Alcoholism and Social Isolation

Does Loneliness Cause Alcoholism

Alcohol abuse may have gotten out of hand. Before you knew what was happening on a neurological or physiological level, your body was making adaptations to the substance. Like a thief, alcohol has begun to rob you of your own power, and your choices, leading you by the nose deeper and deeper into disease.

Like Alice in Wonderland, what had begun as a drink or two to loosen up and be more relaxed in social situations—which actually worked for a while—has been turned upside down. Now, as alcoholism has become engrained, you find yourself hiding away and drinking alone. Alcoholism and social isolation go hand in hand.

To better understand how the alcohol abuse morphed into something so debilitating and life-changing it helps to know how alcoholism develops, the signs and symptoms of the disease of alcoholism, and how to break free from its hold over you.

How Does Someone Become an Alcoholic?

No one sets out to become an alcoholic. Physical and psychological dependence on alcohol happens stealthily. Although there are certain risk factors that will increase the likelihood that someone will become an alcoholic, generally the disease starts off quite innocently.

Maybe you have made it a routine to enjoy a glass of wine while cooking dinner. As tolerance to alcohol increase over time, you may find yourself enjoying two glasses of wine in order to achieve that initial relaxing buzz. Eventually, the wine-sipping in the kitchen spills over and before you know it you are enjoying another glass or two prior to hitting the sack. That, my friends, is an entire bottle of wine. Should this practice become a habit, chances are alcoholism will develop. It is always a response to increased tolerance that leads to increased consumption.

Risk factors that may increase the odds of becoming an alcoholic include:

• A genetic predisposition to alcoholism. A close relative, or several of them, is predictive of the propensity for developing alcoholism yourself
• Starting to drink alcohol at an early age, such as the early teen years
• Environmental factors, such as being raised by parents who openly consumed alcohol frequently, a peer group that abuses alcohol, a workplace culture that promotes alcohol abuse
• Life events. Some will begin drinking regularly following a traumatic event in their life as a coping tool
• Co-occurring mental health disorder. Some who struggle with mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder, may self-medicate with alcohol

As the opioid receptors in the brain respond to the dopamine surge following alcohol consumption, a message is sent to the brain’s reward system to imprint on the brain that alcohol use equals relaxation and euphoria. As this reward system is further reinforced by continued drinking behavior, neural pathways become altered and the body becomes dependent on alcohol.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction or Dependency?

The usual signs that someone is becoming alcoholic include:

• Obsess about drinking, having enough alcohol in the house, obtaining alcohol
• Memory lapses, blackouts
• Waking up sick from excessive drinking on a consistent basis
• Ignoring responsibilities and obligations
• Declining work or school performance
• Unable to control the amount of alcohol consumed
• Unable to cut back or quick
• Experience withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is withheld

Why are Alcoholism and Social Isolation Linked?

As the trajectory of alcoholism takes you further from your former self, all aspects of life are impacted, including your social life. Alcoholism and social isolation are intrinsically linked. This is due to the fact that the alcoholic will remove all obstacles to his or her drinking behaviors or patterns, including socializing with friends and family. As the alcoholism progresses, the alcoholism and social isolation become more pronounced, often resulting in the alcoholic planning their entire day around being home, often alone, with free rein to drink with no accountability to others.

Detox for Alcoholism

When someone who has developed alcohol dependency chooses to regain their will and their lives, the first stop on the recovery pathway is detox. Detoxing from alcohol can be unpredictable and dangerous, which is why it is always recommended that they do so in a supervised environment. Detox specialists will guide the individual safely through the stages of withdrawal, providing medications to minimize the discomforts of detox. Following detox, the individual will have various options for the next phase of recovery, addiction treatment.

Executive 7 Day Detox Provides Detox for Alcoholism

Executive 7 Day Detox is a high-end detoxification program located in South Orange County, California. Busy professionals who seek help to end their dependence on alcohol find the upscale accommodations and amenities they are accustomed to at Executive 7 Day Detox. In this idyllic beach community setting, the executive seeking a safe, private, and discreet setting for alcohol detox will find our program to be accommodating to their needs to remain engaged with work while also getting the professional help needed to start alcohol addiction recovery. For more information about our luxury detox program, please connect with Executive 7 Day Detox today at (800) 381-0827.