According to Knapp, many people drink to escape the problems that burden the present and transform themselves into versions of themselves that they like better. The catch is that drinking only does so for a short period of time. The more a person craves these features of alcohol, the more often they’re likely to seek a drink, which can lead to a dangerous pattern. Plus, escaping reality or putting on the mask of an alternate persona keeps people from getting to know themselves, learning to manage difficult emotions, and gaining the tools they need to solve problems. In short, overuse of alcohol can stunt many areas of their lives, from their maturity to their relationships with others.

Knapp notes that when someone repeatedly drinks for transformation, they find that their “relationship to the world becomes muddied and unclear” (75). Drink in this way enough, and “the mathematics of transformation change,” Knapp says (76). The drinker forgoes self-discovery for so long that they become unsure of who they are, uncertain which version of their self is the true one. This causes discomfort, which leads to more drinking, which leads to more problems, from relationship issues to legal trouble. Comfort becomes virtually impossible but the alcoholic will keep drinking in the hopes that the alcohol will help them locate what they’re seeking, even as it takes them farther away from the thing they need.