Mental/Emotion Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Inability to think clearly &/or concentrate  Visual spatial deficits – inability to tell the distance between objects  Language Impairments – confusing/mispronouncing previously known words. Difficulty formulating ideas.  Memory impairments – inability to recall names, words or ideas or to learn new concepts.  Alcohol dementia – impaired thinking, feeling, remembering, behaving

Depression  Poor work or school performance  Loss of family support  Feeling of loss of control  Drink more to “cure” depression  20 – 36% of suicide cases related to chronic alcoholism  Does alcohol cause depression or does depression cause alcoholism?

Anxiety Disorders  Uncontrollable worry  Use alcohol to self-medicate. Over time it will make the anxiety worse.  Older adults who abuse are 3 times more likely to have a psychological disorder.

Isolation  Withdrawal from those that disapprove.  Do not want others to know they drink.  Hides their alcohol.  Loses interest in activities.

Irritability  Irritable when time for next drink.  Irritable when confronted about drinking.  More prone to violence under the influence.