However, someone who struggles with drinking is often unable to act the same way. When someone is addicted to alcohol, drinking becomes a big part of their life, even if sudden onset alcohol intolerance they want to stop. This can lead some people to wonder why people who are susceptible to addiction drink. Someone might dread the tossing and turning that comes with insomnia. In doing so, alcohol becomes a pre-emptive armor against perceived threats of pain or judgment.

In turn, a person needs to drink larger amounts more frequently to reach the same state of what is central nervous system depression relaxation and well-being that they once did. As the brain continues to adapt to alcohol, when a person is not drinking, they can start to go through unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal because their brain chemistry has changed. Much like unearthing the hidden cat food can was vital to understanding my cat’s behavior, uncovering the deeper motivations behind alcohol use is crucial. We often only see troubled behavior, like the cat getting into the trash at night or the drinkers who continue to drink despite doctors’ warnings, partners’ ultimatums, or loved ones’ pleas.

1. Both did voluntary work, Marilyn in a charity shop and Ray as a mentor at the local secondary school.
2. Or friends may meet up without any clear agenda except to drink wine and talk.
3. Over time, we may start to drink not because we’re already feeling bad but because we’re worried we might feel bad later, like taking a drink before bed to avoid lying awake worrying.
4. The cat had been smelling the fish and thought he would find a feast if he got behind the trash bin.
5. As an addiction tends to get worse over time, it’s important to look for early warning signs.

And his sense of status and meaning and purpose had been eroded when he relinquished his mentoring role and gave up the allotment. They had been happily married for 40 years until the accident. After satisfying careers – Marilyn as a dental nurse and Ray as a fireman – and bringing up three children, they were enjoying their retirement.

In front of the mess was my 1-year-old cat, looking at me sheepishly. Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Most alcoholics drink to satisfy cravings and avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The study also revealed that there are specific genes that contribute to alcohol use disorder. Most of the genes correlate with the brain’s reward center. Some people, for example, have genes that allow them to metabolize alcohol in a way that increases the pleasure they experience when drinking, making them more likely to drink more. Other people have genes that alter their rate of alcohol metabolism, causing them to have symptoms like flushing, nausea, mood swings, and a rapid heartbeat, making them more likely to avoid alcohol. The condition, which is also a chronic disease, is characterized by an inability to manage drinking habits.

Dodging Discomfort: Alcohol as Escape

That’s why alcoholics find it seemingly impossible to control how much and how often they drink. In fact, by the time alcoholism develops, alcoholics are physically and emotionally dependent on alcohol. Usually, the attempt to feel and function “normally” becomes an alcoholic’s reason for drinking. The brain has a delicate balance of chemicals called neurotransmitters. Excessive drinking disrupts this balance and changes the way these chemicals function. Drinking alcohol increases gaba-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which suppresses the central nervous system, the part of the body that regulates thoughts and helps us process information.

How Alcohol Gets a Grip on People

Regardless of their age, race, and gender, all alcoholics have a compulsive need to drink. The severity of the disease, how often someone drinks, and the alcohol they consume varies from person to person. Some people drink heavily all day, while others binge drink and then stay sober for a while.

Unlike cocaine or heroin, alcohol is widely available and accepted in many cultures. It’s often at the center of social situations and closely linked to celebrations and enjoyment. More resources for a variety of healthcare professionals can be found in the Additional Links for Patient Care. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. The important thing is that we understand our relationship with alcohol, realize where it may not be serving us, and make informed decisions about its presence in our lives.

How does the brain change as AUD develops?

Drinkers return to the bottle because they believe they can find what they desire at the bottom. It took me a whole week of headaches before I discovered that a can of emptied cat food had fallen behind the trash can and rolled to the back of the cabinet. The cat had been smelling the fish and thought he would find a feast if he got behind the trash bin. But there are concrete skills you can use to hone your assertiveness and advocate for yourself. Contributors to this article for the NIAAA Core Resource on Alcohol include the writers for the full article, content contributors to subsections, reviewers, and alcohol dry eyes editorial staff.

Impact on your health

For this reason, intervention and aftercare are important for those struggling to recover from alcohol addiction. Establishing a foundation in recovery is key to avoiding setbacks. We surveyed 2,136 American adults who either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not). We asked them about their alcohol use, reasons for drinking, alcohol-related outcomes, health and more. Therapy is useful to help teach someone how to manage the stress of recovery and the skills needed to prevent a relapse. Also, a healthy diet can help undo damage alcohol may have done to the person’s health, like weight gain or loss.

However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. Jeanette Hu, AMFT, based in California, is a former daily drinker, psychotherapist, and Sober Curiosity Guide. She supports individuals who long for a better relationship with alcohol, helping them learn to drink less without living less. Much like my cat’s relentless search for the hard-to-reach fishy treat, humans often exhibit behaviors driven by a deeper rationale that isn’t immediately apparent. We don’t realize that there is often a logical reason behind each behavior, disturbed or not.