BAC refers to the amount of alcohol present in a person’s bloodstream. In this section, we will explore BAC levels and how they are measured. Alcohol has a depressant Sober living house effect on the central nervous system, which is responsible for controlling bodily functions and cognitive processes. When consumed, alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body.
Can you become addicted to alcohol after just one drink?
As you drink, alcohol goes into your bloodstream and affects your brain and what does being drunk feel like body functions. When you drink a lot, your body and brain functions slow down considerably. Drinking is fun when you are out with friends, and its effects are pleasant, but remember that your liver takes time to process alcohol. The more or, the quicker you drink, the more your drinking outpaces your body’s processing abilities and the longer the alcohol will stay in your system.
Signs and Symptoms of Different Levels of Intoxication
- You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
- This is because chugging introduces more alcohol in the blood than can be eliminated by the liver.
- Alcohol has a profound impact on the brain, affecting its normal functioning.
- Being drunk can initially feel euphoric and social, but as intoxication increases, it can lead to confusion, loss of coordination, and emotional instability.
We’d love the opportunity to help you during this overwhelming and difficult process. The Summit Wellness Group is located in Georgia and all of your calls will be directed to one of our local staff members. Our sincere passion is helping people recover so that they can live full, meaningful and healthy lives.
Stage 1: Sobriety or Mild Intoxication
The stages range from sobriety to potential death, with each stage characterized by specific emotional and physical symptoms. They may feel slightly more relaxed but are still in control of their actions. When consumed in moderation, alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Moderate consumptionis defined asone drink daily for women or two drinks daily for men.
It’s important to note that driving or operating machinery in this state can be extremely dangerous and is strictly discouraged. Since intoxication can lead to riskier behavior, blackouts can be dangerous. For those who tend to black out when drinking, it can help to have trustworthy friends nearby to keep an eye out. By being informed about the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption, you can make responsible choices that promote your physical and mental health and well-being.
- The body is unable to feel pain, placing you at an increased risk for life-threatening injury.
- Short-term risks of excessive drinking include accidents, injuries, alcohol poisoning, and impaired judgment.
- Factors such as age, sex, tolerance, body size, amount of food eaten, and whether other drugs have been used can all affect a person’s state of mind while drinking.
- It boosts levels of dopamine, the feel-good chemical that gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling that “all is well” in the world no matter what’s actually going on around you.
- In this article, we’ll explore the various stages of drunkenness, the physical and mental effects of alcohol, and tips for staying safe while consuming alcohol.
Those who have not experienced alcohol intoxication may wonder what it feels like to be “drunk.” It can affect mood, speech, judgment, and more. Everyone is different, and these differences are sufficient to cause varying amounts of drunkenness in different people. Men and women, for instance, will have different alcohol concentrations in their blood because women have a higher fat percentage, meaning less blood. After the euphoria and excitement, the depressant phase begins, where brain processes are impacted significantly. During this stage, symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, loss of coordination, and slurred speech are experienced. That aspect seems to stem from the fact that alcohol increases activity in the dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic reward pathway, as well as opioid cells that release endorphins.
