Understanding Alcoholism: Why They Can’t Just Stop

facethyfear
Mar 8
4 min read

By FaceThyFear | FTFNow.net

Alcoholism isn’t about weakness. It’s not a lack of willpower. It’s not just “drinking too much.”

If you’re trying to understand an alcoholic—whether it’s someone you love or even yourself—you need to know this: addiction doesn’t ask for permission. It takes over, rewires the brain, and destroys the body. Even when the consequences are life-threatening, it still convinces you that you need it.

I know because I lived it. I survived it. And I watched it nearly kill me.

The Truth About Alcoholism: Why They Can’t Stop

To someone on the outside, it makes no sense.

Why would someone keep drinking if it’s destroying their life?
Why wouldn’t they stop after ending up in the hospital?
How could they keep going back even when they KNOW it’s killing them?

Because addiction isn’t logical. It’s biological, psychological, and spiritual.

1. The Body Develops a Physical Dependency

For an alcoholic, drinking isn’t just a choice—it becomes a survival instinct.

Alcohol hijacks the brain’s reward system, flooding it with dopamine. Over time, the brain stops producing dopamine naturally, making it nearly impossible to feel happiness, peace, or even normalcy without alcohol.

But here’s the kicker: the body adapts. When alcohol is taken away, the body reacts violently.

Withdrawals can include:

Shaking and sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Severe anxiety and panic attacks
Seizures and hallucinations
In some cases—death

The alcoholic isn’t just “craving a drink.” They are trying to stop themselves from going into withdrawal hell.

2. The Brain Develops an Obsession

Even when sober, the alcoholic brain is constantly thinking about drinking.

“Maybe I can control it this time.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“I’ll just have one.”

But one turns into ten. Ten turns into a blackout. And the cycle starts again.

It doesn’t matter how much an alcoholic wants to stop. The brain convinces them they need to drink to survive.

3. The Spiritual and Emotional Toll

Most alcoholics aren’t just drinking for fun. They’re drinking to escape.

Escape pain.
Escape trauma.
Escape their own thoughts.

But every time they drink, they bury the real problem deeper. And every time they relapse; the shame gets heavier. They aren’t drinking because they love it—they’re drinking because they don’t know how to stop.

My Reality: How Alcohol Nearly Killed Me

I ignored the warning signs. I thought I had control. I thought I had time.

Then one day, I woke up in a hospital bed.

My Body Was Breaking Down

Doctors ran tests, and the results weren’t just bad—they were a flashing neon sign that I was killing myself.

Liver Failure: My liver enzymes were off the charts, proving my liver was breaking down.
Internal Bleeding: The lining of my stomach was bleeding due to portal hypertension—caused by liver damage.
Anemia & Low Platelets: My body wasn’t producing enough healthy blood, meaning I could bleed out from a simple injury.
Prediabetes: My glucose levels were climbing, meaning I was on the road to permanent health issues.

And these were my results AFTER I left the hospital.

Before I was admitted? It was much worse.

Why Even That Wasn’t Enough to Make Me Quit

Most people think, “That should’ve been your wake-up call.” But that’s not how addiction works.

Even after seeing my body falling apart, even after being told my liver was failing, I relapsed. Twice.

And every relapse got worse.

I got sick faster.
My body couldn’t handle the alcohol like before.
Withdrawals became unbearable.
I felt like I was dying—because I was.

That’s when I finally got the picture. If I didn’t stop, I was going to die.

How You Can Help an Alcoholic

If you love someone struggling with alcoholism, here’s what you need to know:

You can’t force them to quit.
- Recovery has to be their decision.
- But you can set boundaries.
They need real support.
- Shaming them won’t help.
- Encouraging them to seek help will.
Cut off enabling behaviors.
- If they always rely on you to bail them out, they won’t change.
- Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let them face the consequences.
Encourage professional help.
- AA, therapy, detox, rehab—whatever they need, help them find it.

If You’re an Alcoholic Reading This: You Still Have a Choice

I didn’t think I had a problem—until I did. I didn’t think I would end up in the hospital—until I did. I didn’t think I would relapse—until I did.

I almost died before I realized I needed to stop.

But you don’t have to wait until it gets that bad.

If you’re reading this, you still have time.

Take it 24 hours at a time. Because one day, your body won’t give you another 24.

FaceThyFear | www.FTFNow.net

Resources for Help

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): www.aa.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: www.niaaa.nih.gov
SAMHSA National Helpline (24/7 Free & Confidential): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Find a local recovery meeting: www.intherooms.com

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or professional advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, seek help from a licensed professional.