Even though alcohol addiction affects millions across the world, it’s still a bit of a mystery why some folks get addicted to alcohol and others don’t. There are so many factors at play when it comes to substance abuse that it’s hard to define clearly what to do or not to do.
But alcohol addiction does take a clear path when it comes to its progression. Read on to find out more about this interesting subject matter.
You Use Alcohol as a Social Lubricant and It Makes You Feel Good
Alcohol use disorder begins in certain folks when they start using alcohol to get that ‘high’ or endorphin rush. Not only does alcohol give you more of those feel-good chemicals, but it helps you feel less inhibited and braver in social situations. All of this can result in a person starting to use alcohol every day or every week.
Eventually, You Miss Alcohol and Want More of It
In the beginning, the addict might only drink on the weekends with friends or at social events. But eventually, they start missing that ‘high’ and aren’t able to feel good without consuming alcohol. They start drinking even when they aren’t at a social event, consuming alcohol every single day with or without friends.
You Need to Consume More Alcohol to Get That Previous High
The problem with alcohol consumption or substance abuse of any kind is that as time goes on, you need more and more of the substance to feel that previous ‘high’.
You might get that high from one or two beers at first. But then as your body and brain get used to the substance, you will need 5-10 beers to get that same high. And on and on the cycle continues.
The more you seek that high, the more alcohol you need to achieve it. You are stuck in the never-ending loop of drinking more and more just to stay at an even keel. You might try to cut back on your own, but your neurochemistry has changed so drastically that it seems impossible for you to do it on your own.
Another issue with alcohol use disorder is that because alcohol consumption can negatively affect every aspect of your life (like your work, relationships, and health), you can start relying upon alcohol to numb yourself from the downward spiral that your life has undertaken. You don’t want to deal with the misery of daily trials and tribulations, so you drink to ignore it all and feel good despite it all.
Alcohol Addiction Results From This Psychological Trigger
As you can see, the psychological trigger of always chasing that ‘high’ causes alcohol addiction in some folks. But not everyone who starts drinking will end up addicted to the substance.
Even so, if you know that alcohol addiction runs in your family, it might be a good idea to avoid alcohol altogether. You never know what might trigger your addiction, so it’s better to abstain.
Keep browsing through similar articles on our website, so you can learn more about quitting drinking and substance abuse in general.
