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For my book I’m revising…

Reasons that drive a female character to start drinking and become an alcoholic (excluding death in the family)…go!
I think your original take on it could be believable, but perhaps you’ll need more context than the one that got away. Is there a back story to that love? How deep did their connection go? Perhaps if you build onto it and include deep depression due to pining after him and never succeeding to replace him?

I do like the idea already mentioned of her having an injury. I’ve seen that plot a lot for men, but never women. Perhaps she had done some chivalrous, life-risking endeavour for the guy who got away. Maybe she saved him but then he left her broken…physically and mentally.

Another possibility…child loss? Or perhaps the loss of her entire family? Or some circumstance that left her all alone at rock bottom and she just couldn’t see any reason for living anymore so she self medicated? The fear of being alone runs deep.
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
I’m trying to steer* away from death in the family as the reason, but those other things could also do it justice. @cherryxblossom
@PoisonLace She could also be trying to suppress some sort of magical or paranormal ability. (Just throwing that out there because that’s more my type of read 😂)
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
If it were a sci-fi, then I might consider it. @cherryxblossom
PassingThrough · 46-50, M
Physical pain/self medicating?
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
In the first chapter, she does find out the guy she was dating for 5 years is already married. But I’ve been told that’s not enough to lead her to becoming an alcoholic, so I’m a bit lost on how else to twist it. @PassingThrough
PassingThrough · 46-50, M
@PoisonLace you could do something like she finds out he’s married and she got in her car afterwards and ends up in an accident. He never knew she got hurt because he knew she didn’t want to see him again and she was torn up physically and emotionally because of the betrayal and the accident. She still suffers back pains or leg pain from what happened and so she self medicates because the hospital bills were too much for her to handle and she lost her insurance. Something many could relate to.
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
I never thought about that possibility!@PassingThrough
Lostpoet · M
I bet there's a dick involved somewhere along the way.
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
There are quite a few actually, and the first one is married, and she didn’t know until 5 years later 😆@Lostpoet
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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
Laterally watching your own kids starve to death. Not being able to do anything about it.

Just watching it I mean. The death is different.
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@PoisonLace you could possibly work in a miscarriage for your character. Just being under weight could cause it or a hundred other reasons.
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
That’s an option…but not sure yet. @DeWayfarer
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@PoisonLace heck use the current situation with many alcohols today. Social isolation is totally relatable today. And could happen in any age group. Perhaps on social media all the time. Actually know of such a person on this site that way. By herself as well I might mention.
JohnnyNoir · 56-60, M
Lonely and shut in, shunned by family
JohnnyNoir · 56-60, M
@PoisonLace the movie is Holiday. Cary Grant co stars. It’s a comedy but the characters are kinda tragic. It’s probably my favorite Hepburn role. She’s very vulnerable in this role, quite the contrast to her usual strong character. Of course she’s transformed at the end but she is great. Lew Ayers is her drunk brother and he steals the movie IMO
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
I love older movies, and will definitely have to watch it! Thank you 😊 @JohnnyNoir
JohnnyNoir · 56-60, M
@PoisonLace it was made right before Philadelphia Story. 2 of her best
Trauma
Abuse
Failure of a career
Physical deformity
Bipolar
Isolation
Amputation
Physical pain
Injury and getting addicted to painkillers
Failed marriage
Wanting to Disasociate/forget
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
I might be able to use some of these because they have range. 😇@OogieBoogie
Pfuzylogic · M
Upcoming family reunion led by mother in law
Tracos · 51-55, M
Loneliness and isolation either by choice or fate
SW-User
JaggedLittlePill · 46-50, F
Divorce
Career in shambles
Life in shambles
Self-sabotage
Depression
Anxiety
Renaci · 36-40
Genetic predisposition can be a whole category in itself.
Abusive relationships.
Peer pressure.
Mental illness.
A coping mechanism.
Self medicating.
PoisonLace · 41-45, F
I will definitely have to do some research! 😯😃@Renaci

 
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