Once again another study has shown that teens that drink before the age of 15 may be setting the stage for alcohol problems later in life. Early alcohol consumption may alter sensitive and still-developing brains, triggering a more powerful response to alcohol. This may be one reason that my drinking was such a bigger deal than a lot of my peers. My drinking began at a very early age and I was immediately inclined to drink as much as possible as often as possible. This led me to lose friends, offers to college, and the relationships I had with my family.
Teen alcohol rehab gave me a chance to stop and really focus on my life. I was really unhappy at first, because I couldn’t imagine a life without my protective veil of drugs and alcohol. Without them, I felt too sensitive and raw. In the safety of adolescent treatment, I was able to process these feelings of vulnerability with a loving and supportive staff and peer group. We began work on issues that I still work on today. I learned there that I wasn’t going to change overnight, but that I could learn to live without the use of drugs and alcohol. I have been on this journey for several years now, and am amazed at the life I have had the ability to create without using and drinking. If you’d told me then that I would be writing a pro-rehab blog, I would have laughed in your face. As time has gone on, I realize how integral that early piece of my recovery truly was. With the strong foundation that I got in treatment, I was able to go back into the world of Los Altos a stronger person- with the emotional tools I needed for success. If you or your teen is struggling with alcohol, Contact us today Visions Adolescent Drug Treatment Center.
Originally posted on October 17, 2009 @ 4:46 am
