Table of Contents

• Psychological and Physical Factors of Alcohol Addiction
• Withdrawal Process
• Treatment Options 
• Get Help Overcoming Alcohol Addiction Today

Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States today. However, many people want to know – what makes this substance so addictive? With over 17 ½ million Americans suffering from alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse, that’s just about 1 in every 12 adults. There are minors who are abusing alcohol, as well. It generally starts with binge drinking and develops into alcohol addiction.

If you have seen someone who is struggling with alcohol abuse or you have yourself, you may be wondering what can be done to help. Truth be told – people often drink or get drunk for a variety of reasons, so there isn’t just one solution that will work for everyone. Some treatments may work for one person, but then those same treatments won’t work very well for the next person. Ultimately, there are psychological and physical addictive factors that need to come into the spotlight when determining how someone is going to overcome their addiction.

With this being said, learning more about the psychological and physical aspects of alcohol abuse can help a person to better understand alcohol addiction. Better understanding addiction to this substance also means being able to better understand the treatment options for it, as well.

Psychological and Physical Factors of Alcohol Addiction

As noted above, there are both psychological and physical factors of alcohol addiction. If you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol, hopefully, this information will shine some light on why and what to do about it.

Psychological Aspects of Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholism is ultimately learned. People usually start out with just one or two drinks. They often quickly learn their tolerance level and continue drinking within or past that level. Over time, the tolerance level increases, leading them to consume even more alcohol.

It should also be noted that a person’s beliefs and thoughts come into play when they first start drinking or getting drunk, too. For instance, someone who doesn’t believe a person can become addicted to alcohol because they are only socializing and having fun is much more likely to become addicted to alcohol than someone who know alcoholism is a disease.

The person’s developmental maturity is a factor that needs to be considered, as well. For example, if someone starts drinking when they are a teenager, they are much more likely to develop an addiction than someone who doesn’t start drinking until their brain is fully developed at age 25 or older.

Stress plays a huge factor in alcohol addiction, too. Alcohol, although an unhealthy solution, provides temporary relief from the feelings of anxiety and stress. Getting drunk is a coping mechanism that many people develop, and it can be extremely tough to break out of that.

Did you know that those who are dependent on alcohol have a higher rate of developing a psychiatric disorder than those who don’t drink or drink minimally? According to research, around 20% of all Americans who have an alcohol addiction also have a mood or anxiety disorder.

The good news is there are alcohol addiction rehab programs that offer psychotherapy and numerous other stress-reduction treatments. If you or someone you love struggles with alcohol abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Dessert Rose addiction recovery team for help today.

Physical Aspects of Alcohol Addiction

There are many physical factors of alcohol addiction, too. Did you know that consuming alcohol will stimulate the release of endorphins and dopamine in a person’s brain? These chemicals are responsible for feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. They act as pain-relievers in the body, too.

Studies have also shown there are genetic factors that play a role in the determination of how alcohol will react in a person’s brain, too. In some people’s brains, more of the pleasure and satisfaction chemicals are released when they consume alcohol. This makes them much more susceptible to developing a dependency on alcohol and, ultimately, an addiction to it, as well.

Using alcohol can even lead to physical changes to the chemistry and functioning of the brain. This is partially why some people have such a difficult time overcoming their alcohol addiction. It is because their brain has changed so much, that their body has a much more difficult time functioning without alcohol than with it. If this is the case for you, don’t let that fool you. It is still possible for you to overcome alcohol addiction. It may just take more intensive treatment and a longer stay in a treatment program than for some other people, but there is nothing wrong with that. Here at Dessert Rose, we want to help you get the treatment you need.

Now that you know more about the psychological and physical factors that affect alcohol addiction, it is important to learn about the withdrawal process, too.

Withdrawing Process

People who have been abusing alcohol that suddenly quit drinking will go through a detoxification phase. This is where many psychological and physical symptoms may occur. It can be scary to go through this process or the thought of doing so might cause you fear. However, just know that millions of people have safely made it through the withdrawal process and are now in recovery from their alcohol addiction. It may take help from a team such as the one we have here at Dessert Rose, but that is alright. We are here to help you in any way that we can.

Some of the psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms that you may experience during the alcohol detox process include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Depression
• Hand tremors (the shakes)
• Anxiety
• Stomach cramps
• Insomnia
• Seizures
• Delirium tremens

For most people, the withdrawal process can be quite trying and tough to get through. It is this time that your body needs to work through the physical and psychological cravings for alcohol. Your body has been used to receiving alcohol as a means of coping for some time and you must give it time to recover, as well

One of the primary reasons why many alcoholics don’t get into a treatment program is because they fear the alcohol withdrawal process. However, avoiding treatment allows the vicious cycle of addiction to continue.

Treatment Options

If you or someone you know are ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, don’t be afraid to reach out to our Dessert Rose team today. We are happy to help you overcome your addiction. Our team knows that it can be tough, but we have various treatment options to help you get through this process. We also have a range of professionals who can help you get through it, too.

Some of the treatment options we have to help you overcome an alcohol addiction include:

• Detox
• Inpatient
• Outpatient
• Residential
• Intensive outpatient
• Partial hospitalization

As noted above, each person needs their own treatment plan. The things that work for one person may not work for another. When you reach out to our team, we can do an assessment. This helps us to determine which treatments we believe would work best for you.

Get Help Overcoming Alcohol Addiction Today

Now that you have more information about why alcohol is so addictive and what treatments are available to overcome an alcohol addiction, we are here to assist you in overcoming your alcohol addiction.

Contact us today, here at Dessert Rose, to get help in overcoming alcohol addiction starting today.