s, and concrete plans). Alcoholics look forward to drinking, think about and give reasons for not drinking, justify their drinking, lie about and hide their drinking, or think about the comfort of drinking. Simply put: A lot of thought is given to drinking. Furthermore, the promise of drinking in the near future helps alcoholics to relax in the present, and conversely the thought of not being able to drink for an indefinite time evokes anxiety and subtle sadness. Non-alcoholics simple do not think this way.Alcoholics feel compelled to use alcohol as a means of effecting changes in mood, thinking, or over-all well-being. They feel a desire that drives them to use alcohol – to achieve contentment, to affect a buzz, to reduce tension, to numb feeling, to forget, to relax, to reward, and to feel better. And, their pleasant feelings reinforce the compulsion to use again.Why are some people compelled to drink alcoholically, while others are not? No one knows for sure. There are many ways to explain alcoholism. Some approaches accent organic/genetic/biochemical factors, others emphasize non-organic/psychogenic/environmental factors, and others try to integrate both nature and nurture. Depending on the person, there can be many reasons (and combinations thereof) to feel compelled to drink – such as genetics, biochemistry, habit, stress mismanagement, expectations, environmental pressure, cultural and societal sanctions, etc.One drink can compel some alcoholics to drink until they pass out or get sick. For them, one drink is too many. Other alcoholics feel compelled to drink daily while managing to function without blatant disruption. Others feel compelled to drink only on weekends, during holidays, or at festive occasions. Others seldom drink, but when they do, they drink alcoholically. Many alcoholics feel that they are entitled to drink and that life without alcohol is somehow not right, incomplete, or difficult. Although many alc...
