Alcoholism (or ‘alcohol use disorder’ as it’s sometimes known) is a condition that is believed to affect as much as 7% of the population. While many people around the world drink alcohol, people who are classed as ‘alcoholics’ drink it to extreme levels – often damaging their health and neglecting responsibilities. Unlike regular drinkers who can give it up or cut it back once it starts to have negative effects, those with alcohol use disorder feel compelled to keep drinking alcohol in high quantities.

What causes people to develop this disorder? There are many different causes – and often identifying these causes can be the way to overcome alcoholism. This post delves into 10 of the most common causes of alcoholism.

Genetics

You are more likely to become an alcoholic if you have a family history of alcoholism. This is partly due to the fact that you’re more likely to grow up around alcohol (something that is discussed more later), however it can also be to do with your genes. Our genes can affect how we react to alcohol, as well as making us more susceptible to developing an ‘addictive personality’. As a result, some people are more likely to get hooked than others – and potentially more prone to the damaging effects.

There’s sadly no way of changing your genetics. However, understanding that alcohol is more of a risk to you and looking at the effects it has had on your family members could help you to change your attitude to drinking if you think genetics is to blame. Think about those who may be ill or who may have passed away as a result of alcohol and make it your mission to break the cycle.

Mental health issues

Studies show that over a third of people with alcohol dependence are typically diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Alcohol abuse can be a form of self-destruction for people with major depression, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. For others with milder depression, PTSD or social anxiety, it can be a form of self-medication – helping to numb one’s feelings. 

Destructive drinking is clearly bad, but self-medicating drinking can also be unhealthy. This is because, while alcohol may temporarily relieve mental health problems, it does not treat the root cause. In this case, it’s not just about identifying mental illness as a reason for drinking, but going further back and finding the cause of your mental illness. In doing so, you can treat your mental illness and your alcoholism. There are many rehabilitation centers that deal with tackling addiction and mental illness. There are even specialist solutions such as VA alcohol rehab for veterans using alcohol to manage PTSD and treatment centers for bereavement helping those treat substance abuse caused by grief-related depression. 

Stress relief

Many people drink alcohol to help them unwind after a stressful day. For some people, it is the only way to relax – resulting in a constant state of agitation while sober. The more stress that is in a person’s life, the more they may drink to compensate. 

If you believe stress relief is the reason you have an alcohol problem, there is a simple solution – and that is to explore other healthier forms of stress relief. Exercise, listening to music, hot baths, meditation, reading, creative hobbies and laughter are all healthy ways to relieve stress. By replacing alcohol with these sources of stress relief, you could prevent alcohol-related issues in the long run. Tackling the source of stress could also be important in cases where you are in control. For example, you don’t have to keep working a stressful job that is wearing you down. 

Early exposure

Research shows that those who start drinking alcohol under the age of 14 are 47% more likely to experience dependence. Getting a taste for alcohol early and viewing it as a normalized behavior makes it harder to give it up. Of course, drinking alcohol at an early age also causes damage to organs while they’re still developing and makes a person much more vulnerable to the negative health effects of alcoholism such as liver damage as gut damage as they get older. 

You cannot change your past. However, we all have the ability to change our future. If you’ve been drinking since a young age, consider the impact it could have had on you already and use this as an incentive to stop. Read stories about people who started drinking young and paid for it in the long run, and use these tragedies to motivate you to cut down or quit. 

Family habits

If you grow up in a family that drinks heavily, you are more likely to drink heavily as you get older. This is because you are likely to grow up thinking it is the norm and may even see it as a source of comfort. Of course, such alcoholism can also develop later in life if you meet a partner who drinks a lot, as this too may normalize this behavior. 

It can be hard to give up drinking when your close family all drink, but you need to remember that it is normal for all families to drink heavily. If everyone has an alcohol problem, you could consider all taking steps to beat alcoholism together. Taking on the family challenge of a no alcohol month could be a great first step. Beating alcoholism together will be much easier than doing it independently. And even if they fail and you keep going, they will at least have more empathy.

Cultural norms

Drinking heavily is more common in certain cultures. In certain social classes in certain countries, it may be the norm to drink heavily. Drinking heavily is also common in college, as well as being common among sports fans and live music fans. All in all, the culture that you grow up with and the cultures you attach yourself to later in life may influence your relationship with alcohol.

Fortunately, you don’t have to drink alcohol to still be part of these cultures. There are likely to be some people within these cultures who have had to give up alcohol. Finding these fellow outsiders within your culture and befriending them could help you to beat alcoholism as they will know the unique cultural struggles you have been through. 

Peer pressure

Many people are pressured by friends or family members to drink heavily in order to fit in or prove themselves. This peer pressure can turn into an alcohol problem that can be hard to escape without learning to say no or cutting off friends and family. 

Saying no takes a lot of strength, but good friends will understand and won’t continue to pressure you. If they do keep urging you to drink, you may have to reconsider your friendship. An ultimatum is sometimes necessary for those who refuse to listen. Make sure to also not give into FOMO. If you find it hard to spend time with friends who are drunk while sober, consider planning sober activities that you can do together. 

Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition in which people struggle to get to sleep at night. People with insomnia have a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder – this is because alcohol can often be effective at helping people relax and get to sleep. However, in the long run relying on alcohol as a sleep aid can damage one’s health. 

There are many sleep supplements that are much healthier choice than alcohol such as melatonin, magnesium and valerian. Start substituting alcohol with these supplements. 

Physical pain relief

Alcohol has been used to relieve physical pain since ancient times. Studies suggest that 28% of people who suffer from chronic pain today self-medicate with alcohol. Of course, heavy alcohol consumption can cause other health problems. And while alcohol may numb pain while intoxicated, it can make pain worse once the effects wear off. This is why alcohol shouldn’t be used as a painkiller. 

Instead, explore other forms of pain relief. There are many herbal painkillers that you can try such as CBD, turmeric and devil’s claw. Exercise, diet, stress relief and sleep quality can also all be managed to help control pain. 

Boredom

Many people turn to alcohol because they are bored. Drinking alcohol can be an activity to pass the time. It can also be a reason to meet up with friends or family and a reason to get out of the house. Trying different alcoholic drinks and going to different bars can even become a hobby for some people. While some people are still able to practice this hobby in moderation, others can let it take over their lives – at which point it can become destructive.

If you are drinking heavily due to boredom, consider finding a new hobby. The best hobbies for beating alcoholism are those that you can do at any time such as running and creative hobbies. Immerse yourself in these hobbies and find a community dedicated to this hobby where you can make new friends. You could find that this reduces the urge to drink.