Making use of the term addiction has become very casual nowadays. Some people say they are addicted to chocolates, while some claim they are addicted to shopping. Therefore, understanding if alcohol is an addiction as a habit or a neurological addiction (like drugs) is hard to understand.
This article explains why alcohol is a neurological addiction and is tough to overcome.
What is alcohol addiction?
Also called alcoholism, alcohol addiction is a dependency on alcohol such that it develops into a tolerance. When a casual alcohol consumer starts taking excessive alcohol, it turns the person into an addict. And if the addict does not consume alcohol, it leads to developing dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Why is alcohol addictive?
Drinking alcohol releases ‘feel good’ chemicals like endorphins and dopamine, which induce the feeling of happiness and pleasure. Therefore, the person starts drinking more often and slowly becomes a regular consumer of alcohol. Alcohol also acts as an anti-depressant, making the person overlook the discomforts of life for a while. It is why alcohol is an addictive substance.
What can alcohol addiction do to the addict?
Along with releasing the ‘feel good’ chemicals, alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant. Because of this, the speech of the addict becomes slurry, movements are clumsy, and reactions are slow. Consuming excess alcohol leads to a depressed central nervous system which leads to anxiety and stress causing permanent physical damage or death.
Why is it tough to overcome alcohol addiction?
Several reasons make alcohol addiction tough to overcome. Here are a few:
- Alcohol is a legal substance that is widely available and acceptable in society. Therefore, individuals can’t recognize when their drinking has become problematic.
- When people start drinking in large quantities, it leads to physical dependence. Their bodies become tolerant of alcohol, and they start drinking frequently. When they suddenly quit, they may experience severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. These include tremors, seizures, and delirium tremens. So, quitting alcohol becomes difficult as these symptoms may lead the person to return to drinking.
- When people become alcohol addicts, stress, anxiety, and depression are some of the psychological and emotional factors that accompany their addiction. So, addressing these underlying issues becomes essential for people seeking recovery from alcohol addiction and maintaining sobriety.
- The social environment is another factor that plays a role in making the individuals an alcohol addict. If they stay around people (friends and family) who drink heavily, it becomes unlikely to say no to alcohol.
Even if friends surrounding them do not support their sobriety initiative, it again becomes difficult for them to overcome addiction. Overall, alcohol addiction is a complex problem that requires professional help to overcome. One must seek addiction treatment from a qualified healthcare professional and get appropriate support, guidance, and tools for achieving and maintaining sobriety.
If one of your loved ones is an alcohol addict and wants to recover from alcohol addiction, Surf City Recovery is one of the best places to go. It has a professional team to help with addiction treatment.
