Alcoholism Is A Disease Of Emotions

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

In most cases, people start and continue to drink alcohol for the sake of affecting their emotions. Alcohol, by virtue of its chemical action, is a powerful emotional regulator. Here are just a few of the "emotional effects" that it can bring: improving mood, relaxation, relieving stress and emotional tension, increasing emotional tone, increasing positive emotions, removing emotional blocks and complexes, etc

At the same time, a person's psyche has its own internal system for regulating emotional states. This system does not appear in a person from birth (or rather, it is present from birth in a primitive, undeveloped form), but develops in the process of growing up of a person's personality. Moreover, this system develops not in passive development (not by itself), but in active development (with its active use and training). That is, to feel good in this world is an ability that must be actively learned in the process of life, it does not arise by itself.

It is clear that the less a person is engaged in his emotional development and the more emotional trauma he has, the more he will be inclined to look for some kind of external "crutches" to help his regulatory system. Alcohol is almost an ideal crutch. But what will happen when, instead of developing an internal regulatory system, a person uses alcohol? The answer is obvious - the internal system of regulation of emotions will be destroyed in this case. Moreover, not only the system of emotion regulation itself will be destroyed, but also the entire emotional sphere of a person.

Here are some of the long-term and lasting negative emotional effects one pays for the short-term “positive” effects of alcohol intoxication:

Emotional coarsening (flattening) - the variety of emotions decreases, emotions become more coarse, primitive ("higher" emotions such as love, interest, intimacy, aesthetic emotions, etc. gradually disappear, emotional coldness, indifference, insensibility, remains small the number of primitive emotional states - anxiety, irritation, depression, euphoria, apathy, etc.

Emotional dysregulation - emotions become difficult to control, emotional states begin to control thinking and behavior. In the end, it becomes impossible to get rid of, or even to reduce unwanted emotional states, negative emotions begin to govern the entire life of a person.

Alexithymia (emotional blindness) - Difficulty recognizing and discerning emotions. A person ceases to understand what he feels, and whether he feels at all.

Emotional irritability - impulsivity, unexpected uncontrollable outbursts of emotions on seemingly insignificant events.

Emotional rigidity - "freezing" in unpleasant emotions, an emotional reaction to a single event develops into an emotional state (for example, anger at some small event in the morning develops into irritation for the whole day).

Emotional instability (lability) - emotions spontaneously change, causeless mood swings occur.

The predominance of the negative spectrum of emotions - negative emotions gradually begin to prevail (irritation, anxiety, guilt, shame, depression, apathy, etc.), positive emotions gradually disappear.

In general, the regular use of alcohol leads to a very painful state of the emotional sphere, with which (due to the destruction of the system of emotional regulation), a person cannot do anything on his own. Since such an emotional state becomes intolerable, such a person has to resort to an external regulator (alcohol consumption). Drinking alcohol brings temporary relief, but further destroys the emotional sphere, etc. This creates a vicious circle of development of emotional dependence on alcohol consumption (positive feedback between the destruction of the emotional sphere and the need to drink alcohol).

Thus, alcoholism, with good reason, can be called a disease of emotions. And, as a consequence, the treatment of alcoholism without the "treatment" of emotions will be simply impossible. Any approach to the treatment of alcoholism must include the restoration of the emotional sphere. If you simply focus on stopping use, then: a.) It will be ineffective (a person will still return to use to alleviate his emotional state); b.) it will be somewhat even a sophisticated sadistic approach - to take away from a person the only tool for relieving emotional pain, without giving him anything in return.

What then are the stages of such "emotional treatment of alcoholism"?

1. Stopping use. Without stopping the use (and any psychoactive substances), there can be no question of any restoration of the emotional sphere.

2. Finding alternative external emotional resources. For the first time, a person needs a replacement for alcohol, something that can bring emotional relief. Self-help societies (the best known and most widespread being Alcoholics Anonymous) can be such a good resource. Work with a psychologist can be combined (or can occur separately) (on an emotionally supportive principle).

3. Learning to manage emotional states. Ways - diaries of emotions, diaries of introspection, working on automatic thoughts, teaching relaxation, etc.

4. Resolving internal conflicts that lead to painful emotions.

5. Solutions to childhood developmental trauma.

This process is long, taking years, requiring the contribution of one's own efforts and the help of professionals in the restoration of the emotional sphere (psychologists).

With this approach, the goal of "alcoholism treatment" is not to stop using, but to restore a person's abilities to live emotionally fully, to feel joy from life and interest in it, to feel harmonious and fulfilled, to be satisfied with oneself and one's life, to be able to love, hope and believe. In general, the goal of "emotional treatment for alcoholism" is that emotional state in which the person will not want to use. The cessation of use is not an end in itself, but only a compulsory measure.

This approach is valid not only for alcohol addiction, but also for any other, both chemical and non-chemical. It is necessary not only to get rid of your addictive behavior, but also to learn to feel good without it.