Eli5: what is really happening when we “sober up” while drunk and in a serious situation

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What I mean by that is I’ve heard countless stories of people who say that when they are drunk, and something happens to, let’s say, a friend, and they can’t take care of themselves, they can “sober up” and handle the situation, even though they’re also just as drunk most of the time. Obviously, that’s not how alcohol works in the body, so what is really happening when someone can go from being in a drunken state to a sober, alert state almost like a flipping a switch?

In: Biology

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Alcohol is a depressant (it slows down our ability to think and react) 

Adrenaline is a stimulant (it increases are ability to think and react) 

When something causes a panic reaction in people our bodies flood our systems with Adrenaline.  

This was a survival mechanic that made us better at fighting off or running away from threats. 

The Adrenaline produced by the panic lessens the effect of the alcohol enough that they can function until it wears off.

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