How did your night go from Stranger Things to strange feelings in your stomach and scattered thoughts in your mind? Well, brace yourself as we dive into the somewhat squiffy world of alcohol and explore what being drunk really feels like. Alcohol consumption can have various effects on individuals, ranging from altered perception to physical dangers. Understanding these effects is important for individuals who are dealing with addiction or substance abuse. In addition to the obvious signs of drunkenness, like slurred speech and staggering, there are a few other telltale symptoms that can indicate someone is intoxicated.
Oh, Look! I’m a Social Butterfly
Death due to respiratory arrest is also possible at this level and beyond. If you want to avoid drunk driving, wait until your BAC is close to zero before driving. For more information on binge drinking and how to stop it, read What Is Binge Drinking and How Can You Stop It?.
- It is colorless, clear, and produced through the process of fermentation.
- You are unable to control your movements and emotions and may feel confused or find it difficult to stand.
- Three key factors that influence intoxication levels are the rate of alcohol consumption, body weight and metabolism, and tolerance and sensitivity to alcohol.
- It’s important to note that blackouts can occur even when a person is still physically and mentally active.
Understanding the Levels of Being Drunk
A person’s Sobriety body composition, previous drinking experiences, and even mood prior to drinking can all influence their reactions. We all know that the brain is the main source of the body’s functions. Imagine putting your brain in a jar filled with alcohol and shaking it up— it’s not a pretty picture. Yet that’s what slowly happens, to a certain extent, when you drink and don’t stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol seeps into the brain, affecting the different parts of your body’s motherboard as you drink more and more. As intoxication progresses, individuals may experience nausea and dizziness.
Slurred Speech and Lack of Coordination
Alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome is a severe condition characterized by cognitive impairments, especially in memory. Despite these impairments, overall intelligence, as measured by IQ tests, usually remains intact. So while it’s possible to stop drinking suddenly, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved before making this decision. Finally, intoxication often leads to slowed reflexes and what does being drunk feel like coordination, which can make balance and walk difficult. If you see someone displaying these symptoms, it’s a good bet they’ve had too much to drink. Because of this, it’s important to monitor your alcohol intake to prevent dangerous side effects, physical injuries, and accidents.
These stages are closely linked to the individual’s BAC, which measures the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. Sensitivity to alcohol varies among individuals and can be influenced by genetics and other factors. Some individuals may be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, experiencing a higher level of intoxication even with smaller amounts compared to others. On the other hand, individuals with lower alcohol tolerance may experience more pronounced effects of alcohol even with smaller amounts. When someone comes down from alcohol consumption, typically the next morning, a hangover is often the result. During the depressive phase, also known as the excitement phase, you begin to display signs of uncontrollable emotional highs, loss of coordination and judgment.
Loss of Consciousness and Potential Dangers
If alcohol is consumed in large enough quantities, or for long periods of time, those feel-good responses trigger feelings of pleasure and reward. The reward center in the brain is also activated when users drink to minimize negative withdrawal effects. The brain is trained to depend on alcohol for the production of those feel-good endorphins. And the more alcohol that is consumed, the higher the brain’s tolerance can be for reaching those “positive” effects. More and more alcohol is needed before the brain’s reward center is satisfied.
How Alcohol Addiction Is Like an Abusive Relationship
It is important to note that not everyone who consumes alcohol will experience alcohol-related brain damage, but heavy and chronic alcohol use increases the risk. At lower levels of intoxication, individuals might experience a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sense of warmth or buzz. This is often accompanied by increased sociability; people may feel more talkative or open to engaging with others.
What are the long-term psychological effects of frequent drinking?
Plus the more someone drinks, the more they need to feel the desired effects like euphoria and pleasure, increasing their chances of alcohol poisoning or death. Like drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder is common, and NSDUH estimates that 14.5 million people over the age of 12 have had the disorder. One of the notable effects of alcohol is the decrease in inhibitions.
Alcohol also increases GABA, which calms the brain, and decreases glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. When someone drinks for long enough, imbalances of these neurotransmitters can arise within the brain. In the long term, alcohol can cause depression, anger, and anxiety.
- As intoxication progresses, individuals may experience nausea and dizziness.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities.
- In many countries, including the United States, there are legal limits for blood alcohol content (BAC) when operating a vehicle.
- Short-term risks of excessive drinking include accidents, injuries, alcohol poisoning, and impaired judgment.
These effects are often attributed to the impact of alcohol on the central nervous system, which can impair cognitive function and decision-making abilities. The prevailing theory would suggest these individuals would show blunted positive responses and high levels of tolerance to alcohol. King will examine whether they show a long-term sensitivity to alcohol’s enjoyable effects, much like in this study of depressed drinkers. Through their smartphones, participants answered questions every half hour for three hours during one typical alcohol drinking episode and a non-alcohol episode. The researchers found that alcohol consumption reduced negative feelings, although the reduction was small and nonspecific to their depression or AUD status. The release of these endorphins is focused within the portion of the brain that influences addiction.