Alcohol produces short term and long term effects on the brain from changes in thoughts, mood, and behaviors to chemical changes that can mark alcohol dependence.
Excessive drinking can cause specific changes in the brain. Short term effects of alcohol intoxication may include temporary euphoria (the ‘buzz’), loss of motor skills, and drowsiness or unconsciousness. Regular heavy drinkers often begin to experience the long term effects of alcohol on the brain including alcohol tolerance and alcohol dependence.
With alcohol tolerance, chemicals in the brain actually change to compensate for Order Xanax Online the long term use of alcohol. It signals neurotransmitters in the brain to function normally even in the presence of alcohol. Heavy drinkers require more alcohol to reach intoxication; they feel normal after Buy Xanax Online consuming amounts of alcohol that would intoxicate a nondrinker or moderate drinker. This excessive drinking can lead to alcohol dependence and changes in the brain that increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms.
Anxiety is a common withdrawal symptom associated with alcohol dependence. Ironically, the individual will attempt to mask the anxiety by drinking more, creating a vicious cycle. This is often the reason for relapse in patients who attend counseling only programs to address their alcohol abuse. Alcoholism and alcohol dependence create real changes in the chemicals and neurotransmitters of the brain. The most successful and sustainable recovery programs address these brain functions and help create new positive changes in the brain.