There is little doubt that alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a serious and prevalent issue in the United States (and abroad). AUD does not discriminate either. It can affect anyone regardless of age, race, gender, or economic status. It also does not discriminate on the damage it does to the body and the specific negative effects of alcohol on the brain.
The Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder
By many standards, addiction rates are exceptionally high in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”
Yet, many of these people will never receive the help that they both deserve and desire. One of the reasons for this is the lack of recognition of the signs and symptoms of AUD.
The Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
While the signs and symptoms of AUD are going to be unique to the individual, there are more universal signs that can be detected and determined. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Isolating from friends and family
- Experiencing otherwise unexplained physical ailments such as gastrointestinal problems
- Struggling with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough
- Changes in appetite
- Not being able to stop drinking once started
- Experiencing cognitive problems, such as issues with short and long-term memory
- Feeling overly anxious, worried, or “stressed out”
- Experiencing feelings of hopelessness, uselessness, and worthlessness
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, these are very significant symptoms. This is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms arise, it is important to reach out for professional help as soon as possible. Doing so may mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It may also mean the difference between temporary cognitive issues and long-term neurological damage.
The Specific Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
Now, the specific effects of alcohol on the brain can be vast and varied. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), “Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works.” Also, “Alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes. Long-term heavy drinking causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size.”
The negative effects of alcohol on the brain are also particularly damaging for adolescents and young adults. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, “There is clear evidence that adolescent alcohol use is associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes in both the short and long term… Prospective longitudinal neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological studies have identified cognitive and neural consequences directly related to initiation and escalation of adolescent alcohol use. Overall, adolescent alcohol use has been found to negatively affect cognition, brain structure, and function…”
Effects of Alcohol on the Brain: How to Best Treat Alcohol Use Disorder
The good news is there are many effective ways to treat AUD and both slow cognitive decline and/or reverse cognitive damage. These effective ways include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like art therapy and nature immersion therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and meditation.
CBT can be particularly helpful in slowing the negative cognitive effects of the brain because it engages the individuals directly and has them neurologically participate in the process. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns.”
Meditation can also be critical for cognitive health in AUD recovery. It also offers many other benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why we only offer individualized, comprehensive treatment plans with a focus on the future.
Addiction can take everything away; friends, family, career, and even physical health. But, that can all change. Recovery offers a chance to get life back on track. There is hope. We can help.
The neurological damage that alcohol and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can inflict on the brain can be severe. It is also something that, without intervention, will almost always get worse over time. The reality is that some damage may be temporary, but some may become permanent if that crucial professional intervention does not occur in time. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of AUD, or any other addiction or mental health issues, we can help get you on the right track to recovery right away. You don’t have to do this alone. For more information about long-term successful recovery from AUD, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
