If you’ve struggled with alcohol abuse in the past, and now you are an alcoholic, you may be wondering about what the contributing factors are of alcohol abuse were for you. You probably have many questions, such as:
- Am I at a greater risk of alcoholism than someone else?
- Is my past a contributing factor to my alcoholism?
- Is there alcohol addiction treatment that could work for me?
Fortunately, if you’re looking for answers, you’re in the right place. Knowing that you have a problem is the first and most important step you can take toward recovery. It can also help to know what some of the contributing factors of alcohol abuse and addiction are.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Alcohol addiction treatment works well for many people, and when they comply with the program – which includes abstaining from alcohol and then taking part in counselling to address the issues they’re facing that caused the addiction – they experience tremendous success. Please rest assured that while it might seem as though you’ll never be able to experience what real freedom from addiction to alcohol is like, many people have been in similar situations. They were just like you and they were able to find the healing they needed to begin recovering from their addictions. You can too.
Let’s talk about some of the contributing factors for alcohol abuse and addiction.
Underage Drinking
Studies have shown that people who participated with underage drinking when they were young have a greater risk of becoming alcoholics when they are older. One reason might be because when people are young, they tend to participate in binge drinking. Alcohol is considered fun to them, and they enjoy the challenge of trying to drink more and more of it with their friends. In fact statistics actually show that half of all adult alcoholics used to regularly binge drink when they were teenagers. Even so, the teenage years are not the only years when kids drink regularly. Younger children who are in elementary school drink alcohol from time to time too.
Family Issues
Family issues are also a contributing factor for alcoholism. This includes much more than simply having a family history of alcohol addiction, although that does increase a person’s risk significantly. If an individual has ongoing conflicts within their family that often go unresolved, his or her risk increases. Many families have ongoing patterns of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, which also contributes to alcoholism. Family violence is a serious issue, and the risk for alcoholism goes up if someone is a part of violent situations or if that person is a spectator to them. Any type of stressful family event, such as the loss of a loved one, can lead to alcoholism eventually. Family relationships are very important and when they break down, it causes a lot of problems that people often choose to self-medicate with alcohol.
Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues often result in alcoholism because people choose alcohol as a way to help themselves cope with the way they feel. Depression and anxiety are common diagnoses for those who struggle with alcohol addictions, but there are others too. People who have social phobias, bipolar disorder, panic disorder or schizophrenia are at a greater risk for becoming alcoholics.
Perhaps in reading through these contributing factors, you saw one or two of them that described you and your current situation. You’ve been battling alcoholism for quite some time and you want to get help. Alcohol addiction help can address the underlying causes behind your addiction and give you the tools you need to overcome it.
Please contact me for an appointment to begin your journey toward recovery.
