THE SCIENCE OF ALCOHOL

10 Reasons You Feel Trapped Drinking When You Really Want to Stop

We know what we need to quit, but do we do it?

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Friday, after a brutal day at work, I craved my go-to drink at the time: Black Russians.

Oh baby, these beauties were potent.

I'd had a busy but productive week, and I certainly deserved to treat myself.

Both my boys were grown and out on their own.

Coming home to a quiet house and the freedom of knowing tomorrow was Saturday fueled my desire.

No early morning alarm. I could even skip exercising if I so chose. I was free as a bird.

I filled my pretty, crystal rocks glass with ice. Poured a generous glug of Smirnoff vodka and topped it with Kahlua.

Ahh. That first sip.

Delightful. Devine. Excellent.

I knew from the get-go I'd have a second.

During the second, I felt ambitious and decided to Windex the sliding glass door out to the patio.

The third was a mistake.

I did a superb job cleaning the door that I walked smack into it while sipping number 3.

I split the bridge of my nose wide open.

Ruined my evening.

How did I ever fall into the trap of celebrating many Friday nights with a drink or three?

According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), 23.5 million people in the U.S. received treatment for a substance abuse problem.

That is a phenomenal number.

But they received treatment — that is the good news.

The bad news is that addiction is a real struggle for many.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

As it was for me.

10 Reasons People Fall Into the Addiction Trap

1. Curiosity — Many people feel curious about the effects of alcohol, and this desire often leads to addiction.
2. Boredom — Boredom is a major reason why people start drinking. Unemployment or failure to keep one's mind stimulated may lead people to take the easy way out of their monotony.
3. Ignorance — Many individuals don't know how harmful alcohol can be. Some still believe there are positive effects of alcohol. Some believe they are immune to them and don't consider the possible consequences.
4. Stress — Stress often leads one to believe alcohol will help relax them. They don't bother to delve into health relaxation techniques such as meditation, exercise, or other forms of spirituality.
5. Fatigue — People turn to alcohol to increase energy. The original burst of vitality is false and short-lived, ultimately leading to exhaustion.
6. Appearances — Unfortunately, the entertainment industry has glorified alcohol. How sexy and romantic a Cosmopolitan may seem. We want to have what the icons appear to be having.
7. Avoidance — Alcohol is frequently used to avoid everyday problems, such as relationship, financial, or career issues.
8. Mental Illness — People suffering from mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, resort to alcohol as a form of self-medication or to relieve symptoms.
9. Pain — Similar to people suffering from mental disorders, those experiencing physical discomfort may also use alcohol to alleviate the pain.
10. Addiction — Drinking alcohol may lead to addiction. Addictions develop psychological and physical dependency.

Photo by Barry Fitzsimmons on Unsplash

I was curious as a teen and had my first drink.

Later, appearances were part of the reason I drank. In my 20s, I wanted to be as cool as the actresses on the big screen.

Later, I relied on alcohol for stress reduction and perhaps just a tad bit of avoidance.

I didn't want to face the bills that I was working my butt off to keep at a manageable level. Plus, there were the various sports uniforms, school clothes, etc., that two growing boys required.

Alcohol seemed like the perfect soother.

Retirement brought on relaxation, aka boredom.

My busy life now was overly quiet, as I had just moved from California to Arizona and only knew my new hubby and his friends.

Finally, I woke up and quit drinking.

I really, truly wanted to stop.

I created a sober life that is unrecognizable from my first five years of retirement.

Which of these reasons caused you to fall into the addiction trap?

Are you able to climb out?

If you need help — call SAMHSA, the same organization that published the study outlining the 10 reasons above. 877–726–4727, or 1–877-SAMHSA-7, or your local mental health or addiction organization.