What Are the Root Causes of Addiction? 

And what’s the way out?

A chronic illness, alcoholism, affects a person’s brain and neurological system. It is an incurable, life-threatening condition. Alcoholism has many causes and risk factors, but it can be treated, and people who have it can get help to stop drinking.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I an alcoholic?” You can’t afford to dismiss that idea. Alcohol is such a potent poison that those who continue to drink will most likely pass away or suffer brain damage.

The Deadly Disease 

Alcoholism is a disease, not its cause, and a dysfunctional and dangerous relationship with alcohol is one of its symptoms. Alcohol addiction causes alcoholics to drink the way they do, not the other way around. The only way for someone with alcoholism to avoid getting the disease is to stop drinking altogether. No one can anticipate whose drinking will lead to alcoholism.

However, alcoholics are not usually given compassion or understanding. Even medical professionals may lose hope in them. This is because alcoholism is frequently considered a moral failing or a psychological “weakness.”

This is illogical. Alcoholics are no less weak or tenacious than anyone else; they will even crawl over a thorny hedge to grab a drink. But if drinking is a problem in our society, there will be victims who can’t handle the consequences.

Alcoholism’s Causes and Risk Factors

Alcoholism is frequently mistaken with other words that have different meanings, such as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, which contributes to the lack of knowledge in part.

What causes someone to drink so much that they are classified as an alcoholic? Do they intend to drown their sorrows? Do they want to avoid the present and forget about the past? Do they experience agony and find solace in booze only? What is it that genuinely makes someone an alcoholic?

There could be a variety of complex factors at play. But if you could solve the underlying issue, that would be a significant advance. It might provide the key to your recovery and teach you how to live alcohol-free.

Alcoholism is a long-term, crippling disease that affects both the body and the mind. Alcoholism typically has multiple contributing causes that might result in physical and psychological dependence, rather than a single underlying cause.

Biological Components

It is frequently stated that factors such as heredity, environment, life experience, and illnesses like stress and depression, among others, can significantly impact someone with a drinking problem. Your upbringing may also influence whether you become an alcoholic as an adult.

If you had a drinking father, your chances of becoming an alcoholic might be much higher. It is commonly accepted that there are genetic predispositions to drinking and alcoholism may run in families, especially in those who have grown up with alcoholic parents.

Many assert that they are more likely to drink because they have an addictive personality. Also, it’s not unusual for some people to give in to peer pressure from friends or family members, who may push them to drink without meaning to.

Some people may start drinking heavily while dealing with an unanticipated life event, such as a trauma or a bereavement. You may resort to alcohol as a coping mechanism if you have just experienced a breakup or a sudden loss of employment.

Psychological causes

A popular type of self-medication for those suffering from a psychiatric disease is alcohol use. The root causes of alcoholism heavily involve mental health disorders.

There are cases where people with various illnesses, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder, succumb to alcoholism. As it is thought that those with psychiatric issues are more likely to turn to alcohol, they may be drinking to try and lessen their symptoms, but this is only a temporary fix.

You believe it has the desired impact, allowing you to forget about your troubles, and you want to experience it again. So you continue to drink, perhaps once a week or every day, until it becomes a habit. Alcohol is a common coping method that, despite what you might believe, actually makes matters worse. This is because alcohol is a depressive and alters certain brain chemicals, which may induce mood changes and increase your risk of addiction.

However, you can feel that drinking is your getaway if you are grieving, feeling lost or depressed, or if it is because of your personal history. So many people get into drinking habits because they believe it is the only thing that will help them get through life. These things can cause you to start down the path of dependency and alcoholism.

The Way Out

The first step towards a healthy life is treatment. Therapists will collaborate with you to develop a customised overall recovery programme.

Comprehensive rehabilitation programmes may include counselling, support groups, and inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Now is the time to seek assistance.

We can assist if you or a loved one is looking for guidance or treatment for alcoholism. We can help you at every step, from detox to continued support. Call Freephone 0800 140 4044