Alcohol Damage to the Brain
The Short- and Long-Term Effects of Drinking
Alcohol can become addictive if you start craving it every day and become dependent on it due to getting alcohol withdrawal effects when you haven’t consumed it in a long time. It affects the brain negatively and can cause permanent damage. The pleasurable effects on your brain when drinking alcohol are temporary and can cause more harm than good. Keep reading to learn how alcohol damage to the brain can have lasting effects on people who abuse alcohol.
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4 Short-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
When looking at the short-term effects of alcohol on the brain, there’s clear evidence that the central nervous system gets depressed due to alcohol being a depressant. Alcohol interacts with the brain’s chemistry through neurotransmitters that aren’t in a normal state, making the brain signals completely disorganized and incorrect. Some of the short-term effects of alcohol on the brain include:
1. Slowed Brain Activity
Alcohol can slow down brain activity, impairing judgment, coordination, and reaction time. One of the main reasons people shouldn’t drink and drive is because of the effect alcohol has on brain activity. This could also lead to accidents and reacting quickly to a car could cause you and that person to be in more danger and increase injury.
2. Memory Loss
Drinking alcohol can cause memory loss, especially in high doses. Alcohol affects the portion of the brain that forms new memories. When alcohol enters someone’s body it blocks this part of the brain and makes it difficult for someone to remember what occurred when they were under the influence.
3. Impaired Decision Making
When consuming alcohol affects someone’s ability to make the right decisions and go through with riskier behaviors than they should. This can include anything from engaging in unprotected sex to making poor financial decisions.
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4. Changes in Mood
Another effect of alcohol is how it makes a person’s mood more relaxed and less guarded–alcohol can also affect their mood, causing them to feel more relaxed or less inhibited. There’s also a chance it can lead to negative emotions, such as aggression, depression, and anxiety.
5 Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
The long-term effects of alcohol on the brain are very dangerous and are a permanent problem that can occur if treatment isn’t taken care of right away. When consuming alcohol a significant amount of leads to many physical and mental health problems. The long-term effects of alcohol on the brain can include:
1. Brain Damage
Alcohol can damage your brain in the long run, which affects you cognitively and behaviorally. When consuming a ton of alcohol, there’s a strong chance that it can lead to the shrinking of the brain. This particularly affects the areas responsible for memory and learning.
2. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome affects your brain and causes severe and permanent damage. This disease only affects people who are dependent on alcohol and have formed an addiction to it. Some of the effects of this syndrome are confusion, memory loss, and difficulty walking, all caused by damage to certain parts of the brain that correlate with these daily skills we take for granted.
3. Impaired Cognitive Function
When consuming alcohol consistently can impair cognitive function, which leads to memory blocks and difficulties. This can permanently impact a person’s life and give them more issues in the future socially and when working in general.
4. Increased Risk of Mental Health Problems
When becoming completely dependent on alcohol increases your mental health problems. Some issues that arise when drinking an excessive amount are depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Drinking alcohol an excessive amount makes mental health conditions even more prevalent and increased.
5. Increased Risk of Dementia
There’s a link to dementia if someone consumes alcohol a copious amount of times that it’s considered an addictive behavior. This is due to the fact that alcohol can damage the brain over time, leading to impairment of the brain that causes memory loss the most.
Preventing Alcohol-Related Brain Damage
Preventing alcohol-related brain damage starts with reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption. For those who struggle with alcohol addiction, seeking professional help is essential. Addiction treatment programs at Resurgence Behavioral Health can provide people with the support and resources they need to overcome their addiction and prevent further damage to the brain.
In addition to seeking professional help, there are several things people can do to protect their brains from alcohol-related damage, including:
1. Limiting Alcohol Consumption
It’s best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink or not to drink alcohol at all to prevent permanent brain injuries. If someone wants to continue drinking, it’s best not to drink beyond their usual limit—it depends on your gender, so for women, it’s one drink per day and for men, it’s two drinks per day.
2. Eating a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet can help protect the brain from alcohol-related damage. It’s important to consume a diet rich in antioxidants. You can find food with this in fruits and vegetables. The benefits of consuming this type of diet are reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.
3. Proper Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining brain health. Chronic alcohol use can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to further damage to the brain. Getting enough restful sleep can help the brain repair and regenerate damaged cells.
4. Engaging in Regular Exercise
Regular exercise can also help protect the brain from alcohol-related damage. Exercise has a ton of evidence that shows that it can help with the growth of new brain cells and reduce inflammation in the brain.
5. Seeking Professional Help
For those who struggle with alcohol addiction, seeking professional help is essential for preventing further damage to the brain. Like those offered at Resurgence Behavioral Health, addiction treatment programs can provide people with the support and resources they need to overcome their addiction and protect their brains from further damage.
Why Choose Resurgence Behavioral Health for Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
Resurgence Behavioral Health is a top-rated addiction treatment center that offers comprehensive and personalized care for alcohol addiction. Our experienced and compassionate staff is dedicated to helping people overcome their addictions and achieve long-term sobriety.
In addition to our alcohol addiction treatment programs, we offer a range of specialized services, including:
Addiction Treatment that
Just Works
Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey.
Medically Supervised Detox
Our medically supervised detox program ensures the safety and comfort of our clients during the withdrawal process. We monitor vital signs, administer medications, and provide emotional support throughout detoxification.
Residential Inpatient Program
Our residential inpatient drug rehab program provides a safe and supportive environment for people to focus on their recovery. This program includes 24/7 medical care, behavioral therapy, and recreational activities to help people develop healthy coping mechanisms and prevent relapse.
Outpatient Program
Our outpatient program allows people to receive addiction treatment while maintaining their daily responsibilities, such as work or school. This program includes people and group therapy sessions and access to our range of specialized services.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Alcohol addiction can have other factors that affect the person. This can occur with mental health disorders and struggles, which is why many alcohol addicts get a dual diagnosis treatment. When looking at dual diagnosis programs, you must ensure they address both the addiction and the underlying mental health condition, helping people achieve a successful and sustainable recovery.
Preventing alcohol-related brain damage starts with reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption and seeking professional help for addiction. Resurgence Behavioral Health offers comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs to help people overcome their addiction and protect their brains from further damage. Call Resurgence Behavioral Health at (855) 458-0050.