People decide to have a drink for a variety of reasons. It could be to relax in an uncomfortable social situation, make themselves feel better after a bad day, or to dull the pain of rejection. Chasing the emotional effects of alcohol can cause some people to develop alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this state, it becomes impossible for someone to control their drinking, and they suffer the effects. A person may continue using alcohol even when it becomes disruptive to their life. They may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to slow down their drinking. At this point, it is critical to seek help from an alcohol addiction treatment center in Worcester, MA.
How Can You Tell if You Have a Problem?
How can someone tell if they have a problem with alcohol? What sets a casual social drinker apart from someone with a dependency on alcohol? Doctors and researchers tend to break drinkers down into categories based on their motivation.
Light to moderate drinkers are those who find they need to drink to enjoy a party or other social obligation. Heavy drinkers and binge drinkers tend to use alcohol as a way of coping with negative emotions. They may also see it as a way of freeing themselves to say things they would not when sober.
Others use it to avoid emotional pain or to cope with stressful situations. You may have a problem if you regularly pour yourself a drink when experiencing any emotional upheaval or as a method of avoiding your feelings. Using alcohol to cope, and the resulting emotional effects of alcohol, creates its own set of problems.
How Alcohol Affects Emotions
Alcohol has the most significant effect on the cerebellum section of the brain. It is an area responsible for controlling emotions and memory, among other functions. Excessive alcohol consumption causes the body to increase the production of endorphins and serotonin. They regulate our emotions, including feelings of happiness and relaxation.
More drinking typically makes the brain more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol on mood, leading to emotional volatility from one moment to the next. Unfortunately, the psychological effects of alcohol often include feelings of anxiety, disgust, and fear. That is because alcohol also acts as a depressant. Those with mental disorders are prone to feeling heightened levels of depression, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts.
The negative state of mind caused by overindulging in alcohol can last anywhere from a few hours to an entire day. Many rely on alcohol as a way of self-medicating other psychological disorders. Others use it to escape from their responsibilities.
Getting Help With Alcohol Abuse
Washburn House is a drug and alcohol treatment center located in Worcester, MA. The refurbished historic home provides living quarters for those seeking treatment for issues with alcohol. Here, we help our clients learn to understand the harmful effects of alcohol on mood and how to manage everyday life without relying on drinking.
The Benefits of Our Yoga Therapy
We strive to reach new standards when it comes to addiction treatment. That means continuously revamping our programs and incorporating the latest in technological and medical advancements when it comes to helping clients with their dependency issues.
Washburn House offers a unique yoga therapy program in Worcester, Massachusetts as a supplemental therapy during our alcohol addiction treatment program. It reinforces the importance of health and restores balance to those suffering from the emotional effects of alcohol abuse.
The yoga program teaches a variety of physical postures that help clients forge a connection between their mind, body, and spirit. It is a fantastic way of helping you look inward to find the peace and focus you have been seeking.
Other Therapeutic Treatments
Washburn House offers other holistic treatments in addition to more traditional therapy. We offer the following programs as a way of encouraging self-care and reflection in our clients.
- Music therapy program
- Massage therapy
- Chiropractic services
- Group counseling program
- Art and expressive therapies
- Outdoor activities
All these programs help our clients understand how to find positive ways of dealing with their emotions outside of alcohol use. Our Washburn House treatment specialist goes through each of our therapy options to find the best fit for each client. The effects of alcohol on mood don’t have to control your life.
Learn to Handle the Emotional Effects of Alcohol at Washburn House
Find out more about how Washburn House can help you deal with the emotional effects of alcohol by calling us at 855.298.3104. Our staff is ready and willing to help you get started on a more positive and fulfilling life path.