Alcohol is known as a psychoactive substance that can heavily impact a person’s mood. Mood changes can lead to many other issues and can even cause damage to relationships. In this blog, we’re looking at the impact of alcohol on relationships.
What happens to the body during alcohol consumption?
Everybody has different reactions to alcohol. When most people drink, their bodies become more relaxed, and it can make them feel more confident. This is because alcohol is a depressant and impacts the brain’s chemistry.
Alcohol affects the amount of serotonin in the brain. In the beginning, when you start having a drink, the level of serotonin increases. However, these levels decrease as time passes, and the body becomes dehydrated.
When the alcohol wears off, it can lead to people experiencing low moods as the brain struggles to regenerate its serotonin. Ongoing alcohol abuse can make it harder to have good physical and mental health as the neurotransmitters in the brain become imbalanced.
Many people find themselves struggling mentally as a result of alcohol. For those who have pre-existing mental health conditions, the use of alcohol may make symptoms worse.
How does alcohol impact relationships?
Alcohol can have serious consequences for the person using it and the people around them. It’s so important to be aware of how alcohol impacts you.
Alcohol alters mood
As we mentioned above, alcohol can drastically change your mood. It can lead to you feeling positive emotions initially, but these can quickly change. Alcohol is known to make people feel more confident and lose their inhibitions, which can adversely affect decision-making and increase risk.
Some people find themselves becoming angry after drinking alcohol, which can be very scary for the people around them and does not promote a healthy romantic relationship. Read more about post-acute withdrawal symptoms.
Not responding to the needs of others
If you are drinking heavily every day, you will likely notice changes in the relationships around you. You may find that you are neglecting your own needs and the needs of others. This goes beyond romantic relationships and can impact relationships with family members, friends and even work relationships. Read our blog on the sober curious movement.
Poor sex life in an intimate relationship
Drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis can impact your sex life. Many people experience physical changes that make it difficult to have a positive sex life.
Poor communication
Alcohol misuse can lead to poor communication, which can be detrimental to relationships. You might find yourself being dishonest, not sharing the same values you did previously, or there may be a general lack of respect for one another.
If you believe that you are struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s crucial that you talk to the people around you who can provide support. You may be required to seek medical help, but loved ones can be with you when you take this step, which helps to take the pressure off. Remember that you are not alone. Read more about grey area drinking.
Poor financial situation
Many people with alcohol use disorders may find themselves struggling financially. Having money problems can cause issues in relationships, but these can be exacerbated by frequent drinking and not being able to have honest conversations about it. Some people may also turn to gambling. Find out about our support for gambling addictions.
Having an alcohol use disorder can also impact your employment as you may be more likely to miss work or call in sick. Alcohol addiction can negatively impact job performance and impact financial stability. Read more about how increased alcohol tolerance affects a person.
Is alcohol affecting your relationship?
You are hiding your heavy drinking
Hiding the amount you are drinking from people close to you is a sign that you may be experiencing problems with alcohol in your relationship. Not only could this lead to you drinking much more than the recommended amount, but it also leads to distrust. Trust is essential for a healthy and functioning relationship. Read our blog on high-functioning alcoholism.
You are arguing more with your partner
If you and your romantic partner are arguing more about your alcohol consumption, then you may be drinking too much. Alcohol can impact your decision-making, which can make you more likely to make poor decisions without really thinking about them.
You have replaced previous activities with drinking
This one goes beyond romantic relationships. It’s healthy to have separate activities every so often, too. For example, you might choose to have a games night with friends or go for a walk.
If you used to partake in these activities and they have now been replaced by drinking alcohol, then you should think about why. If alcohol is something that you have to use to have fun, then it can be a concern for the present or future.
Alcohol is affecting my relationships, what should I do?
It’s brave to admit when you are struggling, and you should remember that. If you believe that the use of alcohol is impacting your relationships, then here are some things you could do.
Recognise the signs
Addiction can start in many ways, and it’s important to be aware of these.
- Binge drinking – drinking a lot in a short amount of time
- Increased drinking – drinking more and on a regular basis
- Problem drinking – drinking to ‘solve’ problems, although it often makes them worse
- Alcohol dependence – Not being able to function properly without drinking
- Alcohol addiction
You might notice these signs in yourself, or someone else may notice them in you. It’s so important to listen when loved ones come to you with their concerns. It will have taken a lot for them to speak up and try to help. It might be useful to consider marital and family therapy for your alcohol use disorder.
Ask for help with your alcohol use disorder
Help is available in so many ways, and the amount of help you need will depend on how severe your addiction is. If you notice the addiction in the very early stages, you might be able to seek advice from your GP or join a support group.
These groups are often useful as they show you that you are not alone and that other people are dealing with alcohol consumption issues very similar to yours.
If you want to take action against alcohol addiction that is further along but not severe, a doctor may be able to offer you medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. If your addiction is severe, you will need to follow the guidance below.
Seek professional medical support for alcohol abuse
Those with a severe alcohol addiction are generally known as being physically dependent on alcohol. These people are likely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking.
Due to the severity of the addiction, stopping drinking altogether on your own could be quite harmful and is not advised. Alcohol addiction needs to be treated very carefully.
Instead, you should seek professional help in the form of a rehab clinic. The process may begin with a detox, which will help you clear your system of alcohol in a safe and controlled way. If you choose to have rehab with us, we will organise a detox for you with one of our excellent partners. You are never alone in this process, as you will have 24/7 care and support.
What happens during alcohol rehab?
Alcohol rehabilitation is very effective when it is completed at our Bolton rehab centre. We have a friendly team of experts who always put the patient first. We work closely with you throughout the programme to help you identify triggers and break habits in a safe way.
We will equip you with the tools and techniques to say goodbye to your alcohol addiction and poor relationships and hello to a happier life.
We have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC and have an excellent success rate of 98% which is much higher than the national average of 60-70%. We hope this blog has been helpful regarding alcohol and relationships.
With our excellent support, you can break free from your addiction today. Contact our admissions team today to learn how we can help you.
