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The Effects of Alcohol on Behavior

The alcohol effects on body and behavior are just as well documented as the negative consequences of alcoholism on the liver, brain, heart, and more. What alcoholism can do to relationships as a result of these effects is, unfortunately, left ignored by many. The truth is that the same effects of alcohol on behavior that have been well-known for many years can also be the cause of irreversible damage to relationships between friends, family, and other loved ones. 

4 Minute Read | Published Jan 11 2024 | Updated Mar 01 2024 Expert Verified
Emma Collins
Written by
Dameisha Gibson
Reviewed by
Emma Collins
Written by
Dameisha Gibson
Reviewed by

Better Addiction Care has years of experience providing access to free resources for those seeking drug abuse and alcoholism treatment centers in their area. With this experience comes information worth sharing. Below you will learn what some alcohol effects on behavior can do. They can be destructive, making it important to understand how these side effects can ruin relationships with those you care about most. 

Some of the Effects of Alcohol on Emotions and Behavior

Alcohol’s effects on brain and behavior function seem almost too drastic to be believable. Unfortunately, anyone who has lived with or been close to an alcoholic for an extended period of time can confirm that these are very real changes that can greatly affect relationships. There is a myth that alcohol makes someone more courageous, outspoken, and confident. This is a side effect of our culture’s obsession with the substance.

The truth is that alcoholism affects your brain’s ability to control inhibition. In reality, it can make people more confrontational and aggressive. Along with this, there is a tendency among alcoholics to lie and succumb to temptations that they would not have while sober. The effects of alcohol on behavior, particularly that of alcoholics, is that they become unrecognizable socially to those closest to them. They literally transform into a version of themselves that many may not be comfortable around.

The effects of alcohol on social behavior should not be glamorized as good qualities that anyone should be proud to have. They should be represented for what they are. That is an avenue by which countless people have ruined relationships with those closest to them. 

How Alcohol Influence on Behavior Can Ruin Relationships 

The great myth of alcohol as a social lubricant and as a cause for making new friends and relationships can be explained away by just one conversation. Simply talk to someone who was close to a person who developed alcoholism and saw them ruin their relationship as a result. Someone can change into an entirely different person when they are under the influence. When someone is a habitual drinker to the point of alcoholism, the end results of these effects of alcohol on behavior can be catastrophic.

The increased confrontational personality trait as a result of drinking is not to be overlooked. This is especially true when you factor in that the person becoming more aggressive can be in a position of physical intimidation to the one they are confronting. Becoming a threat to anyone, especially a loved one, can be emotionally and physically traumatic for those closest to you. Making the proper decisions when it comes to an alcohol issue is a must if you want to ensure that healthy relationships do not feel the strain of alcoholism on them. 

Find the Help You Need With Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment 

Do you or someone you know suffer from alcoholism? Have you ever felt that relationships that were once happy and healthy are now becoming more strained? It is not too late to turn around the ship and correct the course.

Finding the right center for alcoholism treatment is easy when you make use of our national directory of drug and alcohol abuse treatment facilities. This free resource is at your disposal and can help connect you to the perfect treatment center in your area today. Along with this, another free resource offered by our team includes our addiction treatment blog. This blog covers a host of different articles relating to all things having to do with addiction and its treatment.

If you have any questions related to our resources or how they can help you along your treatment journey, be sure to call our team and ask about what our experts can do for you. 

Resources

bullet National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021).
"Alcohol and Your Health."
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019).
"Understanding Drug Use and Addiction."
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet American Psychological Association. (2019).
"Alcohol’s Effects on the Body."
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021).
"Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI)."
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet Harvard Health Publishing. (2021).
"Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits."
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet McMurran, M. (2017).
"Alcohol-Related Violence: A Commentary on the Role of Drinking Patterns. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 52(4), 413-415. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agx045"
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
bullet Verster, J. C., & McKinney, A. (2019).
"Alcohol and Driving: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Causal Mechanisms. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 12, 39-55. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S179103"
Retrieved on December 16, 2022
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