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How Does Alcohol Affect Your Emotions – If someone you know is an alcoholic, you may have noticed that they experience mood swings and other psychological symptoms. This is normal because alcohol abuse and mood swings often go hand in hand. This phenomenon is called “alcohol mood swings”.
Alcohol abuse is known to cause individuals to behave differently than they normally do. Many individuals abuse alcohol to relieve uncomfortable feelings. For example, many people drink alcohol when they are depressed and need to make themselves feel happier or lighter. On the other hand, many people abuse alcohol to relieve anxiety and calm the nerves.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Emotions
Many of us have tried to use alcohol to soften our mood in some way. However, alcohol is never a panacea to improve one’s mood or solve one’s problems. In fact, abusing alcohol can produce the opposite effect. When individuals drink as a coping mechanism it leads to the development of short-term physical and mental problems. In other words, excessive use of alcohol can produce negative effects. Also, excessive alcohol abuse over a long period of time produces long-term effects. One of these effects may include alcohol-induced mood swings, otherwise referred to as “alcohol mood swings.”
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Alcohol, when used frequently and excessively, can cause significant health risks. One of the main dangers is the development of tolerance, dependence and addiction. On a short-term basis, alcohol abuse can cause the following physical problems:
Although the short-term physical effects of alcohol abuse are often discussed, many are unaware of the mental and emotional problems associated with heavy drinking. To illustrate, people who abuse alcohol may become angry or violent, especially when confronted with their drinking. However, alcoholic mood swings are about more than anger or violence.
Unfortunately, the short-term effects of alcohol can lead to long-term effects. For example, individuals who engage in impulsive behaviors such as driving under the influence may receive legal consequences for their actions. On the other hand, if a person has unprotected sex while abusing alcohol, they are at a higher risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases or becoming pregnant.
If you or a loved one suffers from alcohol abuse and has noticed short-term side effects or mood swings from alcoholism, it may be time to seek professional alcohol rehab.
What Are Alcoholic Triggers?
People who abuse alcohol frequently and for long periods of time are more likely to develop long-term side effects. As mentioned earlier, addiction, dependence and tolerance can develop after a person continues to abuse alcohol. If a person becomes addicted to alcohol or suffers from alcoholism, their mood can change drastically. For example, alcoholics feel that they need alcohol to function normally.
If an alcoholic cannot obtain alcohol, they may become increasingly agitated, anxious, or depressed. In other words, alcohol completely controls the mood of the individual, causing them to change their mood to drink more often.
Additionally, if a person abuses alcohol frequently and consistently, some of the long-term side effects they are at risk of developing include:
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a good example of how alcohol affects the brain and ultimately a person’s mood. Symptoms of WKS include confusion, eye and vision changes, or exaggerated storytelling. Unfortunately, the confusion caused by WKS can cause individuals to become angry or violent. Often, this violence is unleashed on the person or others around them.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Body
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are known to cause an array of physical and mental health problems. Unfortunately, long-term abuse of alcohol often leads to the development or worsening of various mood disorders.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alcohol abuse associated with alcoholism can coexist with, contribute to, or result from a variety of mental health conditions. As a result, alcoholism has the potential to mimic or complicate every known psychiatric syndrome. This can complicate the diagnosis of co-occurring disorders.
When a person suffers from alcoholism and an additional psychiatric condition, this is referred to as comorbidity, co-occurring disorders, or dual diagnosis. Although co-occurring disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat, professional dual diagnosis therapists are trained and knowledgeable on the subject. Staff at a dual diagnosis treatment center often treat their patients for both alcoholism and a co-occurring disorder. Without treating all problems at the same time, the two mental health conditions can worsen each other, leading to a recurrence of one or both problems.
At Carolina Recovery Center, we understand the complexity of dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. Our team of experienced addiction specialists and mental health professionals can help patients recover from their alcoholism and mental health condition(s) simultaneously. If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism, contact us today for more information on how to recover.
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Dr. Ashley Murray received her MBBCch cum laude in 2016. He currently practices in the public domain in South Africa. He is interested in medical writing and has a strong interest in evidence-based medicine. Alcohol has become one of America’s favorite pastimes. In other words, many Americans participate in alcohol consumption on a regular basis, sometimes to the point of abuse. Alcohol abuse is dangerous because it can cause various negative effects. Some of the common side effects of frequent or persistent alcohol abuse include negative effects on one’s emotional and mental health, alcohol-induced mood swings, or worsening psychiatric conditions. Additionally, alcohol is known to negatively affect cognitive functions, such as loss of inhibitions, confused or abnormal thinking, and poor decision-making. In the long run, the effects of alcohol on mental health can be very harmful.
While recreational users typically recover from the short-term side effects of alcohol, they may continue to suffer from the mental and emotional effects of their drinking. If you or a loved one frequently abuses alcohol, it may be time to attend an alcohol rehab near you.
Alcohol affects everyone in different ways. For example, how much a person drinks and how often they drink can play a role in the psychological effects they experience. Unfortunately, the longer a person abuses alcohol, the more serious the side effects.
People who suffer from pre-existing mental health conditions may experience worsening symptoms when they drink heavily. For example, individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar, or other mood disorders should not drink excessively, as alcohol can worsen these conditions.
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People who become addicted to alcohol while suffering from a pre-existing mental health condition are known to have dual diagnosis. In other words, they suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and a co-occurring psychiatric condition. Often, co-occurring disorders make recovery more difficult and complex. However, dual diagnosis treatment centers are trained and qualified to treat both conditions simultaneously, giving patients a solid foundation for recovery. If you or a loved one is experiencing mental or emotional consequences as a result of your alcoholism, it may be time to consider attending a dual diagnosis treatment center.
If a person drinks too much alcohol, the cerebellum in their brain is likely to be affected. The cerebellum is the most sensitive part of the brain to alcohol abuse because it controls functions such as memories and emotions. When a person drinks alcohol, his body starts producing more serotonin and endorphins. Serotonin and endorphins are chemicals that regulate our emotions, feelings of relaxation and happiness. In other words, the more a person drinks, the more their brain is exposed to alcohol, which can have a negative impact on their emotional and mood regulation. That’s why the emotional effects of alcoholism are so pronounced, and combined with the effects of alcohol on mental health, it’s so difficult to quit an alcohol problem.
The emotions and moods affected by alcohol consumption usually include a combination of pain, pleasure, or relaxation. When a person begins abusing alcohol to relieve painful feelings, they are usually trying to overcome emotions such as fear, hurt, sadness, grief, jealousy, shame, embarrassment, guilt, or loneliness.
On the other hand, some people may abuse alcohol to achieve artificially pleasurable feelings such as happiness, thrill, general excitement, self-esteem, confidence and feelings of connection or in social situations.
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Finally, some people drink alcohol to achieve a relaxed state of emotional calm, including comfort, indifference to problems, and numbing.
Unfortunately, people who drink alcohol to numb their feelings or self-medicate, usually experience a worsening of symptoms. This is due to the effect alcohol has on the brain’s cerebral cortex and mental health. Excessive alcohol consumption makes it difficult for an individual to think clearly and depresses an individual’s behavioral inhibition centers. As a result, the intoxicated person will be less inhibited and experience poor judgment, often leading to negative legal or social consequences.
Binge drinking is known to cause severe disruption in personal relationships and families. துரதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, போதையில் இருக்கும் நபர்கள் கசப்பான மற்றும் நம்பமுடியாத உணர்ச்சிகளை அனுபவிக்கிறார்கள், பெரும்பாலும் கோபம், வெறித்தனம், அழுகை ஜாக்ஸ் அல்லது
