Alcoholism is a common issue for many individuals today. It manifests as a stress-induced, trauma-related, or anxiety-driven condition.
Genetic factors increase the chances of individuals struggling with alcohol. However, this is not a rule. Alcoholic tendencies are enhanced by other factors, such as stress, trauma, depression, or societal pressures.
Explore the root causes of your alcoholism in therapy. The causes typically include learned behavior, outside pressures, and mental health challenges a person experiences over a prolonged period.
In this article, we explore different causes that lead to alcohol abuse. Also, we analyze how to manage them with medical assistance and reliable support systems.
Why Do People Become Addicted to Alcohol?
Alcohol dependence is a specific condition that results from a variety of factors. Genetics and specific brain chemistry often affect your ability to resist alcohol consumption. This applies to both drinking alcohol to celebrate and to deal with life challenges.
In the following passages, we show you the most common causes of alcoholism.
Genetic Factors
Genetics plays a significant role in increasing the chances of someone becoming an alcoholic. For example, your parents or other family members have resorted to alcohol as a coping mechanism in the past. Because of this, you may find alcohol more pleasurable, which leads to repeated use.
Of course, this is not always the case. Children or spouses of functioning alcoholics who witnessed their loved one slipping deeper into addiction often use this as a cautionary tale. This encourages them to steer clear of drug use or alcohol misuse.
They consciously avoid repeating patterns of behavior seen in family members who were misusing alcohol. They do so in response to trauma despite inheriting genetic predispositions.
Psychological Factors
Prolonged mental health conditions are a common risk for developing drinking habits. Alcoholics resort to binge drinking as a way to escape stress, mask their depression, or relieve anxiety.
Although this may seem like a helpful trick, it quickly develops into severe alcohol problems. This leads to health issues and consequences on your work, relationships, and responsibilities.
The most common psychological signs of alcoholism include:
- Drinking to cope with stress and using alcohol to escape emotions
- Experimenting with alcohol in youth and socializing in environments where alcohol is prevalent
- Self-medicating mental health issues or hiding emotional pain with alcohol
- Craving alcohol for pleasure or depending on alcohol to relax
- Increasing consumption to achieve the same effect as when you were starting to drink
- Managing anxiety with alcohol
- Continuing to drink despite negative consequences
- Struggling with impulse control
Alcoholism is a complex health condition that affects every part of your life. The recovery from it often requires medical assistance in monitoring your progress or dealing with withdrawal symptoms.
Environmental and Social Factors
Social and environmental elements, such as peer pressure, family history, or cultural norms, strongly contribute to alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism is especially common in adolescents. They succumb to the pressure of their peers or situations they are in (celebrations, parties, weddings, etc.) much more quickly than adults.
Alcoholics recognize alcohol as a helpful tool for relaxing or managing stress. Then, they begin to use it in other situations. Alcoholics also often face societal pressures to drink. They fail to see the negative effects that alcohol has on their health in the long term.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Factors
Behavior and lifestyle habits are common risk factors for developing alcohol addiction. For example, a person will develop drinking patterns as a way to cope with stress. Others spiral into addiction by frequently attending events where drinking is normalized or encouraged.
Over time, this will lead to brain changes that lead to repetitive alcohol use. Without alcohol, a person finds it hard to deal with daily responsibilities. They also lack concentration or have trouble sleeping and managing impulsive behaviors or mood swings.
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Alcoholism?
Here is how to recognize self-destructive warning signs of your loved one struggling with alcoholism:
- Developing tolerance over time
- Normalizing heavy drinking due to cultural factors
- Spiraling into addiction due to lack of support
- Drinking to cope with mental health disorders
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Lacking healthy activities and hobbies
- Using alcohol or other substances to self-medicate
Result of Alcoholism: Social and Personal Impact
Alcoholism does not only impact individuals but those around them, as well. People struggling with alcohol, drugs, or other substance use experience significant psychological, emotional, and physical consequences. They affect their behavior and decision-making.
As the dependence grows, alcoholics begin to experience trouble maintaining personal relationships with family and friends. They avoid responsibilities and social interactions as they become more dependent on alcohol.
If an individual is not ready to seek help for their alcoholism, this leads them deeper into isolation. As their loved ones strive to help them with their functioning alcoholism, alcoholics block any conversation about their issue. They often rationalize it or minimize it.
This delays the recovery and makes it more challenging. The common effects of alcoholism on an individual include:
- Job loss due to poor performance or absence at work
- Distancing and isolation from family members and friends
- Violent outbursts and patterns of abuse
- Public intoxication that leads to legal troubles
- Health deterioration, such as cardiovascular issues, liver disease, and increased risks of cancer
How to Prevent a Person from Becoming an Alcoholic?
Preventing alcoholism is different for every person. It depends on the factors that contribute to them developing this habit. Consciously choosing healthy lifestyles and avoiding social pressures and risky situations is a significant first step.
Other helpful tips for preventing alcoholism are:
- Set clear limits and boundaries: Decide on a limit for alcohol consumption, such as a specific number of drinks in certain situations.
- Understand and manage triggers: Learn about your triggers and deal with them head-on by engaging in a calming activity or relying on a loved one for support and encouragement.
- Educate yourself: Do your research on alcoholism and learn about the health consequences that stem from alcohol overconsumption.
- Build a strong support system: Surround yourself with people who will support your sobriety and socialize with friends who will not tolerate unhealthy behaviors.
- Practice healthy coping mechanisms: During the days you particularly struggle., exercise mindfulness, meditation, or other activities that promote relaxation.
- Stay active and positive: Develop healthy hobbies and routines that prevent boredom, often leading to alcohol use.
- Limit exposure to risky environments: Avoid risky activities and situations for your sobriety, such as situations where heavy drinking is expected or normalized.
Therapy and counseling teach you how to mend relationships with others and yourself. This helps you understand the most profound psychological causes of your addiction and how to heal from them. It also encourages you to mend the relationships that suffer from the consequences of your addiction.
Should You Ask for Professional Help?
We always encourage seeking professional help for treating your alcohol addiction. This is applied regardless of the intensity and longevity of your alcohol consumption.
With professional help, you can learn accountability and build a healthy structure in your life. This helps you avoid risky patterns of behavior and situations that may lead to slipping or relapsing.
At the Ridge Ohio, we recommend seeking professional assistance for your addiction at any point of your recovery. Our dedicated medical professionals provide 24/7 support in treating addiction to patients and their loved ones.
We believe that a healthy support system and early detection of alcoholism are key to recovery. Whether your addiction stems from genetics, environmental, or psychological issues, it is crucial to work on resolving them. This is the only way to achieve and maintain sobriety.
Key Takeaways
- Alcoholism is caused by psychological, genetic, or social factors.
- Alcoholics deal with significant health issues and difficulty in maintaining relationships or fulfilling obligations.
- People turn to alcohol to cope with stress, avoid healing from psychological trauma, or due to societal pressures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Everyone Who Drinks Regularly Become an Alcoholic?
No, not everyone who drinks regularly becomes an alcoholic. It depends on the effect that alcohol has on a person’s life and the reason they turn to alcohol. Casual drinkers enjoy alcohol in moderation without developing a dependence or experiencing negative consequences. On the other hand, alcoholics have a compulsion to drink.
Can Personality Traits Influence Alcoholism?
Yes, certain personality traits can influence the likelihood of developing alcoholism. However, they do not always guarantee a person will take this path. High tendencies for impulsivity and risk-taking or struggling with anxiety can make individuals more susceptible to drinking. However, personality is just one piece of the puzzle when deciphering alcoholism in each patient.
Is Alcoholism a Mental Health Disorder?
Yes, alcoholism is a mental health disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). Specifically, it is a substance use disorder (SUD) within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This means that alcoholism is a complex condition characterized by a variety of symptoms. They affect an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health and well-being.
