People drink alcohol for many reasons: to relax, celebrate, socialize, or commiserate. When consumed in moderation, alcohol doesn’t typically cause significant harm, but when consumed in excess, it can impact the mental health of the body and brain. The brain is a delicate and intricate organ that must maintain a careful balance of chemicals for a person to function properly. Alcohol abuse can disrupt this precarious system, disable the brain’s natural equilibrium, and cause psychological damage and dependency.
Can you reverse the effects of alcohol on your brain?
The effects of alcohol abuse alter neurotransmitter levels (chemical messengers of the brain), which can lead to irreversible damage to coordination and cognitive abilities. Once brain cells die, the effects can be permanent. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that former alcoholics who abstain from alcohol for several months to a year may experience partial recovery of some of these functional impairments. Research further indicates that the impact on the brain’s gray matter, which shrinks from alcohol abuse, begins reversing within a few weeks once alcohol consumption has stopped.
What are the psychological effects of alcohol mental impairment?
The active ingredient in alcohol, ethanol, is a powerful toxin that can cause a variety of short-term and long-term effects on the brain and body. Those who suffer from alcohol addiction are at an increased risk of the psychological effects, which include:
- Difficulty focusing
- Emotional dysregulation
- Problems with memory
- Lack of impulse control
- Depression and anxiety
- Increased risk of substance use disorder
- Impaired learning and memory capacity
- Diminished brain function
How long does it take for dopamine levels to return to normal?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain known as the “feel-good” hormone. Drinking alcohol increases dopamine, which produces feelings of euphoria and pleasure. For those who drink alcohol occasionally or in moderate amounts, the brain’s dopamine levels typically return to normal once the alcohol has cleared from the system. However, over time, habitual and excessive alcohol use reduces dopamine, which means more alcohol must be consumed to achieve the desired effects. Although many factors affect the brain’s timeline to restore normal dopamine production, some studies indicate that after 14 months of sobriety, dopamine levels can return to a healthy baseline.
What mental disorders are associated with alcoholism?
Alcoholism can be associated with many mental health problems either as a contributing factor or as a direct result of alcohol abuse.
Some of these disorders include:
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Psychotic Disorders
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
What is alcohol-induced psychosis?
Alcohol-induced psychosis includes a range of symptoms that can occur as a direct result of excessive consumption. These symptoms can include hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, disorganized thinking, and an altered perception of reality. Alcohol-induced psychotic episodes typically occur during or shortly after a period of binge drinking or withdrawal from alcohol.
What parts of the brain are affected by alcohol?
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It contains billions of nerve cells arranged in intricate patterns that coordinate thought, emotion, behavior, movement, and sensation. When you drink alcohol, several parts of your brain are impacted.
CEREBRAL CORTEX: In charge of judgment, reasoning, and sensory function.
Alcohol slows down the cerebral cortex, which lowers inhibitions and leads to potentially poor judgment. The senses are dulled, increasing the threshold for pain. A person may struggle to control emotions and urges, act without thinking, or even become violent.
CEREBELLUM: Responsible for balance and coordination.
Alcohol depresses the functions of the cerebellum. A person may fumble or lose their balance and fall. Reflexes are also slower, which results in delayed reactions, especially when driving.
HIPPOCAMPUS: The center of memory and learning.
This part of the brain is where memories are formed. When alcohol reaches the hippocampus, a person may experience short-term memory loss or blackouts. If this area is significantly damaged by alcohol, a person may find it hard to learn and retain knowledge.
MEDULLA: Controls the body’s involuntary functions, such as the heart, circulation, and breathing.
Alcohol diminishes the medulla’s ability to regulate body temperature and heart rate. Drinking too much can lead to loss of consciousness, and if alcohol poisoning occurs, it can be fatal.
HYPOTHALAMUS: Regulates heart rate, body temperature, hunger, and the sleep-wake cycle.
Alcohol upsets the work of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, a person may experience hunger or increased appetite, insomnia, dehydration, or body chills.
Can the brain heal itself after alcohol?
Evidence-based studies conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) report that the brain has a remarkable ability to heal and recover after alcohol use, especially if its consumption stops altogether. The brain exhibits neuroplasticity, which can reorganize and form new neural connections. In other words, when a person stops drinking, the brain can begin to rewire itself, forming new pathways that support healthier cognitive and behavioral patterns. According to current research, evidence supports that for individuals with damage to brain circuitry impacted by alcohol abuse, other circuits in the brain can compensate to help restore those impaired functions.
Alcohol Recovery with Fifth Avenue Psychiatry
We are a team of highly trained Psychologists and Psychiatrists who use evidence-based clinical treatments and therapies for all sorts of conditions, including alcoholism and co-occurring disorders.
We offer an array of treatments, such as:
- Individualized Therapy
- Discreet Group Therapy for Executives
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Family Therapy
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Call us, and we’ll design a treatment program personalized to you or your loved one struggling with alcoholism.
