In this day and age, every person knows the risks of consuming excess alcohol. The biggest danger is an addiction which leads to other health issues like liver disease. However, how often do people ask why a person is addicted to alcohol? Recent studies have shown that alcoholism is a chronic disease that can affect anyone despite their gender, race, age, etc. Research has also shown that people drink for different reasons, which is why different treatment plans work for different people. Here is a breakdown of the common reasons you might be addicted to alcohol.
Psychological Factors
Everyone has their own way of handling stressful situations. It is important to be mindful of how you handle your emotions, as that can affect behavioral traits. For instance, people suffering from depression and anxiety can become alcoholics. They might also develop other addictions like gambling, gaming, or eating disorders. This can be caused by the fact that their brains are seeking relief or a reward. Everyone deals with stress at one point in their life, and while some people can handle it well, others, not so much. This leads to alcoholism as a way of finding temporary relief.
Genetics
Studies have shown that alcoholism can also be caused by genetics. Have you ever sat down with a group of friends over a few drinks and noticed that while some can easily limit their intake, others want to keep going? This often signifies one has an issue with alcohol. Alcohol brings feelings of pleasure which compels the brain to keep repeating the process for more pleasure. When you start depending on alcohol for pleasure, especially at a young age, you are likely to develop an addiction.
Physical Factors
When you drink alcohol, there is a physical reaction that takes place in your body. Alcohol stimulates the brain to release endorphins and dopamine, two chemicals responsible for giving you satisfaction. Technically, they act as a natural painkiller. Also, some people’s brains release more pleasure chemicals than other people when taking alcohol. This makes them more susceptible to physical dependency. The change that alcohol makes in one’s brain chemistry plays a role in addiction. That is why even when someone has decided to go ahead with treatment, they can still relapse as alcohol has compromised their impulse control.
Environmental Factors
Over the last couple of years, there have been several studies to explore whether one’s environment plays a role in them developing a disorder. For instance, alcohol advertisements always show people drinking and having a good time, which can be an inciting factor. Proximity also plays a role where people closer to liquor stores are likely to participate in drinking. You will also notice that students or individuals whose friends are hard drinkers are likely to become drinkers as well. While most environmental factors are not the reason for an alcohol use disorder, they can be the root of the condition where one starts small and eventually becomes an addict.
Traumatic Life Events
Another reason why some people drink is due to traumatic events such as abuse, loss of a loved one, job, etc. As Infinite Recovery announced, it is always important to address such traumatic causes so that the person can heal. If you treat alcoholism and fail to address these traumatic events through therapy, the victim is likely to relapse. Also, trauma affects people differently. Factors like one’s strengths, sensibilities, self-esteem, and position in the family or society can all affect how one copes with the trauma.
These are some of the reasons you find you are addicted to alcohol. However, once you find you have gotten to this point, seek help. Alcohol affects your mental and physical health and messes up your social life.
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