Alcoholism is a severe issue in the US, creating problems for both the public and individuals. Data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that 29.5 million people ages 12 and older (10.5% in this age group) had alcohol abuse disorder (AUD) in the past year.
Alcohol abuse disorder not only damages the life of the person struggling with it, but also their loved ones and immediate environment. Anyone who has had to deal with alcohol dependence has noticed a personality change when drinking alcohol but it´s often dismissed, believing it´s a temporary state. We believe that the link between alcohol and personality changes should not be ignored, so we´d like to offer some clarification on the subject and recommendations for ways to address alcohol personality change.
Understanding Personality Change When Drinking Alcohol
Personality is a relatively stable combination of traits that impacts how we perceive the world, how we feel, and how we act. Relatively stable means that it can change throughout life, typically due to experiences and major life events. Research shows that there is, for some people, a personality change when drinking alcohol.
The question is: Does alcohol change your personality or does it simply reveal your true self?
Experts on personality psychology highlight that our core personality traits remain the same no matter the circumstances (some, like extraversion, naturally decline with age). However, we function in a world that requires taking on different roles, and therefore we adapt our behavior by using filters in different situations we find ourselves in. What alcohol does is inhibit those filters and showcase a broader spectrum of behaviors we are capable of.
And why does alcohol change your personality? The reason lies in the fact that alcohol impacts the central nervous system (CNS), which is behind our decision making and emotion regulation. By affecting neurotransmitters, alcohol can lower inhibitions and alter judgment, cognition, and mood, resulting in altered personality manifestations.
Common Personality Changes When Drinking Alcohol
Although some changes in the behavior of alcoholics are obvious, it might not be so easily visible what sort of alcohol personality change is behind them. Personality is a complex construct, and different psychological theories describe it using different traits. Therefore, the results of psychological investigations can give seemingly different results.
One study found that aggression-hostility, sensation seeking, and sociability are positively and bi-directionally associated with alcohol abuse. They are both impacted by and contribute to alcohol consumption, which results in an alcohol personality change. Another study revealed that conscientiousness decreases with alcohol dependence and that changes in personality correlate with the amount of alcohol intake. A major study involving nearly 40,000 individuals showed that emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness decreased across all examined groups and for different levels of alcohol consumption.
There are repetitive results implying that traits related to emotional regulation (whether named neuroticism, emotional stability, or hostility) are affected by alcohol consumption. This often translates into aggressive behavior. Conscientiousness is another trait consistently negatively related to alcohol abuse, explaining why alcoholics neglect their tasks and obligations. It seems that when under the influence of alcohol, people tend to be more social but also to care less about other people.
Another interesting piece of information coming from all these studies is that the amount and frequency of alcohol abuse do not significantly impact the answer to the question, Can alcohol change your personality? Both binge drinkers and alcoholics experience these changes, although their effects might last longer for chronic alcohol abusers. It´s important, though, to keep in mind that there are additional dangers of combining benzos and alcohol and that they might reflect on personality and behavior as well.
Factors Influencing Personality Changes
Although the majority will experience a personality change when drinking alcohol, the change will not be the same for everyone. As with everything else in psychology, personality changes are impacted by many factors. Equally important is to recognize that various factors make a person susceptible to alcohol personality change. Frequently mentioned factors are:
- Individual differences. We can speak of many individual differences, including temperament, genetics, mental health, defence mechanisms, etc. Our brain health can determine how impactful alcohol can be. Some mental health states can be enhanced with alcohol, resulting in exaggerated behavioral changes. Alcohol might weaken our defense mechanisms, causing lower inhibition and making us seem like another person.
- Alcohol consumption severity. Although studies show that alcohol-induced personality changes take place no matter the quantity of alcohol consumed, we should keep in mind that they always included heavy drinkers, whether those struggling with AUD or binge drinkers. A few studies that categorized drinking problems by the quantity consumed suggest that the heavier the drinking problem is, the greater the alcohol personality change will be.
- Environment and social context. Our personality and behavior are shaped not only by our genetics but also by our environment and experiences. If people are surrounded by enablers of their drinking problem or are in an environment that induces problematic behavior (e.g.,a toxic family situation), the odds of them leaning into more drinking and experiencing more alcohol-related personality changes are higher.
- Long-term alcohol abuse. Another issue with the research done so far is that most studies were not longitudinal (meaning we know little about long-term effects), This makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the severity of alcohol personality changes over time. What we know is that longer consumption causes more brain damage, so more changes in personality and behavior is to be expected.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that although there can be a personality change when drinking alcohol, not everything is lost. By addressing alcohol abuse disorder, these negative changes are addressed as well.
The Link Between Alcohol and Relationships
With personality change when drinking alcohol, there are changes in various behaviors; it comes as no surprise that personal relationships are affected as well. The connection between addiction and relationships is complex and introduces changes like secrecy, trust issues, and even hostile behavior. Sometimes, changes seem so grand that partners wonder can alcohol change your personality.
As mentioned before, alcohol personality change often involves disinhibited reactions, mood swings, and aggressive acts, making a person feel unsafe in the relationship. One study revealed that aggressive behavior associated with irritability and agitation was observed in nearly 90% of men struggling with alcohol abuse disorder.
Personal relationships are one of the most important support resources when finally deciding to quit alcohol. Reacting to early signs of alcohol personality change before they start seriously damaging relationships is important for both the health of the relationship and the positive outcomes of any alcohol addiction treatment.
Seeking Help for Alcohol-Related Personality Changes
A personality change when drinking alcohol is sometimes a wake-up call for those struggling with alcohol dependence. Once they notice how those changes impact their work, relationships, and the way people engage with them in general, they start seeking help from alcohol rehab centers in New Jersey. Turning to professionals is a good choice, as the battle with alcohol requires much support and resources.
We Level Up substance abuse treatment centers in New Jersey. offer a comprehensive addiction program that includes addressing alcohol personality change. We aim to aid your recovery process by combining different approaches that heal your body, mind, and spirit. By helping you recover from your addiction, we also break the negative link between alcohol and personality changes.
We Level Up New Jesrey addiction treatment starts with alcohol detox NJ and continues with evidence-based therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that help us understand the underlying causes of your alcohol addiction as well as alcohol and personality changes. We work on identifying dysfunctional thinking patterns and replacing them with functional ones; consequently, maladaptive behavior is replaced with healthy coping mechanisms.
To help you reintegrate and find your way back to society, we include you in group sessions such as support groups and family therapy. While support groups nurture a sense of belonging and provide inspiration, family therapy empowers all family members to deal with the challenges of addiction and addresses any potential issues within this microenvironment.
Finally, we help you stay on the right track by developing an aftercare plan involving continuous therapy, regular check-ins, support groups, and an Alumni network. Staying sober is a life-long process and our goal is to support your success in every possible way.
Reclaim Your Life
Alcohol effects can be so strong that you might feel and seem like a different person when intoxicated. if you are experiencing a personality change when drinking alcohol and your relationships start suffering because of it, you should not waste time and instead seek help. Even when you have a supportive environment, professional support is crucial.
We Level Up NJ can help you overcome your substance abuse issue, reclaim your life, and feel like yourself again. Call us and let us help you live to your full potential.
Sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jopy.12371
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591003/full
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-woman-wearing-brown-leather-jackets-984950
https://www.pexels.com/photo/aggressive-young-black-man-with-raised-fist-in-bathroom-5699779
