loved one’s addiction have been saying for years.
So when I hear quotes from the likes of Sir Ian Gilmore, the chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance and the director of the Liverpool Centre for Alcohol Research, saying “There is undoubtedly harm from second-hand smoke, but the range and magnitude of harms are likely to be even greater from alcohol.” I finally feel heard.
So to summarise – Second-hand drinking can be defined as the negative effects people experience by being around those who drink alcohol excessively.
And just like second-hand smoking were people were able to think about doing what they needed to do to protect and repair their own health, regardless of whether the smoker stopped smoking. If you are a family member or friend and you believe you are affected by second-hand drinking you too can take steps to repair your own health regardless of whether the drinker stops drinking.
Based on my own personal experience there are a number of things I would advise you to do
Seek out support there are so many sources of support available, mainly online and telephone at the moment due to COVID
Family & Friends Recovery – Sheffield
Talk and talk some more, start working on accepting that you ARE affected by second-hand drinking and that second-hand drinking is an actual thing.
Educate yourself, even since dad passed, I have continued to educate myself and others about the often-unseen impact addiction has not just on the addict, but the impact on their loved ones. Adfam is a good source
There are some GREAT books out there such as
If you loved me you would stop
Work on your boundaries, and when I say boundaries, I’m not just referring to physical boundaries, there are material, emotional, mental, spiritual boundaries
And on a final note, If you are a dependant drinker and you think that your drinking is just harming you, then I would say to you…
“Think again”
Remember, try not to be afraid of who you truly are, be proud of your recovery and remember, if you would like to subscribe to more posts, please go to https://www.shithappens.me.uk/contact/ and sign up, If you liked the post please share, if you don’t then do nothing and that’s ok too
Good blog, Tracey, thank you. There’s so much wisdom and learning in what you say. It reminds me of hyper-vigilance, where children living with abuse or addiction grow up always on the point of fight/flight. It must develop a dependence on a stress response that they carry into adulthood, and I think drugs and alcohol then becomes a way to manage their own emotional response, or just to feel calm and able to feel ‘normal’.
Thank you kate x
My 2nd marriage ended after 18 months , seriously, i kid you not , not me or one person we interacted with b4 marriage saw a problem, he was great , day after we got back off honeymoon he went on a 4 day bender , came back the first time to attack me , 2ndtime to smash nearly every window in house , i couldnt go to work , i was in shock for over a week , i got all the tears,apologies, flowers ,begging for forgiveness which i eventually gave because i loved him and id made plans for the next 30 yrs of my life with him , dont think i need to say the rest , the circle continued till one night in a hotel room , luckily i managed to speak to reception on the phone as he was starting to strangle me after a full on fight ,which i might add after 18 months of that shit , i gave as good as i got , and he was escorted out by cops with a split lip and a black eye
Most people still dont believe me cos i didnt leave , never did i think me of all people would be in a relationship like that but you stay cos you love them and want to help them …i got to the point where i couldnt leave the house or look at myself in the mirror , that was the end ,
Its easy for people to say leave ,i did it myself to friends but until you walked in them shoes , you literally have no idea what your talking about
Much respect tracy xxx
Wow, I didn’t know Susanne, Hats off to ya and respect to you too xxxxx
Amazing insight Tracey, thank you for sharing your wisdom xx
Thank you xxx