Dr. Keith Ablow Explains The Psychological Effects Of Alcohol Misuse

A glass of red wine or a chilled beer is a common way of ending a stressful and tiring day. But crossing the limits of alcohol consumption can make you prone to various diseases and alcohol misuse. There is a fine line between consuming just the right amount and crossing that line. But how do you know that you have fallen prey to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?

Dr. Keith Ablow, a prominent psychologist states that having one drink a day is justifiable. But consuming more than that crosses the border line of drinking in “moderation”. One drink makes for:

• 5 ounces wine
• 12 ounces of beer
• 1.5 ounces liquor
  

Another aspect of drinking is to ascertain the quantity of drink that you consume on an average for a week. Heavy drinking in women accounts for approximately seven drinks per week. For men, it can range between 14-16 drinks per week.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Heavy or risky drinking can be a potential sign of a medical disorder known as alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is a chronic ailment that has lethal effects on the nervous system in the human body. Various studies project that around 18 million people in the United States have this disorder. Having this disease can also be because of genetics.

What are the psychological effects of AUD?

While anyone can fall prey to this serious psychological disorder, there are various factors that determine the severity of the psychological impact. These are:

• The age of the individual
• The quantity of alcohol being consumed
• Genetics of the person
• Overall health status of the individual

Based on these factors, the psychological effects of alcohol abuse can be categorized under two main categories, namely:

1. Short-term effects
   1. Memory loss
   2. Problems in focussing
   3. Blurry vision
   4. Reflex issues
   5. Instant stress reduction
   6. Reduction in inhibitions
2. Long-term effects
   1. Increased substance use
   2. Increased dependency
   3. Problems in learning
   4. Interruption on brain enhancement
   5. Increased alcohol dependency
   6. Major depression and nervousness

What are the symptoms of having AUD? The symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder can be stated as follows:

• The urge to consume alcohol again and again
• Consuming alcohol in risky situations
• Recurring negative thoughts
• Continuing to drink even if health problems persist
• Lack of control on alcohol consumption
• Refraining from doing important activities because of alcohol consumption

Dr. Keith Ablow MD, one of America’s leading psychiatrists has a multi-city private practice that treats adults and adolescents. He states that there are certain ways of treating AUD. With effective psychotherapy, you can understand the cons of indulging into such practices and refrain from depending on alcohol for solutions. Dr. Ablow has helped in healing numerous patients across the United States, Asia, and Europe.