Causes Of Alcoholism - Advice & Treatment

What causes alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a chronic disease affecting the brain and nervous system of sufferers. It is a fatal disease and cannot be cured. There are many causes and risk factors associated with alcoholism however, it can be treated, so sufferers are able to stop drinking.

If you ever find yourself wondering, am I an alcoholic? You cannot afford to ignore that thought. Alcohol is such a powerful chemical that alcoholics who do not stop drinking will probably die as a result or become brain-damaged.

A dysfunctional and harmful relationship with alcohol is a symptom of the disease of alcoholism, not its cause. Alcoholics drink the way they do because they are addicted to alcohol, not the other way around. Nobody can predict whose drinking is going to end up in alcoholism, and there is no way for sufferers to avoid alcoholism other than never to take a drink.

Nevertheless, alcoholics are not always treated with sympathy or understanding. Even healthcare professionals are liable to give up on them. This is because alcoholism is often viewed as a moral failure or a psychological ‘weakness’.

This makes no sense. Alcoholics – who will climb through a thorny hedge, if necessary, to get a drink – are no weaker or less determined than anybody else. Nevertheless, if as a society, we tend to drink, there are bound to be victims who cannot cope with its effects.

Causes and risk factors of alcoholism

Part of the lack of understanding is that alcoholism is often confused with other words that mean different things, especially alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency.

What drives a person to drink so much to be considered an alcoholic? Are they drowning their sorrows? Do they wish to forget their past and escape the present? Do they feel pain and can only lose themselves in alcohol? What actually causes someone to be an alcoholic?

There could be many complicated reasons why people drink. But if you could get to the root of the problem, it could be a massive breakthrough. It could unlock the key to your rehabilitation and show you how to live without alcohol.

Alcoholism can be a long-standing, debilitating illness which affects both the body and the mind. In most cases, alcohol addiction may not have one primary cause, but there were many contributing factors which could lead someone to physical and psychiatric dependency.

Biological factors

It is often said genetics, environment, life experience and disorders such as stress and depression, among other considerations can play a vital role in someone developing a drinking problem. Some have felt alcohol addiction may be hereditary, but no actual alcoholism gene has been identified, although your upbringing may influence whether you grow up to drink yourself.

You might have far more chance of being an alcoholic if you had a parent who drank. It is widely believed causes of alcoholism may run in families and some people may be genetically predisposed to drink, especially if they grew up with alcoholic parents.

Many claim to have an addictive personality which makes them prone to drink. It is also not unknown for some people to give in to peer pressure from possibly friends or family members who may be unwittingly encouraging them to drink.

There are cases of people dealing with an unexpected life event, such as suffering a trauma or a bereavement which could cause them to start drinking heavily. If you have suddenly become unemployed or have gone through a breakup, you may turn to alcohol to cope.

Psychological factors of alcoholism

It is also common for people afflicted with a psychiatric disorder to consume alcohol as a form of self-medication. Mental health issues play a prominent role in the causes of alcoholism.

There are instances of individuals suffering from numerous conditions, from stress, anxiety, and depression, to post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar, falling prey to alcoholism. They may be drinking to try and curtail their symptoms, as it is believed people who have psychological disorders are more likely to turn to alcohol, but it is only a temporary solution.

However, you think it has the desired effect, making you forget your worries, and you want to repeat the feeling. So, you keep on drinking, possibly on a weekly or daily basis until it becomes a habit. Alcohol is used as a coping mechanism, you think it will make you feel better, but it only makes things worse. This is because alcohol is a depressant and affects the chemicals in the brain, possibly altering your mood and making you susceptible to addiction.

But if you are grief-stricken, lost or depressed, or if it is down to your personal history, you may feel alcohol is truly your escape. You think it is the only thing that can get you through life, which is how so many people develop a drinking problem. These are the triggers which may set you on the road to dependency and cause you to become an alcoholic.

Treatment is the initial action for a healthier life. Our alcohol treatment experts will work with you to produce a personalized overall recovery programme with measurable goals.

Comprehensive recovery programmes may involve inpatient or outpatient treatment, counselling and support groups.

This is the time to look for help

If you or a loved one are looking for advice or treatment for alcoholism, we can help. From the initial stage of admission to aftercare programmes, we can assist you throughout the process. Reach out to us today.