5 Ways Alcohol Fools Your Brain
If you drink alcohol, have you ever noticed how that first drink could make you loosen up a little, and after the second one, you’re practically a stand-up comedian? But… a little while later, your tongue starts getting heavy, you trip over your own feet, and that person across the room you thought might be interested in you is clearly unimpressed. Then the next day, you wake up bleary-eyed and thirsty, with a pounding headache. Sounds like fun…NOT!
How Alcohol Plays Tricks on the Brain and Mind
As soon as you start sipping alcohol, it enters your bloodstream and moves through your organs. And, because it’s in your blood, it can cross the blood-brain barrier and get into your brain cells, where it starts to affect your thoughts, emotions, movements, and sensory functions.
Many people find that having a few drinks helps them to unwind and become more social, which is why after an hour or so of drinking, most people become more animated. It’s not so much that their hidden personalities have emerged, rather, it has much more to do with how alcohol plays tricks on the brain and makes us think differently and do things we might not normally do.
1. You forget your future.
Your prefrontal cortex (PFC) is part of your brain that is your personal CEO. It’s involved with really important things like judgment, insight, empathy, forethought, and impulse control. When you drink, the reason you can’t think clearly is because all of these functions are diminished, which then makes it easier for you to:
Disregard or forget about the consequences of your actions
Say and do stupid things that you’re going to regret
Feel happier, angrier, or more emotional than normal
When your decision-making process is impaired, you’re more likely to ignore the ramifications of your behavior as well as the price you’re going to have to pay down the road for doing things you wish you hadn’t.
2. You feel invincible.
Alcohol tricks your basal ganglia—the brain’s idle—that normally helps you maintain a healthy level of anxiety to prevent you from hurting yourself. When the function of this part of your brain slows down, you’re more likely to throw caution to the wind and engage in riskier and more dangerous behavior that could be potentially harmful, such as doing something that might cause a concussion or other type of injury with potentially long-term consequences.
3. You think you’re a really good dancer.
While you’re out there cutting a rug and having a grand ol’ time, your cerebellum is likely to trip you up—literally. This is the part of the brain involved with coordination and reflexes, but booze makes both of these functions slow down and you’re more likely to lose your balance and stumble. You’ll want to hope no one is recording your smooth moves on the dance floor.
4. You fall in love easily.
The euphoria you experience after a drink or two comes from an initial surge of brain chemicals, like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins that help you feel happy and good. When you combine this with the loss of inhibition from lower PFC function, you’re less likely to be using your best judgment about a potential partner. Plus alcohol helps you think you’re a stud muffin; however, your performance won’t match your mindset, because alcohol actually slows your sexual response system
5. You had a great time but can’t remember most of it.
Your hippocampus is like a memory bank; it’s where memories are recorded. When you drink, this part of your brain also starts to go offline, and the more alcohol you consume, the less you’ll be able to recall the details of the night. Excessive drinking can even cause almost complete amnesia about the events from the night prior. What is the point of having a fun evening with friends if you’re going to forget what happened?
Alcohol Is Not a Health Food
Although drinking alcohol is part of many cultures around the world, the health consequences of heavy alcohol consumption can be very serious. According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, it can lead to:
Heart diseases
Liver diseases
Pancreatitis
Numerous types of cancer
Brain problems—including depression and dementia
Alcohol is essentially toxic to our bodies and brains, and while occasionally imbibing a small amount is not likely to cause harm for most adults (unless they are in recovery or are allergic to it), drinking regularly can definitely take a toll on you.
In addition to the risk of addiction, the more alcohol a person uses, the greater the chance for long-term damage to the brain and body. Despite what some people tout about the benefits of drinking, alcohol is definitely NOT a healthy food. It is absolutely possible to go to parties and social events without imbibing and still have a great time. Being able to stay in full control of your faculties and not having to worry about embarrassing yourself is definitely well worth it.
— Dr. Daniel Amen, Amen Clinics
