I too had to learn more about alcoholism and how the body gets addicted to where a person has to consume or begins to experience withdrawals. Yet also the mood swings and the behavioral loops. Being in a good mood and then how the personality would change. Both my husband and my father were binge alcoholics.

It’s not just physical numbing, instead it’s emotional numbing and as a self medicating antidepressant and to reduce anxiety. The thing about wine is that it’s faster acting where it’s absorbed in the esophagus and gets to the brain faster while other alcohol like vodka and whiskey are slower as hard liquor needs to get absorbed by the blood stream before reaching the brain.

Over time it takes a toll on the body and brain and can cause liver damage. The fact that your oldest got help and learned about it is very telling. He should not have to live with the instability that made him reach out for help. It’s traumatizing to live with a parent that can become so unstable due to alcohol abuse. A person doesn’t have to be a falling down drunk. Most actually function while consuming.