Today is World Sobriety and Alcoholism Day. I don’t really know what alcohol tastes like and yet it’s a subject that is close to my heart. Indeed, I was born with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

I’m not a doctor, I dont have all the statistics, I just talk about my case if you want more informations I give you a link with more details on it at the end of the poste.

My mother was a drug addict and alcoholic. It seems that she reduced her alcohol consumption during her pregnancy but she was not able to stop completely.

At birthed we were two with a NAS: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. My twin doesn’t survived.

When I was a child, it caused me hyper activity and attention problems as well as difficulties learning to read (which have lessened as I have grown up; today I read a lot and I love it).

In an adult a person with FAS may have:

• Mental health disorders,
• Inappropriate sexual behavior,
• Bad experiences at school,
• Problems with the law,
• Addictions such as alcoholism and/or drug addiction.

I am monitored for my mental health, I am more likely to become schizophrenic or have paranoid disorders. (for the moment nothing declared and I have soon reached the age limit (21 years) for the declaration of schizophrenia.)

However, I don’t know what they mean by “inappropriate sexual behavior”, my few partners have never complained about it and I promise I have no problem with the police and the law in general!

More seriously, my biggest problem is that I am more sensitive to addictions. My brain is that of an alcoholic and a drug addict. The slightest intake, even accidental, of one or the other risks making me become dependent. And for me the 24 to 48 hours of hell having to endure alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This happened to me only once with a cocktail that I thought was alcohol-free, I don’t recommend it to anyone.

• Tremors especially in the hands.
• Profuse sweating and racing pulse.
• Nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
• Anxiety, irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbances.
• Craving, (irrepressible desire to drink)

And that happen to me after just one drink. In the most serious cases there is a risk of epileptic seizures and/or delirium tremens (confusion, fever, hallucinations, etc.)

I avoid pastries and chocolate that contain them and when I go out with my friends we always manage to have non-alcoholic drinks for me. And I ask them to avoid being completely drunk in front of me. Not really related to my addiction but it brings back bad memories with my dad.

Personally I did pretty well but FAS can really be very dangerous.

It can cause delays in the child’s mental or physical development. They are more prone to heart, respiratory and digestive problems, to the point of death.

A child with FAS may be less suspicious of people they don’t know and be an easy victim for anyone with bad intentions.

My mom was a big alcohol drinker, but we don’t know how much alcohol is safe for the fetus. Every drop of alcohol that a pregnant woman drinks will pass through the baby’s bloodstream. It is therefore recommended that a pregnant woman stop all consumption.

If, ladies, you realized your pregnancy a little late or you have difficulty managing your addictions, consider seeing a doctor to help you reduce your consumption and take care of your child as soon as possible. A child with FAS If treated early enough, the symptoms may even be greatly reduced.

If you need more information you can go there :

Addiciton And Pregnancy

If you need a confidential help and you are living in UK you can call: 0203 870 3824