It is sadly not uncommon to find that disability and alcoholism are closely interconnected. When someone has a physical disability it can be hard to cope with the struggles that follow. These struggles often include fighting constant pain, having high stress, and they are more likely to be addicted to alcohol.
People with disabilities are also less likely to get help for their alcohol addictions. This is because there are a lot more barriers for them than average people. It can just feel too impossible to manage them together.
Of course, though there are indeed treatment centers that can provide accessible treatment to those who are physically disabled. We’re going to talk about people with physical disabilities and how to help an alcoholic who may have them.
What Is A Disability?
Specifically, a disability is a physical or mental impairment. This is an impairment that can really limit major life activities and must do so. A good example is someone who might be a wheelchair user and cannot use stairs.
Of course, there is more to disability than that. Plenty of disabled people are not immediately noticeably disabled, and this causes a lot of stigmas because they don’t fit the image. Something like having such bad anxiety you cannot work or leave the house counts as a disability too.
The problems these people face and the disregard others have for them can lead to alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism As An Escape
Using alcohol to escape from the harsh reality of life is all too common. People drink for many different reasons. Some do it to a party or let loose, others do it to help them calm down after a hard day. Some people even use it to help them get to sleep. It all depends.
The problem is that many people use it to escape how they feel about the day and what they’ve experienced. Maybe their life is not going the way they want it to so they use it to escape that.
So if someone is disabled, they have even more in their life to worry and stress about. This can lead to them using alcohol as a coping mechanism, and that is not healthy.
Physical Disabilities And Alcohol
Thinking about those with easily visible disabilities it is not hard to figure out what they need. Someone without an arm needs help with many tasks, or someone in a wheelchair can’t use stairs or reach high shelves. Even the elderly can’t lift things.
Not being able to do ordinary tasks that everyone else can do can make a disabled person feel stressed out and incapable. It is not surprising that those who are disabled may turn to alcohol to help them.
This is why it is crucial to help them find the treatment they need. If someone you care about is suffering from alcoholism, do your best to help them get treatment. This can make a difference in someone’s life, especially if they would have trouble doing it alone.