Why Am I An Alcoholic? Alcoholism Causes and Risk Factors

Mental health as a risk factor for alcohol dependence or abuse. Some of the possible long-term effects of ethanol an individual may develop. Additionally, in pregnant women, alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consumingFor women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion.

• The risk increases when the drinking occurs as intense binges.Researchshows that those who begin drinking in the early to mid teen years are more likely to develop problems with alcohol.
• However, it can become a bad habit relatively quickly, depending on how strong the influence of friends, family and society is on a person.
• Residing in a family or culture where alcohol use is common and accepted.
• Similarly, individuals who have consumed more alcohol are more likely to become alcoholics than individuals who have consumed less alcohol.
• John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.

The study showed significant evidence that a certain chromosome may influence people with the said chromosome to be more predisposed to alcoholism and depression. COGA researchers have also discovered that certain brain wave patterns are shaped genetically, which can be one of the causes of alcoholism among people who are psychologically unstable.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Moreover, someone who is determined never to drink is certainly not going to develop an alcohol use disorder. Also, those who avoid social situations where drinking is common are also less likely to develop an AUD. In astudyby The Recovery Village polling over two thousand respondents, coping with https://ecosoberhouse.com/ mental health symptoms, coping with stress and recreation ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd as the biggest reasons people drink alcohol. Addiction is a psychological process, in the sense that a person’s thoughts become consumed by alcohol, and they behave in ways aimed at obtaining and using more.

The functional alcoholic often uses this stereotype to their advantage and hides behind it as an excuse to keep drinking. Many times people hide the underlying cause of alcoholism — whether intentionally or not — with explanations for their behavior. Learning to spot these explanations can help a person recognizesymptoms of alcoholism.

What are the risk factors?

These have serious side effects that can inflict long-term physical and psychological damage on your body. To effectively treat both of them, licensed clinicians must look at each disorder simultaneously.

A trauma-informed counselor can help an individual process their underlying trauma so that they can live a more fulfilling and emotionally healthy life. Additionally, the person receiving treatment can also address their unhealthy drinking behaviors and learn to adapt to triggering situations with more productive coping skills. While there is no universal indicating factor to one’s risk level, there are some factors that have historically been known to contribute to developing the disorder. Sana Lake Recovery Center is a Joint Commission Accredited addiction treatment program. We offer a safe and trustworthy facility for people struggling with substance abuse.

Common Causes of Alcoholism

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and AlcoholScreening.org offer more comprehensive self-tests. Several evidence-based treatment causes of alcoholism approaches are available for AUD. One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another.