Alcohol and other Dependencies

Has your coping strategy become the problem?

Do you find yourself reaching for a drink at the end of a long day, to relax or take the edge off difficult feelings? 

In a world where overwhelm and stress are accepted as an essential part of daily life, this daily ritual can seem like the best act of self-care or strategy to cope.

Alcohol is often portrayed as a reward, a way to unwind, or something that helps you get through. And in the short term, that can be true, as alcohol temporarily increases the release of “feel good” chemicals, like serotonin or dopamine, in the brain.

However, this relief is only ever short lived, and excessive or prolonged drinking will make existing overwhelm, stress or anxiety much worse, especially if it is linked to a disturbing memory or other unresolved trauma.

The Addiction Cycle

Unresolved trauma can keep your nervous system stuck on high alert, keeping you restless, anxious, or even emotionally drained. If you’re living with constant flashbacks or hypervigilance from a disturbing past, then your body is likely to be experiencing elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this reduces your brain's natural ability to regulate your mood effectively, and of course, in this context, alcohol might appear to offer that fast, much needed escape.

But as time passes, the emotional weight doesn’t get any lighter. The difficult feelings often return with more intensity. You might find yourself drinking more often, or needing more just to take the edge off. What once felt like a comforting escape now feels all-consuming.
What used to help you cope is adding to the chaos, bringing more anxiety, disrupted sleep, unpredictable moods, and a sinking realisation that you’re not as in control of it as you’d like.

The urge to drink is still there, but now, it’s not about pleasure. It’s about numbing. Silencing.
Forgetting. And so, the cycle continues.