It’s the needed taste, the excess of wine. A woman sits alone in the silence of her apartment, with only a bottle for company; others will soon join it, be tossed to the floor without care. This is a ritual, formed over the years: its origins denied, its purpose neglected. She does not admit why she drinks. She simply sips again and again. And the consequence is a shattered morning and a memory that refuses to wilt.
The woman was sexually abused; and the truth, she’s learned, can’t be hidden beneath alcohol. This doesn’t stop her from trying, though.
Those who have been assaulted will often become dependent on some form of liquor. The statistics are unfortunate: nine percent of those who suffered childhood rapes will become addicted to drinking before they have passed the age of 18. Those who were abused as adults, however, are likely to become users within the first year after their attack (13.9 percent).
And this becomes a danger as the effects of alcohol are exaggerated within the female form, as opposed to a man’s. Women greatly increase their chances for cirrhosis, hepatitis, heart failure, and breast cancer. When drinking becomes an indulgence, it offers no rewards – only worries.
It is still the most common drug of choice for those who have been victimized, however. It is estimated that 50 percent of women will select alcohol to help them forget their attack, as opposed to the 20 percent who will choose recreational drugs. This cannot continue. The damage caused by drinking is irreparable and potentially fatal.
It is vital, then, for women to find treatment. There are institutions available such as lapalomatreatment.com, that can offer therapy and support – both of which are essential in recognizing alcoholism and its cause.
Rape could never be forgiven. It cannot, however, become an addiction. Seek help and discover the necessary strength.
