Author: Alex Thompson
Psychological dependence on Alcohol: Physiological addiction symptoms
Although currently few treatments are available for tackling this significant health problem and providing relief for those suffering from the disease, there is hope. Given that alcoholism is a chronic relapsing disease, many alcohol-dependent people invariably experience multiple bouts of heavy drinking interspersed with periods of abstinence (i.e., withdrawal) of varying duration. A convergent body of preclinical and clinical evidence has demonstrated that a history of multiple detoxification/withdrawal experiences can result in increased sensitivity to the withdrawal syndrome—a process known as “kindling” (Becker and Littleton 1996; Becker 1998).
Alcohol use can also lead to more lasting concerns that extend beyond your own mood and health. Dehydration-related effects, like nausea, headache, and dizziness, might not appear for a few hours, and they can also depend on what you drink, how much you drink, and if you also drink water. We provide a healthy environment uniquely suited to support your growth and healing. You’re not alone in this journey – we are here to support you every step of the way.
Alcohol use disorder
This means that certain contextual cues (e.g., a unique odor or testing environment) will indicate to the animal that responding will pay off with delivery of alcohol reinforcement, whereas a different contextual cue is used to signal that responding will not result in access to alcohol. If the responding is extinguished in these animals (i.e., they cease to respond because they receive neither the alcohol-related cues nor alcohol), presentation of a discriminative cue that previously signaled alcohol availability will reinstate alcohol-seeking behavior. Additional studies (Chaudhri et al. 2008; Zironi et al. 2006) found that reexposure of the animals to the general environmental context in which they could self-administer alcohol not only enhanced subsequent alcohol responding but also modulated the ability of alcohol-conditioned cues to reinstate alcohol-seeking behavior. Relapse represents a major challenge to treatment efforts for people suffering from alcohol dependence.
- Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.
- This compound is processed further into smaller molecules, such as β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
- Seizures, hallucinations, and delirium may occur in severe cases of withdrawal.
An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group.
But more recent research suggests there’s really no “safe” amount of alcohol since even moderate drinking can negatively impact brain health. If you drink, you’ve probably had some experience with alcohol’s effects, from the warm buzz that kicks in quickly to the not-so-pleasant wine headache, or the hangover that shows up the next morning. Since those effects don’t last long, you might not worry much about them, especially if you don’t drink often. The term ‘alcohol dependence’ has replaced ‘alcoholism’ as a term in order that individuals do not internalize the idea of cure and disease, but can approach alcohol as a chemical they may depend upon to cope with outside pressures. Discontinuation of alcohol supply to the body causes a malfunction in the metabolism, which manifests itself in the form of a deficiency of endogenous (internal) alcohol, increased activity of alcoholic enzymes, and inability of the body to maintain natural psychophysiological processes without alcohol coming from outside. Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment is a leader in the addiction treatment field, with proven success in facilitating long-term recovery.
Alcohol’s physical effects on the body
This, in turn, can lead to enhanced vulnerability to relapse as well as favor perpetuation of excessive drinking. Some studies using animal models involving repeated withdrawals have demonstrated altered sensitivity to treatment with medications designed to quell sensitized withdrawal symptoms (Becker and Veatch 2002; Knapp et al. 2007; Overstreet et al. 2007; Sommer et al. 2008; Veatch and Becker 2005). Moreover, after receiving some of these medications, animals exhibited lower relapse vulnerability and/or a reduced amount consumed once drinking was (re)-initiated (Ciccocioppo et al. 2003; Finn et al. 2007; Funk et al. 2007; Walker and Koob 2008). These findings have clear clinical relevance from a treatment perspective. Indeed, clinical investigations similarly have reported that a history of multiple detoxifications can impact responsiveness to and efficacy of various pharmacotherapeutics used to manage alcohol dependence (Malcolm et al. 2000, 2002, 2007). Future studies should focus on elucidating neural mechanisms underlying sensitization of symptoms that contribute to a negative emotional state resulting from repeated withdrawal experience.
This compound is processed further into smaller molecules, such as β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is carried via the blood stream to the adrenal glands (which are located atop the kidneys), where it induces the release of stress hormones (i.e., glucocorticoids) that then act on target cells and tissues throughout the body (including the brain). The main glucocorticoid in humans and other primates is cortisol; the main glucocorticoid in rodents is corticosterone. Physical dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms that appear when you stop drinking and are able to be alleviated after drinking alcohol. People who suffer from alcohol dependence may fear the anticipated symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, causing them to continue drinking rather than sober up. A person, who is not yet an alcoholic, begins to regularly consume alcohol, not noticing gradual changes, such as an increase in the required dose.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
When you stop drinking, you might notice a range of physical, emotional, or mental health symptoms that ease as soon as you have a drink. As a result, they eventually need to drink more to notice the same effects they once did. People who binge drink or drink heavily may notice more health effects sooner, but alcohol also poses some risks for people who drink in moderation. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems.
If you are someone who drinks a lot, you may be concerned about developing alcohol dependence. Many people don’t realize their bodies are reliant on alcohol until it is too late. So, how do you know whether or not you are developing a physical dependency on alcohol? Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.
This new focus is clinically relevant because these symptoms (e.g., anxiety, negative affect, and altered reward set point) may serve as potent instigators driving motivation to drink (Koob and Le Moal 2008). Sensitization resulting from repeated withdrawal cycles and leading to both more severe and more persistent symptoms therefore may constitute a significant motivational factor that underlies increased risk for relapse (Becker 1998, 1999). Additional evidence indicates that behavioral measures indicating a reduced sensitivity to rewarding stimuli (i.e., anhedonia) are exaggerated in rats that experience withdrawal from repeated alcohol injections compared with rats tested during withdrawal from a single alcohol injection (Schulteis and Liu 2006). Finally, a history of multiple withdrawal experiences can exacerbate cognitive deficits and disruption of sleep during withdrawal (Borlikova et al. 2006; Stephens et al. 2005; Veatch 2006). Taken together, these results indicate that chronic alcohol exposure involving repeated withdrawal experiences exacerbates withdrawal symptoms that significantly contribute to a negative emotional state, which consequently renders dependent subjects more vulnerable to relapse.
Alcohol-induced mental health conditions
This suggests that the reinforcing value of alcohol may be enhanced as a result of experiencing repeated opportunities to respond for access to alcohol in the context of withdrawal. Schematic illustration of how problem drinking can lead to the development of dependence, repeated withdrawal experiences, and enhanced vulnerability to relapse. Alcohol dependence is characterized by fundamental changes in the brain’s reward and stress systems that manifest as withdrawal symptoms when alcohol consumption is stopped or substantially reduced. These changes also are purported to fuel motivation to reengage in excessive drinking behavior. Repeated bouts of heavy drinking interspersed with attempts at abstinence (i.e., withdrawal) may result in sensitization of withdrawal symptoms, especially symptoms that contribute to a negative emotional state.
These effects might not last very long, but that doesn’t make them insignificant. Impulsiveness, loss of coordination, and changes in mood can affect your judgment and behavior and contribute to more far-reaching effects, including accidents, injuries, and decisions you later regret. Alcohol can cause both short-term effects, such as lowered inhibitions, and long-term effects, including a weakened immune system. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.
3In operant procedures, animals must first perform certain response (e.g., press a lever) before they receive a stimulus (e.g., a small amount of alcohol). By modifying the required response (e.g., increasing the number of lever presses required before the alcohol is delivered) researchers can determine the motivational value of the stimulus for the animal. 1In operant procedures, animals must first perform a certain response (e.g., press a lever) before they receive a stimulus (e.g., a small amount of alcohol). The more you drink, the more your body gets used to processing alcohol and functioning with alcohol in your system, and the more alcohol you’ll have to consume to feel drunk. You may have felt the effects of alcohol after 1-2 drinks in the past, but now find yourself needing 4-5 drinks just to get a buzz. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis can also lead to dependence, which means your body and brain have grown used to alcohol’s effects.