Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

What are some of the psychological effects from alcohol abuse?

Answer

There are more psychological effects from heavy drinking and alcohol abuse than you can shake a stick at. If you head to your local bookstore and check out the "recovery" section you'll probably find shelves of books that address your question. So it really is impossible to answer your question in a brief, concise way.

Instead, let me give you a brief overview of alcohol and it's effects on mood. Alcohol is a depressant. The more you drink the more it depresses your cognitive functions, your physical functions, and your mood. At high doses it can depress your central nervous system functions right into the grave. It is the most powerful drug available. Chronic heavy use puts people at risk for a variety of mood disorders including depression and anxiety, to name but two.

Fortunately, we find that most, but not all, people's moods and psychological problems resolve or improve substantially when they stop drinking or drinking heavily. If you or someone you know is having problems with moods or other psychological consequences, consider a vacation from alcohol of 30-180 days. Give yourself time to figure out how you've come to depend on alcohol psychologically and time to develop alternative ways to deal with different situations and enhance your life.

02/19/98

Reid K. Hester, Ph.D.
Director, Research Division
Behavior Therapy Associates
3810 Osuna Rd NE Suite 1
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505.345.6100 ph
505.342.2454 fax
Behavioral Self-control Program for Windows