CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) is secreted by neurons in the hypothalamus. It has been known for many years to act as stimulator of ACTH secresion by the pituitary, with the subsequent adrenals' release of glucocorticoids (cortisol), which help muscles and other non-cerebral organs prepare for fight with an enemy, or for flight from it.
Lately it was discovered that CRF also acts directly on the brain, preparing it emotionally for fight or flight. ("Fight or flight response.")
It is as if the emotional preparation could be transalated as the following imaginary message:
"You are in danger: consider the chances of winning if you fight, and your willingness to die or to be hurt fighting; otherwise, consider fleeing."
In chronic situations of stress, anxiety (and concomitant depression) becomes unbearable. Alcohol diminishes the secretion of CRF in the hypothalamus, while increasing dopamine's, which gives a feeling of balanced euphoria. Continuous usage of alcohol eventually becomes ineffective and an added sourse of stress, leading to 'abject' dependency.
People with stress that stimulates their search for solutions, derive pleasure in moderate alcohol ingestion, while people with no ability to fend off stress find that alcohol is an excellent anti-anxiety remedy and pleasure-giver; soon however, it ceases acting at moderate doses, and they cannot quit because they still obtain some relief, and also become physically dependent.
Alcohol may be considered thus a medication that eventually fails.
Drugs with anti-CRF effect in brain should be helful.
The f-or-f response is basic for survival, as described in the SURVIVAL essay. Chronic stressing-situations are dealt with correctly by given individuals, who manage to convert them into challenging experiences. Others are incapable to react positively, and develop somatic deterioration; but what makes them suffer most is the associated anxiety and depression.
Anxiety is very unpleasant, and the patient can discover that alcohol relieves it, this being the start of alcoholism. Better being alcoholic than a miserable anxious cripple. What is necessary is to find better remedies than alcohol.
Basically, there is an incapacity to deal creatively with chronic stresses, which are considered as "injustices" (see JUSTICE) instead of situations that demand action based on logical thinking. One of the reasons for this, according to my belief, is a deficiency in the secretion of brain neurotransmitters. But a better understanding of the SELF may be useful. For your possible benefit, I will post in Files D-SP several interdialogs on these subjects.
Notice, however, that D-SP does not intent to "help" but just to explain the world, for the joy of doing that. If anyone benefits from such a quest, it is entirely not my intention or my fault...