Why Do People become Drunks?
There is nothing glamorous about the life of a drunk. It can in fact be heartbreaking to watch people destroy their lives this way. What could possibly be driving them to act like this? Where is the attraction? Are they just mad? Those that have never falling into addiction may well find it hard to understand – you would need to have been there.
When I first began abusing alcohol in my teens it made perfect sense. I was shy and awkward but this amazing chemical filled me with confidence and made it easy to be around people. Before finding alcohol my life was full of emotions that often felt unbearable; alcohol took all that away. When I first started drinking alcohol it really did seem to be the answer to all my problems and for a long time it did work this way.
Many of those who fall into addiction are doing so as a form of self-medication. Some of these individuals are feeling the first effects of mental illness but find that alcohol brings some relief. Others are just bored and uncomfortable with life and again alcohol helps fix this. The reason why people choose alcohol is that in the beginning it really does work.
By the time the disadvantages of alcohol outweighed he benefits I was already hooked mentally and physically. I could see how alcohol was destroying my life but the idea of giving up something that had helped me so much in the past seemed too hard. I also hoped that the good drinking days would return again if I just found the right combination of circumstances. I spent decades looking for the perfect pub, perfect place to live, and perfect job; despite many changes I was never able to make alcohol work for me again. By the time that I accepted that there was not one ounce of enjoyment left in booze I had lost almost everything.
I believe that a lot of those who become drunks do so because they are convinced that alcohol will make life easier to cope with. It is only when they fully accept that this drug can no longer do this that they can finally escape addiction.
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Hey Paul,
I am wondering, how much is it the physical dependency and how much is it the emotional attachment to the end result that makes it difficult to stop drinking?
You are right about “Those that have never falling into addiction may well find it hard to understand – you would need to have been there.” Which is the reason I find it hard to understand why people just don’t take that first drink when they know they can’t stop. I think, there must be a chemical reaction that prevents them from stopping after they take the first drink, otherwise they would stop knowing the damage it could do.
I’m afraid I will never understand, but I do have compassion for those that have this addiction.
Hi Angelina, I found it very hard to think straight when in the midst of addiction. The cravings only added to my confused state and it was easy from me to be fooled into making illogical judgements. All I could remember was the good times. I found it hard to trust other people; inclduing those who were trying to help me. Alcohol had been my friend for so long.
Thanks Paul.
I sit as vice chair at Nechi Institute http://www.nechi.com/about-nechi. We found that getting back to the core of who we are helps the healing process. Most of our students are themselves dealing with addictions that in itself makes them great councilors.
Good luck on your book!
That sounds really interesting. I don’t know enough about Aboriginal culture but it is fascinating that you are using parts of it to treat addiction. I think you are right about the benefit of having addicts helping other addicts. Many of the monks at the temple where I go sober were ex-addicts. I always found it harder to trust those people who hadn’t been throught what I’d been through.