ALCOHOL, SUBSTANCES, AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Chronic use of alcohol and other substances can cause damage to the nervous system. This damage can be both physical and chemical. Physical damage can occur to the cells of the nervous system, as well as to the connections between these cells. Chemical damage can occur when substances alter the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain - the chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells.

In the short term, this often manifests as decreased HRV, a reduced Balance Score, and increased shutdown + fatigue responses. This is because alcohol is a depressant. It also impairs the body's ability to properly repair itself during sleep, which leads to a nervous system that then needs to work harder to repair itself.

If consumed chronically, alcohol increases allostatic load - the overall stress levels on the nervous system. This can lead to all sorts of second-order problems when the nervous system becomes chronically dysregulated.

When seeking to reduce overall stress levels and find balance in everyday life, this is why reducing alcohol and substance use is key.