Alcohol addiction is one of the most common types of addiction in Gauteng and the surrounding provinces. Since alcoholic beverages are always present during social gatherings, it becomes an easy and accessible addiction for most adults. In most cases, adults who are addicted to alcohol will get very defensive when confronted about the possibility of them being addicts. If you want to overcome your addiction, Beethoven Recovery Centre offers a professional and renowned alcohol therapy programme at our rehab centre near Gauteng.
When it comes to addiction, it happens in many different shapes and expressions. However, alcohol addiction is simple and straightforward. Alcoholics tend to band together and form a social circle that promotes excessive drinking habits. Moreover, they tend to come up with feasible justifications for their bad habits of overindulging. Sadly, there is only one constant in life, and that is change. The moment such an individual realises that their life is falling apart, there is still hope for them with our alcohol therapy programme. Today, we talk about the causes of alcohol addiction.
What Causes an Individual to Become Addicted to Alcohol?
- Substance Addiction: Alcohol, or more precisely – ethanol – is a highly addictive substance and should be considered a drug, although the general public does not agree with this statement. When consistently consuming an addictive substance, your body starts to develop a physical dependence on that specific substance. This is comparable to someone who develops a paracetamol addiction because of all the painkillers they consume regularly. Your body will build up a tolerance as well to the effects of the substance. However, such a tolerance does not include addiction immunity. In fact, it only improves the chances of the development of addiction, as the individual will start to consume even more alcohol.
- Dopamine and Serotonin Addiction: Dopamine and Serotonin are both chemicals that are released by an individual’s brain. Dopamine is released when an individual feels like they have done something that brings them pleasure, serving as a reward in a sense. Serotonin regulates the mood of the individual. Both are seen as “happy hormones”, which makes them highly addictive and highly dangerous when linked to destructive and detrimental behaviours such as consuming addictive substances. This is a gateway to developing a full-blown addiction, as your brain starts to reward you when consuming alcoholic beverages and puts you in a good mood. In turn, your body reacts “positively” and you convince yourself that alcohol consumption is “good” for you, allowing your addiction to grow and fester.
- Behavioural Addiction: Adults fall into the trap of subliminal peer pressure, where they consume alcoholic beverages at social gatherings to not be excluded. Only those with strong personalities can resist this type of peer pressure. However, most fall for it, as they want to be “part of the group”. This leads to developing a behavioural pattern, where an individual would be completely normal at home and turn into a different person when out with friends and consuming alcoholic beverages. Once again, the behaviour is rewarded, as the person feels like they are accepted by their peers and praised for their ability to “hold their liquor”.
- Coping Mechanism: Most adults in Gauteng start overindulging in alcoholic beverages as a coping mechanism to cope with trauma. Instead of facing the trauma head-on and finding a way to overcome its hold on them, they turn to alcohol to make them forget about it all. This becomes a very dangerous and slippery slope, as the individual feels justified in their actions. Moreover, this type of behaviour is excused by their peers, family members, and friends, as the trauma is simply used as a coverup excuse for their behaviour.
Seeking a Life of Sober Living Wellness
Our alcohol therapy programme is tailored to those individuals who truly want to overcome their alcohol addiction. We admit individuals of 18 years of age and older on a voluntary basis to ensure that they are committed to the programme and its various challenges. During this alcohol therapy programme, we encourage individuals to realise the detrimental effects of their addiction on their personal and professional lifestyles, letting them choose to break free on their own accord and assisting them along the way.
Beethoven Recovery Centre is your answer to an alcohol therapy programme near Gauteng. Please contact us directly if you have any questions about our programme and facilities. Let us help you find a way to sober living wellness.