Peer pressure could be argued to be one of the biggest reasons that teens fall into drinking, though there are many other factors of course. When a youngster is faced with so many stresses and challenges in their life they may seek an outlet like drinking in order to try and cope with the maelstrom of emotions they feel. It isn't easy to cope with, for the person involved or their family. Coming through a difficult period and deciding to curb drinking can have some really surprising benefits that make life seem worth living again.
You can use your experiences to help others, not just now, but in the future too. If you're strong enough to quit drinking, you're strong enough to talk to others about it's dangers - and do so in a way that is helpful and not patronising. The best type of support often comes from the people who have been there and come through - you could be that person.
Leading on from this, you might well find that you make new friends and acquaintances, who become a firm fixture in your life. Your wisdom and experience can be appreciated. If you're attending counselling, therapy or AA Meetings, this gives you further opportunity to share your experiences and help others as you recover.
Emotions aside, there are the physical benefits too. You'll feel better, you'll look better. You'll perform better. People will tell you. Your sleep will improve, your skin will glow and you'll have much more energy. Energy that you can put into other positive things.
Taking a sensible, moderate approach to alcohol and drinking is something that doesn't just apply to teenagers, those who live in homes in which consuming alcohol is done on a very regular basis, to excess are more likely to being to abuse alcohol themselves. As a parent of a teenager who may be reading this, you also need to lead by example and assess your own consumption too.
About the Author:
Laura Chapman is a recovering alcoholic. She has been sober for six years after falling pregnant with her first child. It has been a long and hard path for her because of these things, but while it still feels like one day at time, she feels she can appreciate how much better life is now. For more information on five main benefits of sobriety, visit www.recovery.org/5-unexpected-benefits-of-sobriety/. Contact: Laura Chapman at laura@cpmtray.com.
![[E-mail story]](https://strugglingteens.com/images/page/storytools_mail.gif "E-mail this story to a friend"){kind=small}
![[Print story]](https://strugglingteens.com/images/page/storytools_print.gif "Version of this story optimized for printing"){kind=small}