Drinking Can Cause PTSD

Though people often begin drinking heavily in order to forget something, new research has shown that excessive drinking can actually rewire the brain and produce the opposite. The effect is so strong that drinking can actually lead to or contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The studies were conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and involved groups of mice, one of which was given large doses of alcohol. The study leads to the conclusion that those drinking too much—like alcoholics—may be further aggravating emotional issues that might have led to drinking in the first place.

“Basically, our research shows that chronic exposure to alcohol can cause a deficit with regard to how our cognitive brain centers control our emotional brain centers,” said Thomas Kash, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The research showed significant differences in how the brains of the mice actually functioned, in terms of the ways that nerve cells were actually shaped.

If you think you have a problem with alcohol dependence or abuse, you should seek help now and begin improving your overall mental and emotional health today. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating alcoholism. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about alcohol, addiction, and treatment.