Expert: Clyde - 6/1/2008

Question
Does a person's personality change drastically when he drinks? If so is it a lot? Would they do things that normally they would never do? Would they have more of a sex urge? Would they seek out a person that would be different, like someone that was a different race? That would not normally interest him or her? This guy drank very heavy....at least 20-22 drinks in an evening.I have seen him so drunk- he did not have the co-ordination to get up off the ground. Mixed malt liquor with wine, followed by rum and coke, (very small amounts of coke)

Answer
Toni,
    Thank you  for your questions.  They are very good ones.

    The fact of the matter is "yes" to all of them is an appropriate response.  All of these can occur in what we call an alcoholic blackout.  The person can still function but they are in a state of oblivion to what they are doing.  They will not remember much of this time period and, when they do remember any of it, it is usually met with much guilt, shame, and personal remorse.  Hence the reason builds for more drinking - to cover up that shame and guilt from the last blackout.

     This can continue for decades until the person hits a bottom and decides that they can not or do not want to go on living that way.

    I believe, and it is only my opinion as I am no psychologist or doctor, (but I do have the drinking credentials), that alcohol does produce a mind-altering effect in the person.  This is basically recognized in the loss of inhibitions and in the feelings of power.  Many alcoholics will describe to you how the first drink made them feel differently - they finally "fit in"; they could ask the guys or the girls to dance; they did crazy and insane things, etc.  As far as power goes, they feel invincible and unstoppable - hence they go on all night on the bender.  They probably feel more sexual prowess and think they are a love machine.  That may result in sexual escapades far from their norm (gay sex for a straight individual, sexual attraction to a person of another race, etc).  I believe also that the mind-altering effect of alcohol can cause us to psychologically act out our fantasies.  Our minds are under the control of a foreign substance.

    Then there is the mood-altering effect.  If happy or sad, the alcoholic thinks that drink with actually heighten the happiness or transform the sadness into joy.  It may do this for a period of time but most recovering people will tell you that they understand that alcohol is actually a depressant and does none of the "good" things they thought it did.  They usually describe how the drink led to falling-down drunk and loss of all bodily functions (relieving themselves in their clothing, etc.)  That is the sad fact.

    I hope this helps

Grace and Peace
Clyde