We’ve all seen someone who had too much to drink act in a way they never would if they were sober. When morning rolled around, there was likely a vow to never let it happen again. This is a fairly common scenario, but how many of those hangover promises are kept?
A new study seems to prove that embarrassment over an excessive-drinking session doesn’t lead to more sobriety. It may drive that person back to the bottle or the bar. In a study of alcoholics and relapse rates researchers found that the more shame-ridden a drinker was, the more likely he or she was to relapse and the more drinks he or she downed during that relapse.
The study, led by Jess Tracy of the University of British Columbia, looked at 105 people who had been in recovery from alcoholism for six months or less. In the first session participants filled out several questionnaires about their health and personality. Then they were videotaped as they discussed the last time they embarrassed themselves while drinking or otherwise felt shame about an alcoholic experience. Afterward they rated how shameful and guilty they felt about the incident.
Four months later participants returned to discuss their recovery and current health. The authors found that displays of physical shame in the first 10 seconds of the video were strongly correlated with relapse rates. The more shame they felt, the more likely they were to drink again.
The results bolster other findings that have shown that shame and humiliation are not effective methods of treating alcohol and addiction. They may lead to increased substance abuse in the long run. This makes sense, as many addictions begin as a way to escape negative feelings, so adding additional negative emotions into the mix only gives a vulnerable individual more to overcome. Shame is a particularly devastating emotion that can impact overall health and put someone at greater risk for mental health issues like depression.
In contrast positive treatment methods encourage the individual to take responsibility for his or her actions but to avoid seeing him or herself as having a fundamentally bad character. They help patients interpret what happened as bad behavior that can be avoided in the future. Reducing shame can reduce the pain that may lead to relapse and perpetuate the vicious drinking cycle.
If you or someone you love needs treatment for alcohol abuse, call The Canyon today. We are here 24 hours a day to answer match you with the best treatment options for yourself or a loved one.
