- Alcohol removes a person’s inhibitions, which might make some people more inclined to tell the truth.
- Alcohol also makes you emotional, which can result in drunk people saying things that they don't really mean.
- Alcohol can contribute to memory loss and blackouts since large volumes of alcohol impact the way your brain processes memories.
Do your true feelings come out when you’re drunk?
No—alcohol lowers your inhibitions, but it doesn’t “make” you tell the truth. As you drink, alcohol makes you less concerned about what is or is not socially acceptable. With this in mind, alcohol isn’t a truth serum that automatically makes people honest—it’s a drink that makes people care less about what they’re saying. So, a drunk individual might give a brutally honest opinion simply because they have no filter at that moment (not because they actually mean what they’re saying). It’s important to note that drinking alcohol impacts brain chemistry, which can make people feel extra emotional. This may result in people saying things that they don’t mean or say things that aren’t true to begin with. Think of it this way—drunk individuals are legally not allowed to provide consent, as intoxicated people can not think or make decisions clearly. Context can help you figure out if a drunk person is being honest. For instance, a person who’s being exceptionally affectionate or providing an unsolicited opinion is likely being honest, while a person who’s defending themselves in a nasty argument might be telling a lie.
What Alcohol Does to Your Brain
Your reaction times are a bit slower. Once a little bit of alcohol starts entering your bloodstream (between 0.01 and 0.05 Blood Alcohol Content/BAC), you experience minuscule shifts in your behavior and perceptions. For instance, your sense of judgment might be a little impaired and you might not be as quick on your feet. When your judgment is impaired, you might not be thinking through everything that you’re saying. Enjoying one serving of alcohol typically brings you to this point.
You feel happier and relaxed. As you start drinking, your brain starts producing extra dopamine, a “feel-good” chemical. Physical side effects become more obvious at this point, like slurred speech, blurry vision, rapid changes in emotion, and poor judgment calls. A person’s BAC is around 0.03 and 0.12 at this point. If you’re feeling more relaxed, you might feel inclined to share more than you would sober.
You eventually feel confused and disoriented. Once a person’s BAC reaches 0.18, the physical side effects of drinking are much more pronounced. Complete memory loss (commonly known as a “blackout”) can occur, and you may have trouble moving around on your own. Once your BAC is 0.25 or higher, there’s a good chance that you’ll pass out. It’s easy to say things you don’t mean when you’re operating from a point of confusion and disorientation.
Negative Effects of Alcohol
It can lead to memory loss and blackouts. Drinking a lot of alcohol at once can impact your brain’s ability to move short-term memories to your long-term memory bank—because of this, drunk individuals often “blackout.” Consuming too much alcohol over a long period of time can also raise your risk of cognitive and memory issues later on in life. Memory loss can make for a sticky situation after the fact, especially if you can’t remember what was said during the time you were drunk.
It can contribute to anxiety issues. People sometimes turn to alcohol when they’re dealing with an anxiety-inducing or otherwise stressful life event. While alcohol can make an anxious person feel better in the short term, it doesn’t erase the problem that led to them drinking in the first place. As this coping cycle continues, it can eventually snowball into full-blown alcohol abuse. Reader Poll: We asked 890 wikiHow readers about the most common signs that someone is stressed, and only 6% of them said self-medicating with alcohol or food. [Take Poll] Other signs, like having a quick temper or withdrawing, might be more common.
It can lead to depression. Drinking alcohol frequently can lead to negative changes in your daily life, like the loss of a job or the end of a long-term relationship; because of these major changes, depression can develop. From a biological and chemical standpoint, alcohol functions as a depressant, and can negatively impact your brain chemistry in a way that can contribute to depression. Alcohol can cause certain chemicals in your brain (like serotonin, a feel-good chemical) to not function properly, which contributes to depression. If you’re feeling anxious or depressed while drinking, you might end up making some emotionally-charged statements that you don’t fully understand.
It can increase your risk of committing suicide. Alcohol switches off your inhibitions, which typically prevent you from doing or saying anything rash. With these mental barriers out of the way, it’s much simpler for someone to make an impulsive (and permanent) decision based on how they’re feeling in the moment. According to one study, people with noticeable alcohol struggles were 3 times more likely to take their own life, 2.5 times more likely to have thoughts related to suicide, and 1.5 times more likely to hurt themselves in some way. After drinking, you might be inclined to act on your feelings of self-harm rather than reaching out and asking for help.
It can put a strain on your long-term relationships. The more you drink, the less you’re able to be an active and productive member of your household—over time, this can take a really big toll on your relationships. Alcohol can also put a strain on partnerships in terms of finances since the alcohol-dependent partner often spends a lot of money on drinks. When you’re drunk around a partner, roommate, or another close relative, it can be easy to say things you don’t mean or utter something that makes the other person uncomfortable.
Best Non-Alcoholic Coping Methods
Journal your thoughts to express how you’re feeling. Treat your journal as a confidential resource where you can be completely honest and upfront about how you’re feeling. Whenever you experience something upsetting or otherwise triggering, use your journal to jot some of your thoughts down, using these questions as a starting point: When did the upsetting event take place? Who was involved with the upsetting event? How did you initially feel? What thoughts went through your mind during the event? What can you learn from the event?
Take 15 minutes to meditate each day. Research shows that regular meditation can give your brain activity a big boost. Choose a style of meditation that really speaks to you, like: Mantra meditation: Silently saying a soothing phrase over and over again to keep yourself from being distracted. Guided meditation: Listening to a video or following a teacher through a special visualization exercise that engages your senses. Mindfulness meditation: Focusing on something very specific, like how you’re breathing; this type of meditation revolves around acknowledging thoughts and feelings without lingering on them.
List 3 positive things about your day that you’re grateful for. Do a quick run-down of your day and review everything that happened. Maybe someone gave you a nice compliment, or a friend did a nice gesture for you—whatever the case, come up with 3 positive things that you’re thankful for, which helps you think positively.
Do the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to practice mindfulness. Start by identifying 5 different things you can see, followed by 4 separate things you can touch, followed by 3 things that you’re able to hear. Finish up the exercise by identifying 2 things you can smell and a single thing you’re able to taste. This exercise makes it easy to practice mindfulness, which allows you to peacefully coexist with your thoughts and feelings.
Say a positive and encouraging affirmation to yourself. Boost your positive vibes by repeating a phrase that you really need to hear and believe—it can be as simple as “I am loved” or “I am safe.” Feel free to dive into longer affirmations, like: “I feel peaceful and free of my burdens.” “I can handle whatever life throws my way.” “The universe cares about and loves me.” “I am worthy and deserve to be happy.”
Lean on your friends and loved ones for support. If you’re really struggling to pull away from alcohol, reach out to a trusted friend or relative and let them know how you’re feeling. Explain how you feel alcohol is interfering with your day-to-day routine, and that you’d love encouragement and support as you start your journey of recovery.
Get plenty of exercise and spend some time in the sun. It may not feel great at first, but a good workout is a surefire way to get the positive, anxiety-relieving vibes flowing in your body. Feel free to take it slow as you get started—an easy hike or walk around the neighborhood are great ways to stay in shape. Practicing yoga can be another useful and helpful activity to try.
Visit a therapist if you feel a little too dependent on alcohol. Therapy is an incredibly useful resource for any given person, including people who struggle with alcohol use. A therapist can help walk you through some unhealthy mindsets that lead you to lean on alcohol, and can help you adopt a more healthy way of thinking in your daily life. Attending a self-help meeting (like Alcoholics Anonymous) is another valuable recovery tool that allows you to network and heal with people struggling with similar issues.
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