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Excess alcohol can affect anyone adversely – regardless of age, gender, body type, personal beliefs, or ethnicity. Data has shown that a variety of factors can influence people who drink too much alcohol.
The Comprehensive Guide To Alcohol Addiction And How Alcohol Affects Lives
According to the National Institute on alcohol abuse, alcohol use disorder can impact anyone. Alcohol problems are a widespread concern affecting millions globally.
Exploring the root causes of alcoholism will help you better understand which alcohol treatment will be most effective.
How Does Alcohol Use Disorder Develop in the Brain
Alcohol disorder develops because of problematic alcohol use. Consumption of alcohol may release chemicals called endorphins in the brain.
Endorphins are associated with pleasure. They are designed to feel like a reward to the brain, helping it repeat the same action to get rewarded.
Endorphins are the feel good chemicals. They are released naturally in response to sex, food, etc.
Binge drinking alcohol promotes the release of endorphins in the brain. This, in turn, leads to alcohol use disorder.
Root Causes Of Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
There are many root causes of alcohol use disorder.
Role Of Genetics, Environmental Factors, And Alcoholism
People with a family history of addiction to misuse of alcohol have an increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
A genetic history of excessive alcohol use does not mean that a person will be addicted to alcohol certainly. However, someone with an alcohol family history is more suspectable to dependence on alcohol.
Environmental factors, social relationships, and cultural and societal norms can also lead to alcohol and drug addiction.
Social Relationships And Addiction
Peer pressure is one of the most common reasons why people develop alcohol use disorder. Peer pressure strongly influences a person’s amount of alcohol consumption during adolescence. It may contribute to excessive alcohol intake.
There is a noticeable change in one’s pattern of alcohol use during social settings, bars, and party nights. The risk of alcohol use disorder becomes tenfold if one starts partying a lot.
Family History And Alcohol Use Disorder – Do You Really Need Any Treatment For Alcohol
Many children grow up with a family member or relative who engages in alcohol consumption. Some of the family members or relatives are even prone to illnesses associated with alcohol use disorder. So, they start viewing alcohol intoxication as something normal. They do not feel that the diagnosis of alcohol is something serious and are unaware of the costs of excessive alcohol consumption.
Cultural And Societal Norms
Drinking alcohol is very acceptable in some regions while unacceptable in others. In some cultures and societies where people who drink alcohol are commonly found, alcohol use, despite adverse social bent, is considered normal.
The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption are many. Chronic alcohol misuse can lead to many health problems. People who take alcohol excessively will have to attend to the complications of alcohol in the future.
Alcohol Dependence – A Sign Of Alcohol Addiction
High levels of anxiety are also a root cause of problems with alcohol. People often cannot stop or control alcohol use because they drink alcohol to soothe anxiety.
People with anxiety disorder might engage in alcohol overdose. They consume alcohol content to reduce their anxiety level and feel at ease. However, alcohol affects everyone negatively. Alcohol can cause substance abuse and mental health problems.
Chronic Stress Signs And Symptoms – Effects Of Alcohol
Stress can worsen alcohol drinking habits. No doubt people are aware alcohol addiction is a chronic illness, but they still engage in heavy alcohol use under stress. Many people consume more alcohol to seek relief and escape the pressures of daily life.
The numbing effect caused by alcohol misuse offers a sense of comfort from chronic stress. It acts as a temporary distraction. This unhealthy coping mechanism is appreciated by many. But it is one of the first signs of alcohol disorder or alcohol poisoning.
Drinking At An Early Age-Associated Health Problems
Alcohol use among individuals is common during younger days. Many people who start to use alcohol for consumption at an early age are more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder. They cannot stop drinking or reduce alcohol consumption once they develop a habit of a lot of alcohol ingestion, known as alcohol use disorder.
According to alcohol drug information service, there are several factors that influence tolerance to alcohol. You must seek help for the treatment of alcoholism; otherwise, alcohol intoxication results in increased blood alcohol concentration and alcohol use disorder.
Brain Structural Changes In People With Alcohol Use Disorder
Individuals with alcohol usage can disrupt how the brain functions with excess intake of alcohol.
Excess intake of alcohol can lead to brain structural changes. A person’s brain that is preoccupied with alcohol influences their decision-making power, processing, and vulnerability to what people refer to as alcohol abuse.
Moderate alcohol exposure is not very concerning. However, the consumption of everyday alcohol also needs as much attention as alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Intake of moderate alcohol can also increase blood alcohol levels and leave you looking for abuse and mental health services to control alcohol use despite adverse effects.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, consuming alcohol can cause fetal alcohol spectrum and fetal alcohol syndrome signs and symptoms. The symptoms and causes of excess alcohol in women are a common problem as they are also equally prone to alcohol use disorder. Excessive drinking causes this problem.
Social Factors And Alcohol Use Disorder
Exposure to social situations where alcohol may be present increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder. The normalization related to alcohol drinking at a younger age can heighten symptoms of alcohol use disorder relapse as well.
According to the NIAAA alcohol treatment navigator, you can treat excessive alcohol use by limiting it to two drinks per day if you are a male and one drink per day if you are a female or older adult.
You can also treat alcohol disorders from an early age by getting the right treatment for alcohol intake.
How Mental Health Affects Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
Alcohol tends to fill a void that develops in one’s life due to mental health conditions. It provides a temporary sense of relief and comfort. If a person forgets to draw a line, then alcohol use disorder surely takes hold. It develops a cycle of alcohol abuse and alcoholism that might become very hard to overcome without proper treatment or support. Some common mental health conditions that lead to alcohol use disorder are:
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Unresolved emotional issues
- Trauma
- PTSD, etc.
FAQs
Both internal factors and external factors are the leading causes of alcohol use disorder. Internal factors include genetics, personal choice, drinking history, etc. External factors include religion, family, environment, etc.
Yes, people with alcohol use disorder can be cured. The only cure for alcohol use disorder is total abstinence.
Yes, alcohol use disorder can be treated. Most people with this disorder can reduce or quit drinking with the help of the best treatment options.
Smart Recovery is one of the most popular support groups for alcohol abuse and alcoholism worldwide.
Yes, alcohol use disorder is real. It is a brain disorder. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.
