You may have become impulsive or aggressive lately, but this occurs when someone has an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Your personality changes, so you may recognize yourself in the alcoholic personality traits in this article’s description.
Table of Contents
What Does Alcohol Do to the Brain?
Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system, slowing down brain activity. This leads to mood changes, impaired decision-making, and a loss of self-control. Problematic alcohol consumption can impair memory and make it harder to think clearly. It’s also why you may experience a lack of coordination when drinking.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) causes the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the brain’s reward system. This increase in dopamine during alcohol consumption creates feelings of euphoria and pleasure, contributing to impulsivity, increased confidence, and more sensation-seeking behavior, such as risky actions or excessive social engagement. These effects of alcohol can significantly alter behavior, even after short-term use.
Many individuals combine alcohol with other substances, such as benzodiazepines or stimulants like cocaine. This combination can lead to serious adverse effects and accidents. If your drinking habits are concerning or you’re noticing the signs of alcoholism, it might be time to seek professional help for your alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse.
What Are the Personality Traits of an Alcoholic?
Alcohol dependence often results in significant changes to personality, with certain traits commonly seen in those with alcohol use disorder. These traits can include impulsivity, neuroticism, and shifts in priorities that affect overall well-being. For example, individuals may show reckless behavior, a tendency to manipulate, or exhibit sensation-seeking tendencies, such as risky behavior or poor decision-making.
When someone suffers from alcohol addiction, they may display several traits:
- Deceptiveness and manipulation
- Shifting priorities, often centered around alcohol consumption
- Self-esteem issues and constant apologizing
- Recklessness and impulsivity
- Blaming others for personal problems
These traits can be compounded by the physical toll alcohol takes on the body, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness and other health concerns. If these behaviors sound familiar, it may indicate a serious drinking problem and the need for professional help at a treatment center.
At ReCreate Life Counseling, we offer comprehensive treatment options for those struggling with alcohol use disorder, including inpatient and outpatient treatment programs tailored to your needs. Our programs address both the psychological and physical aspects of alcohol addiction, supporting a full recovery from the impact of this condition on your mental health and overall well-being.
Alcoholic Personality Traits
The following are common alcoholic personality traits:
Feeling Frustrated
When experiencing an alcohol use disorder, you may easily feel frustrated throughout the day.
Blaming Other People
You may blame others for your actions and never take responsibility for the problems you cause. This tendency begins to create tension between friends and family members. An alcohol use disorder also causes you to be defensive. For example, you may blame your difficult circumstances on what is going on in your life. You may even begin to believe that your family members, your coworkers, your romantic partner, or the people you live with are responsible for the reason that you are drinking.
Experiencing Anxiety
The anxiety can be related to your fear of failure or being in a social setting.
Feeling Guilty
You may appear to be enjoying yourself while consuming alcohol, but the alcohol may mask incredible guilt.
Low Self-Esteem
The most common trait is low self-esteem. When you don’t feel worthy of being in the same space as other people, you may feel like you need a coping mechanism. The first coping mechanism that you may use is alcohol. That may be because it is legal and socially acceptable to drink, and it helps you avoid the problems you are experiencing very well, but it doesn’t last.
Reckless Behavior
When you drink, you are more likely to engage in reckless behaviors. If you are under the influence of alcohol most of the time, this can be a very serious issue. This is when you are more likely to fight with other people. You are also more likely to drive after consuming alcohol, which can have devastating consequences if you drive for a living. Reckless behavior also includes arriving at your place of business or school while you are intoxicated.
Reckless behavior is something we can all engage in at one time or another in our lives, so it isn’t necessarily the result of abusing alcohol. If you were known as a likable person and became reckless due to alcohol, you may be experiencing an alcohol use disorder.
Shifting Priorities
A very common trait that someone with a substance use disorder has is the tendency to shift their priorities so that they can drink alcohol. Instead, you may seek alcohol and drink than attend to your work priorities, childcare responsibilities, or romantic relationship.
You may have noticed your grades suffer if you are in school right now. If you are working, you may not be paying as close attention to your duties as you had in the past. You also begin to neglect your personal hygiene, which is noticeable if you were meticulous about your appearance before alcohol took over your life.
Financial Struggles
People experiencing an alcohol use disorder often struggle financially. Many people experience times when their finances are not as stable as they would like them to be. Still, financial instability can also mean that the consumption of alcohol is the cause of the instability.
First, it can be expensive to keep a supply of alcohol at all times. You may be in the habit of drinking at a bar, but purchasing alcohol at a bar is more expensive than buying it at a store. You can inadvertently spend much more money at a bar than in other circumstances. You may also have used being at a bar as an excuse to consume alcohol. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t spike anyone’s interest if you said that you were going to the bar for a drink, but this may only be your way of making your alcohol consumption appear normal.
An alcohol use disorder can also cause your job performance to suffer. If you are psychologically or physically dependent on alcohol, you may have difficulties completing your work day without drinking alcohol. In most cases, businesses have rules that employees are not allowed to drink while on duty. If you go to work while intoxicated, you may risk losing your job.
Uncontrollable Drinking
Uncontrollable drinking is the inability to stop drinking when it may be prudent. You may drink more than your limit when you are out in public and cannot control yourself.
If you constantly drink alcohol, you may be psychologically or physically dependent on the substance. This dependence causes you to believe you cannot function normally unless you drink. At this point, you are addicted to alcohol, and it is impossible for you to stop.
Making Excuses All of the Time
Alcohol is practically everywhere. Someone offers a champagne toast when we go to birthday parties, graduations or weddings. Several mimosas also accompany brunches. If you are going on a date or with friends, it isn’t unusual to end up at a bar. These are frequent instances that allow you to make excuses to drink.
Drinking to excess often leads to the disapproval of others, but when you have an alcohol use disorder, you are always prepared to offer an excuse for your drinking. These excuses are the harrowing time you had at work this week or the troubles you are having in your relationship. It doesn’t matter what the problem is; you can come up with a reason that you need to take a drink.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Obtaining alcohol addiction treatment at Recreate Life Counseling ensures you have the best chance of recovering from your disease. Substance abuse and alcohol addiction are diseases, and as such, they can be effectively treated with comprehensive treatment plans. Once you begin your recovery journey, you will be able to recognize yourself once again.
The first step in the treatment process is entering the detox phase. During alcohol withdrawal, we ensure that all harmful substances left behind by alcohol are removed from your body. This is a critical first step because those addicted to alcohol often experience severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit on their own. Medications may be administered to help manage these symptoms during detox, followed by therapy to address the psychological aspects of addiction.
For individuals facing both mental disorders and substance abuse, we offer dual diagnosis programs to address both conditions simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive care for mental health issues as well as addiction.
Contact us today if you’re ready to experience life without alcohol. We provide a range of treatment options, including residential treatment at our inpatient treatment center, partial hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and intensive outpatient treatment programs tailored to meet your individual needs.
Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-09-25
