We all know alcohol consumption is fraught with risks, but it can be hard to determine where the line between harmless pastime and damaging addiction lies. The nature of alcohol is such that a healthy relationship can turn toxic slowly, quietly, and almost imperceptibly.
Being aware of the amount of alcohol you’re drinking can help to indicate where the relationship may have begun to go wrong, but that isn’t the whole picture. When you dig deep and examine your motives for drinking, you can shed light on the roots of an unhealthy dependency.
Recovery Cove explores common reasons people drink alcohol and how to know when they’ve become too reliant and need to reconsider their approach to alcohol.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Main Cause of Drinking?
- Why Do People Like To Drink Alcohol? 10 Common Reasons
- When To Seek Help for Alcohol Use
- Understand Your Relationship With Alcohol and Find Support at Recovery Cove
What Is the Main Cause of Drinking?
There isn’t one “main cause” for alcohol use. Alcohol use is influenced by multiple factors — such as stress, cultural acceptance, mental health, and even genetics. While stress and social pressures are the most common reasons for drinking alcohol, any one person’s decision to drink generally involves a combination of influences upon their life.
Recovery Cove seeks to help patients understand their decisions and actions with respect to alcohol use. This is why we’ve examined each of the most common reasons people drink and why many of these reasons may indicate one’s susceptibility to addiction.
What Is the Psychology Behind Drinking Alcohol?
The physical effects of alcohol reinforce its psychological appeal for three main reasons:
- Alcohol activates the brain’s reward system by triggering dopamine release.
- Alcohol initially suppresses activity in the extended amygdala, helping to reduce negative emotions.
- Repeated alcohol consumption results in habit formation, altered perception, and impaired decision-making.
Given alcohol’s dual function as a source of pleasure and a salve for negative feelings, it’s easy to see why it can seem appealing. There are more reasons, however, that form the basis for a person’s decision to drink alcohol.
Why Do People Like To Drink Alcohol? 10 Common Reasons
#1: To Cope With Stress or Anxiety
A long, hard day at work, a disagreement with your spouse, or a visit from the in-laws may be all it takes to make you reach for a few beers too many. If you don’t have coping mechanisms in place when peace and relaxation are hard to come by, you might indeed feel impelled to turn to an external rather than an internal fix.
#2: To Deal With Depression or Grief/Loss
Alcohol temporarily relieves feelings of depression through the euphoric sensation brought about by dopamine release. When depression doesn’t ease up or when grief threatens to swallow you, it may be tempting to turn to something you see as a reliable medicine.
It should be noted, however, that over time, alcohol may make depression worse because it negatively impacts the parts of the brain responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation.
#3: To Feel More Outgoing in Social Situations
For some people, this comes naturally — but for others, social situations are a source of anticipation and dread. This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t appreciate social interaction; they simply find it difficult for various reasons. Instead of faking it, suffering intense awkwardness, and involuntarily rehearsing every painful moment, people with social anxiety may find changing their temperament through alcohol preferable.
#4: To Celebrate Special Occasions and Milestones
The Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, your sister’s wedding, your buddy’s 21st birthday — these are just some of the occasions when you expect to drink. After all, how can you fully enter into the celebration unless you share the merriment facilitated by alcohol?
Many people think this way as they anticipate such special events. They may or may not know whether their experience of the occasion would be dampened or enhanced by leaving alcohol out of their system. If you’re sober curious, you might try it out as an experiment.
#5: To Fall Asleep More Easily
Difficulty falling or staying asleep can be a source of intense anxiety and lead to more negative emotions, which are, in turn, harder to manage after little rest. Alcohol’s sedative effect can help you fall asleep faster and bypass the anxiety produced by insomnia.
However, your sleep duration and quality are likely to suffer, making you feel less rested and more apt to rely on stimulants to stay lively during the day. As a result, you may feel the need to turn to alcohol for relaxation after said stimulants. This cycle — which exacerbates rather than treats insomnia — can be hard to break.
#6: To Satisfy Curiosity
For some, it seems anything worth looking forward to must involve alcohol, and you finally want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about. Why does it seem like an essential ingredient for a good time? This may be the initial impetus for drinking alcohol. Once the effects of alcohol have become familiar, other reasons for drinking become instrumental.
On the flip side, there has recently been an upsurge in formerly regular alcohol users who are curious about sobriety. “Sober curious” describes those who reduce their consumption of alcohol or abstain for certain periods of time in order to better evaluate its effect on their life and habits.
#7: To Relieve Physical Pain or Discomfort
Up to 28% of chronic pain sufferers resort to alcohol for relief. Because of its depressant effects on the central nervous system, alcohol temporarily numbs feelings of pain. If used regularly, however, the body develops a tolerance and thus requires more alcohol to experience the same analgesic benefit. Alcohol, then, is not effective as a long-term treatment for chronic pain.
#8: To Boost or Enhance Mood
Alcohol-induced euphoria and relaxation, though short-lived, are major incentives for alcohol consumption. Whether you feel more relaxed, more energized, or less self-conscious, alcohol tends to make people feel happier, at least temporarily.
#9: To Participate in Cultural or Family Traditions
You may drink as a part of certain cultural, religious, or family traditions, such as:
- The Eucharistic rite in the Christian church
- Rituals within Judaism
- The Super Bowl
- Holidays
- Any party involving a large group of people
Attitudes surrounding alcohol use in these contacts play a significant role in how you may participate (i.e., how much is drunk, the purpose of the consumption, etc.).
#10: To Escape From Difficult Emotions or Reality
Negative emotions can be overwhelming at times, so much so that a person may feel that they must find relief or give in to despair. Whether it’s loneliness, trauma, or fear of alienation; whether it’s anger, irritation, or the unrelenting burden of life difficulties, alcohol may be used as a way to escape for a while.
What people in this mindset may not be able to see clearly is that alcohol doesn’t actually fix the problems that precipitated its use, though it has a powerful impact on their feelings. Thus, the stage is set for the cycle to continue.
C.S. Lewis wrote:
“You are much more likely to make [a] man a sound drunkard by pressing drink on him as an anodyne when he is dull and weary… than… when he is happy.”
When people drink alcohol as an escape from the dullness and weariness of their lives, addiction parades itself as an ally.
When To Seek Help for Alcohol Use
Take some time to self-reflect on whether your drinking has begun to affect your health, your relationships, or your ability to fulfill daily responsibilities. Some common early signs that your alcohol use may be becoming unhealthy are:
- You tend to drink more than intended.
- You use alcohol to cope with stress or emotions.
- You need it to feel “normal.”
- You feel the need to hide the full extent of your alcohol use.
Recovery Cove’s outpatient program can help individuals learn healthier coping tools and regain balance while maintaining their routines.
Understand Your Relationship With Alcohol and Find Support at Recovery Cove
If, upon examining your motives for drinking, you feel that your relationship with alcohol needs an intervention, don’t hesitate to contact Recovery Cove to learn more about our treatment plans.
While our therapy options can help you delve more into the sorts of questions we’ve touched on here, we also offer more intensive treatment programs tailored to your level of need. Call today to discuss whether Recovery Cove is right for you.
The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition
