According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 69.5 percent of people in the United States reported consuming alcohol in the past year.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of drinking alcohol is that it’s a learned habit. This can give us immense freedom in controlling our alcohol intake. Despite the stories we tell ourselves to justify our alcohol intake, there is always a means to curb it. 

Conversely, when alcohol consumption gets out of hand, these learned patterns can morph into binging and heavy drinking. In time, we can develop an alcohol use disorder. That’s when you lose control and begin to be dominated by the misleading effects of drinking.

In this article, we’ll discover that it’s not the alcohol we want; it’s the effects alcohol provides. And all these alleged positive effects come at a considerable cost for our health and our wallets. 

Luckily, there is a way to curb alcohol consumption, no matter how long we’ve been wandering through the labyrinth of drinking or the reasons that catapulted us there.

Why Do We Give In To Drinking?

Alcohol can be deceiving.

The behavior of drinking can be quickly adopted. Once alcohol reaches our bodies, it’s immediately absorbed into our bloodstream, and a skyrocketing feeling of serenity kicks in. The mind finds it tempting as a microcosm of emotional comfort unravels. And problems seem to magically melt away.

Experiencing this high euphoria for the first time can be very alluring. The brain immediately releases endorphins, and the body finds it difficult to say no to a free ticket toward happiness. Our brains thrive on endorphins. Pleasure and a feeling of effortless victory make it hard to resist it. The more endorphins the brain releases when we drink, the greater our satisfaction. This process affects us all differently. For some of us, the pleasure response is more prominent, making some more susceptible to alcohol addiction than others.

But, the initial positive effects don’t stop here. Self-confidence, joy, and relaxation are just some sensations that swirl inside us when we start drinking. We may find it easy to express ourselves and resolve pending uncomfortable conversations. Even if our thoughts and vision get blurry, we still appreciate the feeling of false self-control. We’re fully taking advantage of the euphoric sensations in our bodies that seem to be charged with freedom.

The Tricks Alcohol Plays On Us

This high level of euphoria comes at a high cost as our brains are tempted to follow the same route that initially connected us to it. This time, adding a few more drinks to our agenda. Whatever it takes to revisit that happy place. This newly discovered Shangri-la propels us to embrace the next sip. Bamboozled by the possibility of locating this remote realm and conquering it again - a trick alcohol plays on us - makes drinking seem logical rather than irresponsible. After all, the next reward is right around the corner.

 

But is it? While the brain is begging to explore bliss again, there’s no record of a clear map that shows how to rediscover it. The only sturdy clue links to alcohol consumption. The only certainty lies in the recipe that brought us there, and it’s easy to concoct it when the main ingredient is alcohol - one of the most accessible drugs.

The problem is the more we drink; the more our bodies become used to drinking. We’re tricked into believing that a few drinks are not harmful. As our tolerance to alcohol grows, so does our alcohol craving. Before we know it, we’ve instilled a habit that can have terrible long-term consequences. This explains why alcohol-induced happiness becomes more and more difficult to attain.

The process of drinking is rudimentary - any drink can trigger you to drink more. This is another trick alcohol plays on us. Drinking alcohol requires more and more investment, while it provides fewer and low-quality results. The coveted Shangri-la we’re after seems to be out of reach. It’s precisely the memory of that euphoria that has a tight grip on a long-gone positive perception.

And while free visits to this realm are still possible, they only provide intermittent bliss. Constantly pursuing it requires paying a high-priced ticket. While our alcohol consumption grows exponentially, we lose our power every time we resort to it.

Progressive drinking then becomes a natural endeavor. As a result, the body develops more tolerance to drinking. And this is when things go downhill. Once drinking tolerance is acquired, the body will never be entirely satisfied and will demand more. An ongoing process that, most of the time, culminates when our health reaches a harmful limit.

Eventually, the fairytale ends. But the damage has already been done. Because by that time, the habit of drinking is already formed, ingrained and difficult to remove. Cutting back on alcohol goes out the window.

The changes alcohol elicits in our brains’ chemistry are responsible for creating alcohol addiction. When the brain’s reward centers are packed with dopamine and endorphins, cravings appear and claim their rightful fulfillment. Even if we’re aware that cravings now possess us, alcohol can have a say in our decision-making, altering our resilience when faced with the possibility of drinking.

With barely any resilience left in front of alcohol, we’re seduced by its counterfeit effects.

The Bogus Effects of Alcohol

For many, the psychological impact drinking provides seems to overshadow its harmful effects. Below, we’ll tackle the artificial freedom alcohol seems to provide.

Makes Us Feel Empowered

With a rush of endorphins circulating through your body, no wonder you feel empowered to act without gauging the consequences. The fact that you’re the only character pulling the strings can get you confused. After all, no external force makes you grab the glass and take a sip. It’s you who’s calling all the shots, and this provides a fake sense of power. One drink after another makes you feel like you’re in charge. The tricky conclusion your mind hatches? You can stop anytime. The adrenaline of drinking positions you as an almighty figure. Hence the unconscious transition from responsible to irresponsible behavior.

Drinking will make you act differently. While many think it’s the hidden self unraveling and expressing its true colors, being too in agreement with this bold personality may make you lose control. You’ll probably be less likely to care about how others perceive you. But this is far from reality. Drinking instills fake permission to stop worrying about what others think of you. That’s how many get to the point of making a fool of themselves. When alcohol kicks in, and you feel on cloud nine, ready to take over the world, it may help to temp down that enthusiasm. You’re doing yourself a favor and making sure you’re not displaying odd attitudes.

Numbs Feelings

This is a common reason for drinking, especially if we’re experiencing heartbreak or loss. Alcohol works as a painkiller, concealing our negative emotions with a veil. Harsh truths can be buried, trauma can be disregarded, and fear can be put to bed. However, all of this false security will evaporate way before the alcohol vapors leave our bodies. Again, a temporary relief. The pain can still surge and, even worse, can be activated with multiple drinks. 

And when we wake up the next day, problems will still be there, no matter how lethargic the hangover makes us feel. Emotional pain can go away with awareness. Before giving in to alcohol, ask yourself: what will the mask of joy disguise? Whatever pain you feel, know that acknowledging it will give you more power than camouflaging it.

Promotes Relaxation

People often link drinking with releasing stress or anxiety. The reason lies in the central nervous system - alcohol slows it down. Hence the loosening effect we experience. We’re wrapped in a sensation of mental and body freedom. To many, alcohol helps them press pause on problems and offers the promise of an emotional reset.

Joy and laughter are positive feelings alcohol consumption elicits. A revitalized mood is on everyone’s list, and it’s fun when we’re around people we like, and everyone is smiling and having a good time. But after multiple drinks, the landscape drastically changes, and we can barely speak to each other or focus.

This explains why we’re more predisposed to feel attacked for no reason. A foolproof solution to keeping alcohol consumption under control is to decide the number of drinks you can have without getting drunk and ruining your night. This way, you know what to expect.

Lowers Inhibitions

The Latin axiom, ‘in vino veritas’, hits the nail on the head. People speak their truth when they are under the influence of alcohol. For many people, especially introverts or people who find expressing themselves difficult, drinking alcohol can spotlight their qualities.

Alcohol consumption can generate a lot of buzz. All of a sudden, things can take a thought-provoking twist. It has a lot to do with shyness, blocks, and lowering inhibitions. Discombobulated matters can now seem like a walk in the park. Daunting conversations can turn out to be rewarding. The music we dislike becomes a reason to dance, and obnoxious people can pass as agreeable. Based on that, our decisions can lead us on the wrong path. And we might regret them the next day. Propelled by unusual self-expression, we may see things differently when we wake up. We said things we didn’t mean, made promises we couldn’t keep, or bonded with people we usually wouldn’t.

Sure, drinking alcohol opens a lot of doors. Still, you might also find yourself trapped in unwanted situations without knowing how you got there. The exuberance of alcohol can often be misleading and provide too much flexibility and approval.

Health Risks of Drinking

There are many health risks of drinking. Not to mention the unpleasant modifications our bodies suffer, such as the accumulation of fluid in our bellies and dehydration that causes wrinkles and makes our skin look gray. Apart from that, there are many serious side effects of drinking, such as:

 

 

Brain Damage Alcohol consumption produces a decrease in vitamin B1. The cerebellum, the area of the brain in charge of coordinated movement, is very sensitive to the deficiency of vitamin B1. As a result, the communication between neurons weakens, and our coordination can suffer drastically. Other brain alterations include the inability to think clearly, blurred vision, and impaired memory. The brain needs a proper balance of neurotransmitters. Alcohol can cause these chemicals to be out of balance, affecting the brain’s natural harmony. Alcohol can damage the end of neurons. This will obstruct neural communication, which means the signals they would generally send are weakened or inhibited.

 

The neurons can regenerate once you cut back on alcohol and subscribe to a healthy diet rich in vitamin B1.

 

Liver Damage

The liver is one of the organs most affected by alcohol consumption. After all, its job is to process alcohol. When faced with too much alcohol, the liver can’t handle a myriad of toxins. Over time, the liver can become damaged in the form of steatosis (fatty liver), hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), and even cirrhosis (loss of healthy liver tissue).

Luckily, liver damage can be reversed. The liver can create new cells that lead to new tissue. Again, cutting back on alcohol is of vital importance. The liver begins its healing process shortly after you make healthy choices.

High Blood Pressure

More than three drinks in a row can instantly heighten blood pressure. Hypertension can install itself in the body without presenting many symptoms. Alcohol can cause our muscles in the blood vessels to become narrow. This forces the heart to work harder to send blood around our body, which increases the pressure on our heart.

If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause many problems, including stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. Modifying your drinking is the best way to prevent these severe health issues.

How to Curb Your Drinking

It’s bizarre how ethanol, the small molecule in alcohol that produces the intoxicating effect, can cause so much harm in all areas of our lives. 

However, there is a way to turn the tables around and gain control over your drinking. If you’re not ready to give up on it entirely, you can start by reducing its intake.

I’ve created the The Easy Alcohol-Free 30-Day Challenge after suffering from alcohol issues myself and hearing too many stories of people struggling I life because of drinking. Any step you take in that direction will massively benefit your future. You are capable of breaking the cycle of drinking.

I’ve made it my life’s mission to make peace of mind and the ability to reach your potential available to everyone
- and that includes you!

Here’s to true freedom, happiness and health! - Jamie Clarke