Alcohol Addiction – I have been sober for 17 months

When you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, it can feel like your whole world is crumbling. But there is hope. With the right treatment and support, you can overcome this disease and get your life back on track.

Part of what makes alcohol addiction so difficult to overcome is the way it affects your brain. Alcohol alters brain chemistry, which can lead to changes in mood, behavior, and thinking. These changes make it hard to quit drinking and stay sober.

So where does your brain fire up when battling alcohol addiction? Let’s take a look.

The first thing to understand is that alcohol addiction is a chronic disease. This means that it’s characterized by long-term, persistent changes in the brain. Just like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, alcohol addiction is not something that can be cured.

However, it is possible to manage the disease and live a healthy, productive life. With treatment and support, you can learn to control your drinking and avoid relapse.

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One of the most important things to understand about alcohol addiction is that it affects the brain’s reward system. This system is responsible for making us feel good when we do things that are necessary for survival, such as eating or reproducing.

Alcohol hijacks this system by increasing levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate pleasure and motivation. This flood of dopamine reinforces drinking behavior, making it more likely that a person will keep drinking even though it’s causing problems in their life.

Over time, chronic alcohol use changes the way the brain’s reward system works. These changes can make it difficult to feel pleasure from anything other than drinking. This is one of the reasons why it’s so hard to quit drinking once you’re addicted.

Alcohol addiction also affects the brain’s executive functions, which are responsible for planning, decision-making, and self-control. These changes can make it difficult to stick to your treatment plan and avoid relapse.

Conclusion

One of the most important things you can do if you’re struggling with alcohol addiction is to seek professional help. Treatment can give you the tools you need to manage your disease and live a healthy, sober life.

If you’re ready to take the first step, contact a treatment center today. With the right help, you can overcome alcohol addiction and get your life back on track.