The long-term effects of alcohol on the brain can be life-changing, irreversible, and in many cases, quite dangerous. If you are struggling with alcohol, then finding the right help can be paramount to living a happy and fulfilling life. An alcohol rehab program can feel like an overreaction to a socially acceptable pastime. However, it isn’t.
Alcohol use can affect your relationships, your health, and your finances. It can also lead to serious legal consequences if you are taking part in risky behaviors due to alcohol use. Physical dependency can alter your decision-making and even take away your independence. That is why you should consider an alcohol rehab program with Recovery Bay. Our men’s alcohol use program can help you find new ways of coping with life’s stressors. Call us today at 833.991.2955.
Alcohol Abuse
Addiction is a process that affects the body in several important ways. Drinking some alcohol may cause feelings of euphoria and calmness. This is often how addiction starts. If you’re struggling with trauma, mental health issues, or anxiety, then alcohol can seem like a powerful coping mechanism. However, alcohol can cause serious mood fluctuations, especially as you drink more of it. Your body may need more alcohol to maintain an elevated feeling, over time, as well.
As you drink more, you will need more. This means that you will have become dependent not only on the physical substance of alcohol within your body but also emotionally dependent on alcohol as a way to cope with other feelings. An alcohol use disorder is when this cycle repeats over and over. Before long, you have become addicted to alcohol. Alcohol abuse can be hard to spot in yourself, but there are many signs to look for.
Some of the signs of alcohol abuse can include the following:
- Exhibiting a strong need for alcohol
- Having trouble controlling your drinking
- Using alcohol with other drugs such as prescription drugs, or medications
- Drinking even though you are struggling with a mental health disorder
- Struggling with withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop drinking
As you can see, alcohol abuse can be hard to spot. However, the above signs can let you know that you may be struggling with an alcohol abuse disorder.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
Alcohol affects the brain’s communication pathways. This means it can affect balance, memory, speech, and judgment. Alcohol can also affect the way that the brain works. Long-term drinking can even affect the size of neurons, impairing their function forever. The use of alcohol by young people whose brains are still developing can cause problems in the brain structure and function. Binge drinking can lead to blackouts, which can cause gaps in your memory. Alcohol addiction can cause strong dependencies that may require rehab in order to recover.
If you’re suffering from alcohol addiction, then consider seeking help to extricate yourself from the cycle of addiction. Over time, alcohol affects the body in many ways, especially the brain. Long-term effects can include the following physical symptoms of use:
- Memory loss
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Slowed reaction times
- Depression
- Balance issues
- Hearing loss
- Vision impairment
- Worsened epilepsy
- Strokes
- Dementia
- Seizures
Other bodily symptoms of use can include gastrointestinal issues, cancer, liver disease, diabetes, hepatitis, and heart disease. While these are just a few of the symptoms of long-term alcohol use, they are some of the most extreme. It’s important to remember that any of these could happen to you if you don’t seek alcohol rehab. These symptoms can lead to serious relationship, financial, and legal issues, as well.
Get Help With Alcohol Dependency With Recovery Bay
As you can see, alcohol can cause serious problems in your life that affect every aspect of your daily life. That’s why you should consider seeking help with alcohol dependency. Our experienced professional team can help you at our men’s care facility. Call us at 833.991.2955 to learn more about seeking help with alcohol use. You can reverse the effects of alcohol use by changing your life today.