Eli5: If alcohol is a depressant, why does our mood increase after drinking it?
In: Biology
‘Depressant’ doesnt mean it makes you depressed, it means it diminishes your brain activity somehow. This lowers inhibition and may lessen self-destructive thoughts on some people, both of which leads to temporary increased mood
The same reason your mood increases when you smoke a stimulant out of a broken light bulb. You see, when the chemical interacts with our neurons by either inhibiting the uptake of serotonin or dopamine, or by coercing the release of more of these chemicals, our mood increases. It has nothing to do with whether a central nervous system is depressed or stimulated.
It makes you use up all your happy hormones, making you happy now but reducing you potential happiness. That’s why I call it borrowing happiness from tomorrow.
Depressant doesn’t mean ‘makes you depressed’. It means it slows down or diminishes activity. Alcohol especially depresses your inhibition, so people can be more risk taking and worry less. Which, if you’re with a bunch of friends dancing like an idiot or something, is super fun.
It also depresses reaction time, energy level, judgement, etc.
There’s always an initial dopamine burst which is the “feel good” chemical our brain gives off. When we drink, our brain does this for a bit. Over time that fades into the depressant we all know and love.
Edit: I would like to add, this “feel good reward” chemical is the reason people believe drinking more makes people feel even better. But in reality, the dopamine does not increase at all, and you are only gaining more depressant into your body. Hence the dangers of alcohol. Drink responsibly :).
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