Alcohol is one of the most accessible substances, with detrimental effects when abused. Not only does addiction to alcohol affect you mentally, but it has serious physical impacts as well.
Understanding the effects of alcohol abuse on your mind and body will help you resist regular, heavy drinking and assess whether or not you have an addiction.
Mental Effects of Alcohol
When alcohol is consumed, it slows down the brain’s processing power, making it harder to pinpoint how you feel and recognize consequences. Drinking heavy amounts of alcohol in a single sitting can cause a short-term loss of memory.
Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to an increase in:
- Anger
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Impulsive behaviors
Discontinuing the use of alcohol can stop or reduce these effects before they get worse. If you suspect that you might have an addiction to alcohol, seek professional guidance before the condition brings serious mental health disorders.
Physical Effects of Alcohol
If you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, it won’t take long for the physical effects to take form. You may experience withdrawal symptoms that get steadily worse until remedied with more alcohol.
This is a dangerous cycle and must be corrected before it turns into medical conditions such as:
- Liver disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Brain damage
- Osteoporosis
During detox from alcohol specifically, some symptoms can progress to the point of death. If you’re considering alcohol detox, avoid doing so at home and always seek professional detox.
What Are the Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse?
The short-term effects of alcohol depend on how much is consumed in a short period of time. A drink or two may only lead to drowsiness and slight dizziness.
However, binge drinking commonly leads to hangovers, memory gaps, vomiting, and severe disorientation. You don’t have to be a chronic drinker in order to experience these effects, so it’s important to drink responsibly and know your limits. These side effects can be avoided.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse?
When casual drinking turns into a habit, side effects can become dangerous.
Long-term alcohol abuse can bring unwanted health issues such as:
- Fatty liver
- Cirrhosis
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Memory loss
- Brain shrinkage
- Stomach ulcers
- Depression
- Anxiety
The long-term effects of alcohol abuse impact systems and organs across the whole body. In most cases, a full-fledged addiction develops. At that point, professional treatment is necessary to break the cycle before it worsens into irreversible damage.
How Does Alcohol Affect Relationships?
Most relationships are negatively impacted by alcohol abuse. Whether between friends, family, or romantic partners, each relationship will feel strain in many forms.
Alcohol abuse damages relationships by:
- Breaking trust
- Creating doubts
- Eroding communication
- Destroying intimacy
- Causing financial issues
- Opening doors to verbal and physical abuse
Most alcoholics want to hide their addiction or justify it. This creates barriers in relationships as a power struggle ensues. When left untreated, an alcoholic can eventually lose these relationships.
Is Alcohol Abuse Genetic?
While alcohol abuse itself is not hereditary, certain people can possess genes that predispose them to forming an alcohol use disorder. Having the genes doesn’t mean you have an addiction, but it only increases the risk.
Having alcohol abuse run in your family doesn’t mean you will develop an addiction yourself. There are many factors that contribute to developing an alcohol addiction, including environment and mental health.
Whether or not your family has a history of alcohol abuse, it’s always best to practice responsible drinking.
Alcoholism Treatment at Desert Recovery Centers
If you are suffering from alcohol addiction, contact us today and get the help you need. Alcohol hijacks you mentally and physically, and it’s important to take steps towards recovery before serious health conditions occur.
