Are You On the Slippery Slope to Habit Forming Alcohol Use?

Dr. Amanda Craig, PhD, LMFT

Dr. Andre Burey, MD

Ever Wonder: What is Habit Forming Alcohol Use?
 
You know you have habit forming alcohol use when:

• You start looking forward to happy hour at 3:00.

 

• You find yourself saying (out loud or to yourself) “let me just grab my drink quick first”.

 

• You find you would rather have a drink and_____ than play with the kids or hang with your partner.

 

• You wake up in the morning blah but don’t think it’s because of the alcohol.

 

• Your not moody even though people say you are.

 

• You don’t have a problem even though loved ones tell you they are concerned.

 

• You notice you used to have a couple drinks and now you can take down the entire bottle.

 

• You have to “hide your business” because family get irrationally upset.

 

• You wonder if the quantity your drinking is really that much.

 

• Pretty much most of the time you feel bored.

 
Why does alcohol mute happiness?
 
In the brain, alcohol initially boosts the effect of calming neurotransmitter GABA and releases feel-good endorphins that stimulate opioid receptors. However, as blood alcohol level rises, so does its toxic by-product acetaldehyde which is thought to be responsible for the next-day hangover and moodiness. Alcohol also negatively impacts sleep, as waning blood alcohol levels disrupt the brain’s natural sleep cycle and impede the ability to have a deep, restorative sleep that is crucial for next-day energy and mood stability.

Can habit drinking become a bigger problem?
A seemingly harmless habit can escalate into dependency as the brain’s feel-good receptors grow accustomed to the presence of high levels of alcohol in the blood to maintain a new homeostasis. In turn, the absence of alcohol signals the brain’s opioid receptors and reward pathways to cue alcohol-seeking behavior (i.e. cravings); in severe alcohol use disorder, the sudden discontinuation of alcohol can result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can progress to life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens – a syndrome that may include involuntary body shaking, confusion, hallucinations, and irregular heart rhythms.

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