"Have you ever noticed something change after a glass of wine or a cocktail? Maybe you or your partner suddenly become more talkative, affectionate, or emotionally open. It might feel like a wall has come down. For a little while, everything feels easier. More connected. More loving. Then the next morning, it's gone. If this feels familiar, there's a good reason. Alcohol can temporarily unlock emotions that feel stuck or out of reach."
"Childhood emotional neglect happens when your emotional needs were not noticed, valued, or responded to while you were growing up. This can happen even in homes that look loving from the outside. Your parents may have provided food, clothing, and shelter-but rarely asked what you were feeling or helped you make sense of it. You may have heard: "You're too sensitive." "Don't cry." "You'll be fine." Messages like these can teach a child to bury their feelings."
Childhood emotional neglect occurs when a child's emotional needs are not noticed, valued, or responded to, even in homes that provide for physical needs. Repeated messages like "You're too sensitive" or "Don't cry" teach children to bury feelings and manage alone. As adults, people can appear independent while feeling disconnected, struggling to show love and finding closeness unfamiliar or unsafe. Alcohol can temporarily unlock emotions that feel stuck, making connection feel easier but fleeting. True emotional safety and lasting intimacy require recognizing early neglect, developing emotional awareness, and practicing connection without relying on substances.
Read at Psychology Today
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