People often consume alcohol as a relaxant to deal with tough situations socially or personally. If a person feels uncomfortable at a party, they ease into it through a drink, but sometimes for some people, these drinks become more than one! When consumption becomes chronic or excessive, it can have profound effects on mental health.
Alcohol addiction, or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), doesn’t just harm the body, it gradually impacts your brain, emotions and overall psychological well-being. Here are some of the most prominent effects of alcohol.
1. Alcohol and Brain Chemistry: A Disrupted Balance
Alcohol is used as a mental depressant. It numbs the senses and makes the person forget about the anxieties or worries. It alters the brain’s communication pathways, affecting mood, behavior, and cognitive functions.
In simple words, alcohol makes you feel oblivious to stress, and as your mind and body relax, you feel good about yourself temporarily. Chronic alcohol use can lead to changes in neurotransmitter levels, particularly gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, which play roles in anxiety and mood regulation.
If you consume alcohol regularly, these alterations can result in mood swings, increased anxiety, and depression because your mind and body revolt against the fully-alert state where you do not feel numb and anxieties become too much to handle.
2. Mood Disorders: Depression and Anxiety
Many people use alcohol as a way to escape depression and anxiety, but they don’t realize that it only increases these symptoms, making them more anxious and depressed.
You may have seen people depressed, and when they consume alcohol to control it, they become depressed and disoriented, causing them to become aloof, and often irrecoverably depressed! Alcohol can intensify negative emotions and interferes with the effectiveness of prescribed medications for mental health conditions. Over time, this can lead to a vicious cycle of worsening mental health and increased alcohol consumption.
3. Cognitive Impairments: Memory and Learning
People who consume alcohol on a regular basis often experience memory loss or difficulty in learning new things. Long-term alcohol consumption can result in slowing of reflexes and it can impair cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and decision-making.
Conditions such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a severe memory disorder, are associated with chronic alcohol misuse. This information cannot come as a surprise to those who have seen long-term alcohol consumers. From hand movements to reactions, everything is impacted by alcohol. These cognitive deficits can hinder daily functioning and reduce the quality of life.
4. Sleep Disturbances
One of the misconceptions that alcohol consumers like to believe is that their sleep cycle improves. Although alcohol may initially promote sleepiness, it disrupts the sleep cycle, leading to poor sleep quality and insomnia. Lack of restorative sleep can further deteriorate mental health, contributing to irritability, mood disorders, and decreased cognitive performance. Alcohol disrupts sleep cycle, which in turn, reduces reflexes and slows down the thinking process.
5. Social and Behavioral Consequences
You may have heard people express their displeasure towards an alcoholic acquaintance. While people around an alcoholic do not like it, alcohol addiction often leads to social isolation, strained relationships, and difficulties at work or school. These social consequences can increase feelings of loneliness and depression, creating additional barriers to recovery.
6. Risk of Psychosis
As with all substance abuse, chronic alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol-induced psychosis, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. People who consume liquor regularly often become delusional and they often claim events or thing that did not happen. This condition requires immediate medical attention and can have long-lasting effects on mental health.
7. Increased Suicide Risk
As we mentioned earlier, depression and anxiety only increase with alcohol consumption. There are several studies to prove that alcohol abuse and an increased risk of suicide are connected. Alcohol can lower inhibitions and increase impulsivity, making individuals more likely to act on suicidal thoughts. Moreover, alcoholics do not realize the gravity of a situation, and may become too involved in a self-harming act. The depressive effects of alcohol can deepen feelings of hopelessness.
Seeking Help and Treatment
If you know anyone who consumes alcohol excessively, the first step to overcome this undesirable situation would be to identify and admit the problem. Recognizing the mental health effects of alcohol addiction is one of the first step toward recovery. Treatment options include:
- Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help address the underlying thoughts and behaviors associated with alcohol use.
- Medication: Certain medications can assist in reducing cravings and managing withdrawal symptoms.
- Support Groups: Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous provide community support and accountability.
- Medical Intervention: In cases of severe addiction, inpatient rehabilitation programs may be necessary to provide comprehensive care.
Conclusion
Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause various issues. Starting from social aloofness, one can witness severe effects which can also elevate to self harm. Alcohol addiction is not solely a physical ailment; it’s a complex condition that deeply affects mental health.
Understanding the psychological impacts is crucial for effective treatment and recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, seeking professional help can pave the way toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
