How much is too much? And when is enough, enough? These are questions that we answer in this article. Along with understanding what a hangover is, increased tolerance, and finally taking. a look at when to know if enough is enough.
In America, it is estimated that 2 million people make their way to work each day hungover.
Feeling tired, weak, thirsty, achy, nauseous, dizzy, anxious, and irritable. If you are one of these 2 million Americans, then you are not alone. A hangover, far from an uncommon occurrence, is caused by drinking too much alcohol. They may be triggered by just one drink or by many drinks consumed over a long period of time. But experiencing a hangover doesn’t necessarily mean alcohol is a problem, does it?
Well, let’s see. A hangover is the result of the effects of alcohol on the body. The typical symptoms are fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and increased blood pressure. And while the particular cluster of hangover symptoms can vary from person to person, they are none-the-less, impactful on your day and on your body.
The symptoms you experience include:
Dehydration
Alcohol causes your body to produce more urine (cue repeated trips to the dingy bar bathroom) which in turn can lead to dehydration.
Inflammation
Stomach Irritability
Blood Sugar Decrease
Blood Vessel Expansion
Fatigue
Withdrawal
How Long Can It Last
A hangover can last up to 24 hours. So, again you ask, do I have a problem with alcohol? The question may be triggered by your pounding headache or inability to keep food down. Or maybe you are simply wondering why you start to feel tipsy after only a glass of wine, while your friend can drink significantly more without appearing intoxicated.
There are several different factors at play here. Alcohol affects men and women differently. The process of the metabolism of alcohol, or the breakdown of ethanol into a non-toxic substance that can be processed through the body requires ADH or alcohol dehydrogenase.
The male body metabolizes alcohol more efficiently due to the presence of ADH in the stomach and very active ADH in the liver. As a result, men are generally able to consume more alcohol than women before experiencing feelings of intoxication.
This difference in the metabolism of alcohol is reflected in standard guidelines for drinking. For example, moderate drinking is defined as up to one (1) drink per day for women, and up to two (2) drinks per day for men. However, if you find that you can consume more alcohol than this moderate drinking standard and still “be ok”, then you may be experiencing increased tolerance.
Increased tolerance occurs in several ways:
Functional tolerance occurs as we drink throughout the evening and the amount of alcohol in our bloodstream increases, leading to slower reaction times, lowered inhibitions, and impaired judgment.
Environmental-dependent tolerance can develop when alcohol is always consumed in the same environment.
Learned tolerance develops when we repeat the same tasks or activities under the influence of alcohol.
Metabolic tolerance results from the body’s increased rate of elimination of alcohol after prolonged or heavy drinking occurs.
How To Know When It's Enough?
For many who are just beginning to take a closer look at their drinking habits, it is uncomfortable to admit that perhaps there is a problem. It is a common misconception that you must be a daily drinker to have trouble with alcohol. Maybe you only drink on the weekends, but you end up having too much and blackout, or “brown out” and struggle through the next day feeling less than your usual self.
Even if you are not a “daily drinker,” if alcohol is negatively impacting you, it may be time to become curious about its role and purpose in your life. When do you drink, who do you drink with, what do you do while drinking? You may also begin to consider questions like, what was I doing before I decided to drink? Did I plan out my drinking and if so, did it go according to plan? Are there things that tend to happen to me or around me when I am drinking that I later regret?
Practice Alcohol Awareness
If you are seeing patterns that include increased tolerance, loss of control, failed attempts to quit or cut back, withdrawal symptoms, neglecting responsibilities, negative consequences such as financial problems, legal issues, or relationship problems due to drinking, and continuing to drink despite negative consequences, you will benefit from talking with a professional who has experience with substance use counseling. Practicing alcohol awareness can help you take an unbiased look at how this substance is impacting your life and support you in deciding what you want to do about it.
Turn and face what you fear most, and you will understand that it is no more than a shadow in the darkness.
As always, with hope and light,
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