How Does Alcohol Impact Your Mental Health?

Consuming alcohol is socially acceptable in most parts of the world as long as you do not cause trouble for others. Alcohol is classified as a depressant drug that suppresses the central nervous system and slows down the functions of your brain. As it helps cope with difficult feelings, a lot of people consume it to feel better. However, heavy alcohol use can have a negative impact on a person’s physical and mental well-being.

Alcohol addiction can cause behavioral problems and mental changes in a person. If it continues for a long term, it can result in learning problems, memory issues, and various other mental health conditions. Due to the rising number of rehabilitation centers, it has become easier for individuals to receive alcohol addiction treatment in Arkansas and other parts of the country. However, the problem can be nipped in the bud if people know how alcohol can impact one’s mental health.

Short-Term Impact of Alcohol on the Brain

One of the most common outcomes of the short-term effects of alcohol on the brain is alcohol intoxication. Depending on the body weight of a person, how often they drink, the amount of alcohol they consume, and their unique bodily makeup, the symptoms of this condition may vary. Some symptoms, like mild physical and cognitive impairment, may appear after consuming just 1 or 2 drinks.

In order to regulate mood and emotions, our brains rely on a fine balance of chemicals and processes. When you drink too much alcohol, the chemicals that play a crucial role in maintaining your mental health and reducing anxiety naturally start to deplete. As alcohol consumption affects the way you think, feel, and behave, you may experience slurred speech, slower reaction times, and impaired judgment as short-term impacts.

When you continue drinking despite recognizing such signs, you may experience alcohol poisoning. This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening consequence of consuming too much alcohol in a short amount of time. The symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizure
• Having trouble staying conscious
• Slow heart rate
• Respiratory suppression
• Permanent cognitive impairment
• In some cases, death

Long-Term Impact of Alcohol on the Brain

Individuals who drink an excessive amount of alcohol on a regular basis are at increased risk of developing alcohol-related complications. If this continues for a long period, the individual is most likely to experience heart, liver, and digestion problems. It can even lead to cancer and a poor immune system. With time, the person may start experiencing mood and sleep disturbances and the development of serious mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

Alcohol addiction can have a lasting impact on your brain and cause its hippocampus region to shrink. A study by the University of Oxford found that participants who consumed four or more drinks daily had almost six times the risk of hippocampus shrinkage than people who did not drink. In fact, the mild and moderate drinkers also showed more hippocampus shrinkage than those who avoided alcohol completely.

People who drink heavily for long periods are also at risk of developing thiamine deficiency. This occurs as a result of poor nutrition and may lead to conditions such as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). Also referred to as “wet brain,” this condition causes persisting mental confusion, difficulty with coordination, eye movement disturbances, and persistent learning and memory issues.

Long-term alcohol abuse can also result in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is more commonly known as alcohol addiction or alcoholism. When you have this chronic illness, you cannot stop or control your drinking, even if it is hurting your job, social life, and health. A person with AUD may show the following signs:

• Persistent cravings for alcohol
• Spending a significant amount of time trying to acquire alcohol
• Keep on drinking even if alcohol use is causing familial and relationship issues
• Being unable to cut down on drinking
• Drinking in situations where it is dangerous to do so (while driving or operating machinery)
• Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms when drinking is stopped

Conclusion

Whether you drink occasionally or on a daily basis, you are at risk of developing some serious mental health complications in both cases. If you are finding it hard to quit alcohol, you should consult a doctor today. It is never too late to turn your life around.