People with high stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions are more susceptible to developing alcoholism. And in these types of situations, alcohol is frequently used to suppress feelings and relieve the symptoms of psychological disorders. The presence of any of the below factors can make a person more at risk of developing alcohol addiction. Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is characterized by someone continuing to drink even when it harms themselves, their health, their friendships, their job and other aspects of their life. Alcoholism is caused by a variety of factors, https://lahelpinghand.org/famous-drug-addicts-celebrities-who-died-from/ including genetics, environment, upbringing and the presence of co-occurring mental health disorders. While the factors that determine someone’s likelihood of becoming an alcoholic are complex and can only be interpreted by a clinician, the symptoms are much easier to spot.
If your loved one needs help
Understanding trends in alcohol-induced mortality, with a particular focus on differences from 2019 to 2020, may help identify groups particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. You greatly increase your Sobriety chances of developing an alcohol-related problem when drinking too much becomes a pattern for you. As mentioned, previously, tolerance means you need more alcohol to feel the same effects you used to feel with less.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Alcoholism?
Those who experience trauma or are mentally scarred by an event have a much higher chance of abusing alcoholism. Over time, a person may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the feelings of a traumatic event. Talking to a professional counselor or therapist is the best way to tackle traumatic events in the past. Alcoholism (or alcohol use disorder) occurs when a person cannot control their drinking. They may drink excessively on a frequent basis along with binge drinking.
Drinking at an Early Age
Alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) is a range of symptoms that can happen if you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake after long-term use. Healthcare providers diagnose Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome using a physical exam. Diagnosing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can be difficult when people are experiencing mental confusion or memory loss.
- Certain social and cultural contexts, including peer pressure, drinking norms, and availability of alcohol, can predispose you to developing problematic drinking patterns.
- Recent evidence indeed suggests that much of the genetic risk is not due to neurological vulnerability but to a heightened resistance to the unpleasant side effects of heavy alcohol consumption.
- If you have it, you should know that you are not alone and you are living with a chronic medical condition that needs proper management and treatment.
- No matter what the cause of alcoholism in your life may be, getting quality help from a rehab center like Harmony Place may be the key to sobriety and a better life.
- The correlation between trauma and alcoholism underscores the importance of trauma-informed care in addiction treatment.
One or a combination of these factors can why do people become alcoholics play a significant role in someone’s struggles with alcohol addiction. Several psychological factors can increase the chances of heavy drinking. But, the way you cope with feelings can affect certain behavioral traits.
Treatment and Management
Everyone has different emotional coping mechanisms, especially in the face of high-stress situations and traumatic experiences. Unfortunately, alcohol often serves as a means of escape, providing a source of temporary relief. By incorporating dual diagnosis treatment into alcoholism recovery, individuals can effectively manage their alcohol use disorder while also addressing their mental health needs. When exploring the common causes of alcoholism, genetic factors play a significant role in predisposing individuals to develop alcohol use disorder. This section will delve into the role of genetics in alcoholism and how family history can influence an individual’s likelihood of struggling with alcohol addiction.
Risk factors
By addressing these underlying factors and offering appropriate support, individuals struggling with alcoholism can begin their journey towards recovery and healing. Alcoholism can be influenced by various environmental factors that shape an individual’s relationship with alcohol. Understanding the impact of the environment and social circumstances is crucial in decoding the common causes of alcoholism. People are more likely to develop an addiction when their close relatives or parent have dealt with alcohol use disorder in the past. This can either be from genetics or just an influence from the environment people witness.