Why Do Some People Become Alcoholics? Intrepid Detox, FL

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in America today, but exactly what makes alcohol addictive? According to the NCADD, 17.6 million people in the United States suffer from alcohol dependence or chronic alcohol abuse. That’s about one in twelve adults, with many more engaging in unhealthy binge drinking habits that can develop into alcoholism. Psychologists can also diagnose and treat these “co-occurring” psychological conditions. Further, a psychologist may play an important role in coordinating the services a drinker in treatment receives from various health professionals.

The two manuals use similar but not identical nomenclature to classify alcohol problems. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.

Understanding Why People Turn to Alcohol

But not all members of an affected family are necessarily prone to addiction. “As with heart disease or diabetes, there’s no one gene that makes you vulnerable,” Koob says. This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique, and this content is to provide an overall understanding of substance use disorders.

Research has shown a close link between alcoholism and biological factors, particularly genetics and physiology. While some individuals can limit the amount of alcohol they consume, others feel a strong impulse to keep going. For some, alcohol gives off feelings of pleasure, encouraging the brain to repeat the behavior. Repetitive behavior like this can make you more vulnerable to developing alcoholism. After a long period of drinking, your brain begins to rely on alcohol to produce certain chemicals.

Warning signs

Those who are not struggling with an alcohol abuse disorder will learn from this mistake and avoid drinking and driving in the future. As another example, say someone starts frequenting the bars too often and his or her significant other threatens to leave if the behavior continues. Someone who is struggling with an alcohol abuse disorder might stop going to the bars for a short period of time, but continue drinking heavily at home. Eventually, he or she will return to the bars despite the threat of interpersonal consequences. Someone who is not struggling with alcoholism will simply stop going to the bars and stop drinking altogether, and put more effort into bettering his or her relationship.

• He outlined the unique stages of drinkers categorized by their drinking behaviors.
• Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior.
• Throughout the following years, Jellinek conducted another study on a wider sample size which led to another piece.
• Even after formal treatment ends, many people seek additional support through continued involvement in such groups.

When you don’t drink, you might sweat, shake, or become nauseous – these are early symptoms of withdrawal. Binge drinking certainly is a problem among high school and college students, but surprisingly, the group most affected by alcohol use disorders are middle-aged adults. White adults in that age group have had to deal with the complete transformation of the world they knew in a few short years. Far from having career success, economic prosperity, and the golden age their parents conditioned them for, they’re facing an ever-more-divided world where they have to do their best to scratch out a life.

Cultural and Social Factors

If they regularly rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism, can’t bear to face a social gathering without a drink, or need alcohol to relax, this could be a sign they’re in the pre-alcoholic stage. Seeking treatment during the pre-alcoholic stage is possible but is highly unlikely. The pre-alcoholic stage is a formative stage; people go Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House in one of two directions. Those who begin using alcohol as a tool someone uses to unwind after a long day, bolster themselves in social situations, or help them fall asleep progress into the next stage of alcoholism. Those who find alternatives to drinking either stay in the pre-alcoholic stage or move away from drinking altogether.

Ultimately this can lead to psychological or physical dependence upon alcohol. For example, if they drink to cope with stress or negative feelings, it may seem to work in the short term, but increased cortisol levels leave the person feeling more anxious than when they started drinking. This contributes to increased tolerance and the individual needs to drink more to produce the same effect. Alcohol use can actually make physical changes in the brain’s chemistry and functioning, which plays a big part in what makes alcohol addictive.

What is Urge Surfing and How Can It Help My Recovery?

There is no such thing as not being “alcoholic enough.” There is no reason to wait until you feel like your drinking is bad enough to warrant treatment. You can ask for help at any point, whenever you realize your drinking has gone too far. It’s difficult to identify because alcohol has yet to cause any problems and drinking has not become compulsive. Even those in the pre-alcoholic stage are unlikely to recognize that their drinking may eventually progress into something serious. But the prospects for successful long-term problem resolution are good for people who seek help from appropriate sources. A psychologist can begin with the drinker by assessing the types and degrees of problems the drinker has experienced.

It’s important for professionals of any industry to find other ways to de-stress in order to prevent alcohol abuse. The more frequently a person drinks, the more their tolerance may rise. This then requires a person to consume more alcohol in a single sitting to produce the desired buzz.

People rarely spend an indefinite time in the early stages of alcoholism; it almost always progresses eventually. In cases like these, people generally learn from their mistakes, and develop somewhat of an aversion to these specific drinks. The smell of Goldschlager makes their stomach turn, and the sight of a shot of Fireball instigates a gag reflex. In some people, the development of these aversions will not occur, no matter how terrible the experience. For most adults, moderate alcohol use — no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women and older people — is relatively harmless.

• Career paths that are more likely to face high levels of stress due to long hours and strenuous tasks include doctors, nurses, emergency rescue workers, construction workers and military.
• Pleasure circuits in adolescent brains also operate in overdrive, making drug and alcohol use even more rewarding and enticing.
• You can ask for help at any point, whenever you realize your drinking has gone too far.
• Alcoholism is a diagnosable illness, and so it comes with a defined set of symptoms.