The affects of alcoholism reach far and wide. Its economic toll is huge--over $166 billion annually in the United States alone, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Journal of the American Medical Association states more than 100,000 people die each year from causes directly related to alcohol, and even more die indirectly in drinking-related traffic crashes, domestic violence and other incidents.
Nearly 14 million Americans at any given time meet the clinical requirements to be diagnosed as alcohol abusers or alcoholics. The toll on society is clear, but what about the human toll? The mental and psychological effects on the alcoholic are perhaps the greatest tragedy. These effects leave emotional scars on those who suffer from alcoholism, as well as their families and loved ones.
Alcohol is a Depressant
When you drink alcohol, it passes quickly through your stomach to your bloodstream, where it's carried throughout your body. When it reaches your brain, it causes an increase in production of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is responsible for making you feel sleepy. It slows your central nervous system, which controls things like your breathing rate, heart rate, and transmission of signals within your brain. This is called a "depressant" effect.
The same depressant effect that makes you feel relaxed actually causes your senses to be dulled. Alcohol decreases the effects of your nerve cells firing and lessens the effects your neurotransmitters have on carrying information through your brain. Your level of mental sharpness decreases, along with coordination and alertness. Alcohol can affect memory, mood and impulse control.
Psychiatric Implications
Numerous studies have shown a direct link between alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorders such as the following: major depression, drug abuse and dependence, chronic low-level depression, anxiety disorders, other addictive disorders, insomnia, memory problems, and suicide attempts. In addition, overuse of alcohol causes lack of coordination, fatigue and weakness. It can exaggerate antisocial behaviors such as irritability, anger and aggression.
Men vs. Women
Although men are four times as likely as women to be alcoholics, women are more psychologically sensitive to the effects of alcohol, according to the American Psychological Association. They are than men to suffer depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other psychiatric disorders.
Men are more likely to develop depression, anxiety and other psychological problems after they begin to abuse alcohol. Women are more likely to have these issues before they abuse alcohol. However, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, chronic use of alcohol makes these conditions worse.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a psychological manifestation of the physical results of alcohol abuse. New technology has allowed brain imaging to show that prolonged use of alcohol or drugs damages the brain. This abuse changes the chemical reactions within the brain so that, without alcohol (or other addictive substances or processes) the brain no longer functions properly. More research is currently being done on this breakthrough in psychiatry.
Prevention
The mental effects of alcohol often have genetic and environmental roots. Some people can drink large amounts of alcohol and not be affected. Others can drink only a small amount before depression, anxiety and addiction become problems in their lives. The best treatment is prevention: Know your limits. If you believe alcohol may be causing problems in your life, experts say it probably is a problem. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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