As a premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Kansas City, Gold Bridge Treatment Center knows all the negative consequences of alcohol addiction. We know that alcohol can be extremely addictive. However, people who have never experimented with alcohol may not know what causes someone to drink continuously.
This article will help explain what happens internally to someone who drinks heavily and why they continue to feel the urge to keep drinking.
Brain Altering
Alcohol rehab facilities in Kansas City like Gold Bridge Treatment Center know, like other addictive habits, alcoholism is a learned behavior. A heavy drinker’s brain will begin to prioritize alcohol over everything else, as alcohol is known for altering the brain’s reward system. Once the brain learns the effects of alcohol and the temporary euphoria that the user feels, it becomes even more difficult for the user to break the habit.
Stress is also a common reason people turn to alcohol, mainly because it can calm someone who is going through difficult personal situations. Clearly, this is an unhealthy and temporary coping mechanism, and if it turns into an addiction, we recommend seeking alcohol addiction help in Kansas City immediately.
Dopamine
The brain is altered by alcohol specifically due to the release of dopamine and endorphins. These chemicals cause feelings of satisfaction, pleasure, and temporarily relieve pain. Alcohol rehab facilities in Kansas City know that alcohol affects some people more than others because of genetics. Some people’s brains release more pleasure chemicals (dopamine) than other people’s, making someone with higher dopamine levels more dependent on alcohol.
The Withdrawal Process
Many who enter treatment for alcohol addiction help in Kansas City will experience withdrawal symptoms during their detoxification process. Those symptoms may include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Insomnia
The brain of a recovering addict is in a very confusing place during this time. It is trying to adjust to no longer receiving alcohol that it has been receiving regularly for an extended time. During this unstable time, professional help from alcohol rehab facilities in Kansas City is critical to an addict’s health. These facilities have professionals who are trained to help the resident battle even the most severe withdrawal symptoms.
Gold Bridge Treatment Center
If you or someone you love is battling alcohol addiction and needs professional help, please give Gold Bridge Treatment Center a call at (913) 837-GOLD. Our drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Kansas City will develop a plan focused on helping recovering addicts get back to the healthy life that they deserve.