Discover the Roots of Alcohol addiction
With alcoholism running rampant in the United States, perhaps itís time to take a serious look at some of the underlying causes of alcoholism. After all, substance abuse experts state that addiction is almost always a sign of an issue underneath the surface. Yes, it may be buried deep, but itís there and the good news is that you can dig deep and unearth those issues, contend with them, and get through them.
In order to do so, first you must stop drinking. If you cannot do this on your own, reach out for some help via a counselor, rehab, or 12 Step group. Itís difficult to address the common roots of addiction when you are still under the influence. Once you put down the drink, then itís time to begin a journey of getting through layers of emotions, wounds, pain, and so on in order to get to the roots.
What are the common roots of alcoholism?
Do you remember why you started drinking? Was it peer pressure? Were you angry? Sad? Why did you continue drinking? Sometimes drinking starts out all fun and games, as many people experiment with it, but for some the alcohol will trigger something in their brain and they will begin to crave the drug and use it as a coping method.
Common roots of alcoholism include:
- Inner pain associated with past events as a child or adult
- The fear of rejection
- The fear of abandonment
- Pain and shame due to verbal or sexual abuse
- Being neglected
Now you might not be aware that some of these issues are simmering underneath your surface, prompting you to drink. This is why it is important to get some professional help as you enter recovery from alcoholism. With a trained therapist or even the 12 Step program, you can begin to take a look at your past and contend with feelings youíve been stuffing or numbing for many years now.
Then you can begin healing from old wounds and inner pain. Granted, taking an honest look at your past and even things youíve done in your past can be difficult, but it is important for personal and spiritual growth as you move forward in your recovery journey.
Letís say you were emotionally neglected by your parents as a child. Maybe they were too busy to pay much attention to you or they were alcoholics themselves. You might not have noticed how lonely and abandoned you felt way back then, but years later the pain associated with such caused you to lean toward drinking because when you drank, the pain did not feel so intense. Now, when you realize that youíve got a problem with alcohol and decide to stop drinking, you still have to go back and contend with your feelings and emotions to recover fully.
You may have felt unworthy or angry at your parents. You might have disconnected with people and become a loner. Working through such feelings is important so you can go on to have a healthy relationship with yourself and others. Once you work through such emotions, youíll feel so much lighter, happier, and more peaceful.
If youíre still struggling with alcoholism or youíre contending with some heavy emotions, reach out for help. There is a beautiful life on the other side of alcoholism and itís time to experience it.