Alcoholism is a compulsive behavior that, like other addictions, appeals to the brain’s pleasure regions. Regular alcohol consumption causes your brain to link the substance to emotions like pleasure, relaxation, and loss of inhibitions. Cravings and dependencies may emerge from this, causing alcohol addiction. Triggers for addiction vary from person to person, and different situations may increase your risk of alcohol dependence. Here are some of the ways that expose you to it:
Mental Health Disorders
Depression or anxiety disorders affect your moods and increase your tendency towards worry and stress. This may encourage you to find a “numbness” or relief through alcohol consumption. Once someone has felt the calming effects of alcohol, they may develop a dependency on it to escape the constant struggle with their mental health disorders. With professional help, all these conditions are treatable.
Family History
You may become dependent on alcohol if your relative or parent has been an addict. According to scientists, alcohol-specific genes trigger you to misuse it as a source of comfort or relaxation.
Growing around people who abuse alcohol may change your views of alcohol, allowing you to perceive it as an ordinary drink with no negative side effects. S belief can unintentionally lead to severe addiction.
Stressful Environments
Stress at home or work can drive you to seek solace in alcohol. It acts as a depressant and sedative, relaxing your mind from stress-related thoughts. This calming effect attracts you to use alcohol whenever you’re under pressure.
Alcohol consumption only relieves your worries in the short term. If stress is the cause of your addiction, find healthier ways to cope such as exercising, meditating, or finding professional help through professional rehab centers.
Exposure to Alcohol at an Early Age
Exposure to alcohol use when you’re young increases your risk of becoming addicted. Your body grows accustomed to it and continues to want, to expect, more. To satisfy your urge, you become dependent on alcohol. With the help of professional rehabilitators, you can identify exposure as the cause and permanent treatment offered.
Drinking for Fun
Binge drinking is only one type of excessive drinking, but it is the most common type that leads to addiction. You may make it a routine practice, enjoying the way it distracts you.
Consuming alcohol for pleasure increases your risk of addiction. It activates the dopamine neurons and opioid cells, hormones that create feelings of joy and euphoria. This leads to abusing alcohol for pleasure.
Peer Pressure
If your circle of friends misuses alcohol, you may feel pressured to drink to fit in. You want to be as relaxed and stress-free as you perceive your peers to be. This attracts you to rely on alcohol to match their energy. Repeated drinking to be accepted in your clique leads to addiction.
Portrayal in Media
Media glorification of alcohol and seeing adults drink also attract you to try it. It is often portrayed as a standard part of life, one that doesn’t necessarily impact your life. This is a dangerous thing to tell yourself. It can lead to a false sense of security with frequent alcohol consumption. Unlike in the media, alcohol always impacts you in some way.
Lack of Support
Lack of parental guidance on the dangers of alcohol puts you at higher risk of abusing alcohol. Curiosity may lead you to indulge in alcohol without your knowledge.
Loneliness may also encourage you to consume alcohol. The comfort from drinking makes you a potential candidate for alcohol addiction.
Self-Medication
If you’re grieving or traumatized, it is easy to turn to self-medicating. Sadness and depression can lead people to start drinking. The effects of alcohol—soothing your mind and body and making you forget your pain— cause your body to crave alcohol whenever you are stressed, leading to alcoholism. Due to the temporary effects of alcohol on your emotions, you’ll misuse alcohol to forget your struggles.
Start Your Recovery from Alcohol Addiction Today
Alcohol addiction treatment starts at the source to make sure you do not relapse. Whatever factors have led to your dependence, personalized treatment has long-lasting effects. Effective alcohol addiction measures like rehab give you a permanent solution to alcoholism. You identify the root causes of your addiction, such as those listed above. Find a treatment or professional center that fits your needs and start your recovery today.
