Many studies have been done over the years to show how alcohol affects your body. The results are shocking. Many people have experienced a buzz or gotten drunk off alcohol. They may get nauseous, lightheaded or even pass out. However, alcohol causes much more damage than that. There are alcohol effects that happen in the moment, the next day and long-term. Learning about these effects can help you to see how bad this substance is for you.
If you are abusing alcohol and want help to get clean and sober, reach out to our addiction treatment team here at Harmony Recovery Center NC. We can help you.
Effects of Alcohol In the Moment
When you start consuming alcohol, the effects are going to begin almost immediately. The alcohol will cause physical and mental effects.
Physical Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
When you drink alcohol, it won’t digest right away. It will go into your bloodstream and affect your stomach and brain. Then, it will affect your kidneys and liver. Some of the effects this may have on you include:
- Increased appetite (due to increased flow of liquids going into your stomach)
- Diminished appetite (after drinking a lot of alcohol, especially if you have ulcers)
- Slows down pathways and chemicals that send messages to and from the brain (happens within 30 seconds of taking the first drink)
- Slowed reflexes
- Balance issues
- Slurring of words
- Blurry vision
- Coordination issues
- Increased urine production
- Increased thirst
- Dehydration
- Converting to water and carbon monoxide
Just the physical effects of alcohol alone can do a great deal of damage to the body. However, there are mental effects that alcohol has on the body, as well.
Mental Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
When you start to consume alcohol, it will affect your brain which causes issues with signal processes and chemical imbalances. Some of the mental effects that happen because of this include:
- Affecting your feelings, thoughts, and actions
- Feelings of relaxation after one drink
- Lower inhibitions
- Scattered emotions and thoughts
- Depression
- Increased anxiety
- Aggression
- Anger
- Grogginess and/or drowsiness
- Reduced quality of sleep
- More nightmares or vivid dreams
As you can see the mental effects of alcohol aren’t a walk in the park. Sometimes, people who continue to use alcohol will fall into a state of depression or other mental health issues and not be able to pull themselves back out of it. If this has happened to you, reach out to our team to get the help you need to stop drinking.
Alcohol Effects: The Day After Drinking
The effects of alcohol don’t stop just because you stopped drinking. You might experience physical and mental effects the day after drinking and even longer than that.
Physical Effects of Alcohol the Day After Drinking
As you just read, the day after drinking, you may still have some physical effects of alcohol including, but not limited to, the following:
- Headaches
- Increased thirst
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Achy muscles
- Dizziness, weakness, shakiness, and fatigue
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Lack of concentration
- Sound and light sensitivity
- Restless or poor sleep
All these effects happen due to the way alcohol is processed by the body. It can lead to irritation, inflammation and dehydration of the stomach lining and other parts of the body.
Mental Effects of Alcohol the Day After Drinking
Just as with the day of drinking, you will likely experience mental effects the day after drinking, too. Some of these effects may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Worsened mood
- Increased anxiety
- Feeling blue
- Not wanting to socialize
Everyone is different. You may experience some of these effects, all of them or none of them. You may have different effects, too.
If you find yourself constantly drinking and not being able to control how much you drink, our team can help you to quit drinking and get into recovery.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
The long-term effects of alcohol on your body can be physical or mental, as well.
Long-Term Physical Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
As noted, you could experience long-term physical effects on your body if you continue to consume alcohol. Some of these effects may include:
- Issues with emotion regulation, judgment, and memory
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Liver damage
- Damage to the pancreas (increased risk of pancreatitis)
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Bloating, painful ulcers, and gas
- Chronic stomach pain and diarrhea
- Infertility or sexual dysfunction
You don’t have to let things get this far. There are treatment programs that can help you to stop drinking alcohol.
Long-Term Mental Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
There are many long-term mental effects of alcohol on the body such as:
- Chronic depression
- Alcohol dependency
- Increased anxiety
- Trouble concentration
- Memory loss
These are some of the most common mental effects of alcohol that occur in people who consume alcohol long-term.
You may not be able to reverse some of the long-term effects of alcohol. However, you can get treatment before things get worse.
This is How Alcohol Affects Your Body – Get Help Today
Now that you know how alcohol affects your body, you should get help today if you can’t control how much you drink or you can’t stop drinking on your own. Our team is here to help you.
Contact us today to get into an alcohol treatment program.