Alcohol Abuse: Why Do We Get Hangovers?
With high rates of alcohol consumption for both males and females in our society, the occurrence of the occasional (or not so occasional) hangover following over indulgence in alcohol is common enough. People experiencing a general dysphoric mood “the morning after” drinking too much alcohol are more the butt of joking commiseration than being seriously regarded as suffering from the effects of alcoholic poisoning.
Cures and remedies for the ubiquitous hangover abound – some more, some less reliable. The pleasure derived from alcohol intoxication has to be immense that many adults will overindulge fully aware of the consequences that they will face the following morning. The reality of hangover cures is that while some might mask the symptoms and assist the body to purge itself and biochemically adjust – nothing brings relief from a hangover except the time that it takes for the liver to process and remove all influence of alcohol from the body.
People often find that this natural process of detox works best if they can rest or get some more sleep.
A person with a hangover feels irritable, tired, unable to focus on difficult tasks, although there are feelings of hunger there is a loss of appetite. Physical symptoms may include trembling, profuse sweating and increased urination, with or without diarrhea. The majority of the physical symptoms although uncomfortable are merely consistent with an adaptation by the body to ridding itself as soon as possible of the alcohol in the body.
Headaches and nausea are related to the fact that people generally don’t maintain fluid levels when drinking alcohol – most don’t want to dilute the intoxicating effects – and so the body becomes dehydrated. Lack of vitamin B complexes with alcohol use also causes the extreme nervous irritability, lack of motor function and co-ordination which happens with severe hangovers.
Obviously, the most rational response of a person when making a connection in their mind as between excess alcohol consumption and its negative consequences would be in future to abstain or drink only in moderate amounts. Clearly we act under some form of compulsion when we choose to over indulge.
When under the influence our cognitive function is poor, easily we might be encouraged just to have one or perhaps a few more drinks. It suggests high levels of unconscious stress or pressures are involved when we are prepared to sacrifice physical comfort the following day for a few hours of alcohol fueled excitement and fun.
Problems will occur if alcohol use is persisted with before the body has time to restore equilibrium. Chronic irritability, fatigue and depression are all well known symptoms of chronic overindulgence. Eventually, the alcohol ceases to create any pleasurable feelings. Increasing amounts may be needed just to make a person feel “normal”.
When alcohol drinking interferes with your normal way of life, then you have to realize that the solution is not to drink more alcohol to make problems disappear. Alcohol abuse is a symptom of distress – for which survival depends on discovering the source of your problems and finding healthy alternatives.
Don’t spend a lifetime in recovery – when every pressure in life reminds you how easy it would be if you could only have a drink. Use holistic drug free detox methods to resolve emotional issues and get help for full recovery. Alcohol addiction is not cured by abstinence alone – only by sorting out your emotional difficulties and enriching your life with new and healthy relationships.
One Response to “Alcohol Abuse: Why Do We Get Hangovers?”
Leave a Reply
Nice. Thanks for posting this. Its always nice to see someone educate the public.