Understanding Alcohol Addiction & How to Spot It
Alcohol, for many people, seems like a harmless substance enjoyed for a good time and nothing else. For others, though, it can be a treacherous path.
Drinks like wine, beer, and other hard liquors contain a type of alcohol that affects the central nervous system and, in return, every organ in your body. When drinking, that alcohol goes into your stomach and small intestines, enters into your bloodstream, and gets processed in your liver. The liver is only made to metabolize a specific amount at any time, which isn’t very large.
When your liver becomes overwhelmed, the rest moves around the other areas of your body. Essentially, places that it doesn’t necessarily belong.
Why People Start Drinking
Everyone’s reason for drinking varies by very individualized factors. The most common reason to drink is just to have fun. A drink or two can make some people feel more relaxed and sociable.
For others, they are looking for stress relief. Alcohol is considered a sedative, so at face value, that effect can be achieved. The problem lies when people become too reliant on alcohol for stress management. The more frequent the drinking occurs, the more “common” behavior it becomes, and what was a little bit starts to increase over time.
Other reasons include social anxiety, trauma experiences, grief management, and loneliness. Unfortunately, these are drivers for drinking, but it can have a snowball effect very quickly.
Moderate consumption can have some health benefits, but it includes certain types of alcohol and a strong will to keep that behavior at a small amount.
The Effect of Alcohol
When drinking alcohol or any other mood-altering chemical, dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays into your reward center, resulting in feel-good effects, pleasure, and motivation. After experiencing this feeling, you’re likely going to want it again.
For some people, their reward center can become overwhelmed with alcohol, and all of the effects are even more heightened. It can cause binge drinking or seeking this behavior more frequently than is healthy. Consistent drinking can begin to cause permanent changes in the brain.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Some people can drink in moderation. Typically, this means one to two drinks per day or fewer. But pushing the envelope when it comes to drinking is like walking a tightrope. It can be very easy to fall off and get down the path of alcohol abuse and addiction.
Officially, an addiction requires a professional diagnosis, but there are signs to be aware of. An inability to stop drinking or more frequent drinking compared to normal are glaring red flags. Mix that with prolonged recovery time from drinking behavior and a continued craving.
Addiction can also look like drinking (in any amount) when it is not appropriate to do so, like before work, before family obligations, or when operating a vehicle. Drinking is a problem when it interferes with your life responsibilities, either at home, school, or work.
Additional signs include developing a tolerance to drinking behaviors or experiencing withdrawal when you cut back or stop drinking. It also is problematic if you have to defend your drinking as “normal” behavior or social activity.
Overcoming an Addiction
Alcohol addiction does cause changes in the brain, but luckily, the brain is a resilient thing. It can be rewired with behavioral changes to recover some of the damage done. Just like a drinking habit takes time to become a full-fledged addiction, recovery will also take time.
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, you don’t have to go it alone. There are resources and options for support and guidance. Contact us today for more information about substance abuse counseling.