How Alcohol Actually Increases Stress Levels, Rather Than Relaxing You | Dr. Andrew Huberman 

This clip is from the Huberman Lab episode "What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health." The full episode can be found on RU-vid here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DkS1pkKpILY.html

This stuff should really start being taught to kids as soon as they get to high school.

Nothing has ruined my progress in life, personal development, and self esteem more than alcohol ever has.

I straight up didn’t know drinking was bad for you until I was 22 years old. I thought alcoholics were homeless drug addicts. I didn’t realize they were all around me. And then I became one. But your boy is 4 years sober baby 🎉 good luck to all

475 days without a drink and I feel like a kid again.

Yeah I've long suspected this. I've noticed when I drink on the weekend I tend to experience more stress at work the following week. When I go without alcohol for a while, it seems to be less. But this is really alcohol's secret weapon: making you feel worse when you're sober and tricking you into thinking alcohol is the cure, not the cause.

My stress level was insane prior to getting sober. My heart was constantly pounding. I was constantly full of cortisol. Felt terrible. 361 days sober🙏🏻

I started drinking alcohol since my teenage. Got addicted for over 16 years. Alcohol addiction actually destroyed my life. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

I never realised how stressed my body and mind was under drinking until I got a Garmin watch and even after one drink the watch alerts me that my stress levels are high! The stress carries on throughout the entire night well into the next morning, even only after one glass. I wish I had more information about how alcohol affected me. Trying my best to avoid alcohol altogether.

Thank you for all this great info!!!!! I grew up with an alcoholic and its generational in my family. I used it to medicate from a childhood of abuse and trauma. Finally, I figured out it does not help! My adrenals were stuck in fight or flight from 6 years old. Duh?!!! I'm a miracle at 66!

Ive been trying to stay sober for years. I now have more time sober than I ever have at 7 months. I almost talked myself into letting myself drink once school is over this year. These videos that Hubberman has on alcohol might have just saved my life cause it reminded again why I don’t want to drink again. Thank you Dr. Hubberman. I almost threw it all away out of boredom.

I lost half my friends, lost contact with my remaining friends, became disconnected from my family because of my drinking. towards the end i broke my shoulder in a black out and my girlfriend of 5.5 years left me. It cost me my job to go to rehab and get help but im thankful to now be sober.

Thanks to your podcast, I quit drinking 8 months ago and have been sober since.

Scary stuff… my dad dropped dead at 64 from a lifetime of functioning alcoholism … I sadly learnt from his drinking … not my thing… I prefer to get ‘high’ on life… it’s too precious to waste on booze 🥃

I stopped drinking entirely about a year ago. One of those good choices in my life in retrospect.

Im grateful to have found the HubermanLab podcast, by way of my wife who is a Neurology PA. This video described me perfectly & in my opinion most adults could fall into this category of "moderate" drinkers. I never drank excessively, 2-3 beers a night when I did, never hungover. But I tended to be grumpy the following days & get annoyed by little things. I took a solid month of no alcohol for my mind and body to rebalance back to kind of my "normal" state.

I agree. It's when the alcohol wears off that I feel a bit anxious (sometimes I even get tinnitus for a little while). The 3-4 hours of fun drinking and turning off switches in the prefrontal cortex, and bullshitting/connecting with others, is later met with almost an entire day of feeling stress and anxiety; however, I have learned to taper down my alcohol the next day and it works great. For example, 4 beers on day 1 (the main party/enjoyment day), then 1 beer on day 2 helps a lot... It's interesting the way people talk about tapering drugs, like benzodiazepines, but rarely talk about tapering alcohol. It makes the post experience of drinking alcohol less anxiety-ridden.

6 months sober from 10 years of 10 drinks a day. I feel much better. The real 'fix' was after I quit drinking I later stopped eating inflammatory food and started taking SAM-E. I think I was drinking to combat the feeling of anxiety from brain inflaming.

Im an extreme example of this because my baseline level of stress is already very high. When i have a hangover or coming off of a binge though its amplified significantly and i feel very stress and insecure about every thought. I also read that sometimes the compensatory increase in stress can be so severe it causes brain damage by overstimulating the neurons

Honestly, the comment section helped as much as Huberman!..Not as much but still helpful!

So glad i heard all this. It explains my excessive stress and bad mood when i dont drink. And why i keep relapsing

Thanks Dr Huberman. I want to cut back on my drinking. I feel it compromising my mental and physical health. I feel tired, wake up tired and crave alcohol.

I've experienced exactly this. I was only an occasional drinker most of my life. I wouldn't have been considered a problem drinker by anyone around me, but I started drinking 4-5 times per week in the last few years just to be able to relax from stress at night and because of some chronic pain issues. Not drinking began to cause me stress and when I tried to quit I was constantly thinking about alcohol. I finally quit drinking a month ago and I'm finally able to deal with stress without thinking about alcohol. I feel SO much better and I have no plans to drink again.

I needed this video! 1 hour ago I made a video recording of myself saying I won’t drink alcohol anymore. It affects how I show up for my wife, daughter the next day. I can’t be 100% I want to be 100%. I don’t need alcohol to have fun, I don’t need it to do anything for me. I’m always joining because I see the energy change more for the better than for the worse when we drink. I need to do what’s best for me and think of my future self. It’s a bad pattern and I’m taking a break from it to better myself. I always tell myself to try it for 6 months if i don’t like what happened to just go back.

At 48 found myself more sensitive to it so I quit..best idea I've EVER HAD

Amazing information. Thank you for sharing with us. The world needs to know about the real truth about alcohol.

I’ve experienced all ur talking about. I’ve stopped drinking for a month or so (I binged drank so not everyday). My stress levels feel much better. Just waiting for my brain to get back to learning mode and better mood

Doctors Humberman… Love your takes! Question: when people drink with this “normal” pattern and get the changes to neurocircuitry. Leading to a baseline levels of cortisol to elevate when not drinking and then reducing to “prior” levels when drinking (giving the illusion of stress relief)…. What happens to these levels if the person quits drinking for say 1 month? 3 months? 1 year? Or permanently… Do their levels return to “Pre-drinking” levels?? Or is this a permanent damage?

One thing I noticed with alcohol is it kills my T levels. When I was drinking every weekend, my T levels dropped to low 3’s high, 2’s. I stopped for a couple months and they went up to over 500. Feel better, more energy, more gains in the gym… granted I get stressed out easier (alcohol eases my stress) but it is what it is

Thank you. You have told me what I already know, but needed to hear.

Almost gone 3 months without alcohol. I don’t miss it.

Thanks for your explanation🙏 after 2 years of not drinking alcohol, used to drink occasionally, I had a couple of drinks and I experienced wonderful couple of hours and then I got the worse week with the feeling of emptiness. However, now I’m stable again 😊

loving the comment section! sober nearly 5 months. Who knew there could be this much peace ❤

This is interesting. This goes hand in hand with my experience. When i was younger i used to drink every weekend, was pretty stressed especially towards the end of the week. Then went on to not drink at all for years, was generally stressed. Now i drink small amounts or at least try every 3 to 6 weeks depending on the stress levels, this seems to actually help relieve stress and not cause any extra problems.

Very informative and helpful. Thank you Dr. Huberman!

the strange thing is that some of us are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol withdrawal than others, such that even after one after-dinner drink one can wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety

Andrew Andrew Andrew, what a gift to society you are!

Thanks Dr. Huberman to share this valuable information. This means for me, that the Alcohol path , is the wrong way to manage stress . It is like get in in a spiral with no out door.

Great work Dr. You r and amazing human being !

Thank You Mr.Andrew H

thank you so much for this podcast. It resonated with me more than any other you have done. This one 'changed my life'.

These , RU-vid content , helps me stay sober , when I get tempted Thx u

Thanks for sharing❤

No wonder why I be stressed and depressed when I not drinking didn't know that was the cause thanks for the information

Excellent share. TY Andrew..

Working on my addiction Checking in on Huberman videos like this help

Very enlightening! Thank you

Thanks for all you do Doc! Us listeners appreciate you 👊🇺🇸

SENDING this straight to my mother

3 years sober, gosh I regret all the wasted time that I drank the wine. Lost time, lost confidence, lost motivation...

Got pissed over Christmas few days later i felt down asf.. only drink on Birthdays and Christmas. still noticed my mood change not good.

Thank you !

100% accurate with this. 👍👍👍all the signs, symptoms described.

Great message...

I just want to thank you sir, from the bottom of my heart, ❤ I used to be an alcoholic and drug addict, still am I guess technically, ive stopped for a few months here and there maybe about 4 times within the last 10 years, just always fell back into it mainly coke and alcohol, then kind of started sniffing meth the last two yrs not heavy but even a lil bit of that stuff was scary, strong, long lasting, physically & mentally un healthy especially while drinking a lot.....anyways recently i got into a car accident coming up on a month ago in three days, and ive drinken 3 times, the first time 3 glasses of wine within like 45 mins which made me feel drowsy, drunk, and kind of good feelings but it lasted like an hr only then i felt like shit, yuck, headeach and hungover. The second time I drank it was 4 vodca shots in about 2 hrs, felt kind of good the first shot, it hit me pretty quick, after that I didn't really feel it much, got me drowsy and tired & hot, and I craved a few lines of meth to wake me up and feel better, thank Jesus i didn't get any, now this third time (all a week apart btw) anyways yeah yesterday I drank from about 2pm till 1am about 15 shots and a glass of wine, 😮 by 4pm (same day btw) I wanted coke, didnt get it, couldn't find a connection, so looked for meth, got some by 7pm, i sniffed a few lines within a few mins, and was already blacked out drunk, had extreme mixed emotions, mad then crying ect, mr. know it all, screaming all about conspiracies, the devil, God ect, was arrogant, rude, had ocd and couldn't focus, literally lost, didn't feel the meth high that much (like not happy or euphoria) overall I felt irresponsible, dehydrated, body was in pain, from hanging out in the streets rolling around in a wheelchair, falling, with my broken leg and pelvic from the recent accident, plus last time I ate was 7am, anyways I stayed up till 9am drank 6 more shots from 5am to 9am, lost my last $20 on the street and smoked two packs of cigarettes😮 its 5pm now I've drinking water, eaten and took my meds for seizures and pain, feel guilty which i should, but so depressed, and confused like what am I gonna do, this is a reoccurring problem thats been going on all these years, only difference is this time I'm feeling way more like...that shit was garbage, not enjoying it, mainly the meth, maybe i'll just drink alcohol just to get buzzed only couple times a week, but its hard to stop after a few drinks and buzz, next thing i'll be kind of drunk and wanting just a few lines of coke or meth, I'm praying, looking up RU-vid vids about alcohol, and thinking like I don't want that buzz so much especially with what the *buzz could possibly lead into, I'm actually enjoying life without it this passed month, recovering from my accident in hospitals and a homeless shelter for the injured, I'm content ❤😊happy enjoying sleep, food, movies, and taking care of my health responsibilities and even upcoming housing, now seeing this video 5 mins in and I'm like YES, thanks brother I so needed this, alcohol is not that good anymore ❤😊 maybe two or three beers once or twice a month or every other, but in a fun setting with friends & fam, not popping three shots at a bus stop, JUST TOO FEEL GOOD & OR CALM MY ANXIETY. NOPE LIFE IS BETTER. Thank you Jesus and thank you bro for making it(my issue) more simple and clear in this vid 🙏

Thank you very helpful

My doctor told me to watch this video. I'm in a treatment to stop drinking now. I was drinking a bottle of vodka everyday, for 5 years. Had to stop it or I would literally die soon.

Well said. Ty . I have alcoholism in my genetics. I dont drink besides tonight,my husband and i went out to eat and i had a large beer with lime to try to "calm my nerves"...well here it is 5:58 a.m. i woke up , completely dehydrated and cortisol level is super high. I am using your breathing tips and my faith in Jesus to help right now. Drinking all the water I can. Thank you for sharing. ❤

Thanks!

Just had a drink today to relax but it actually made me feel really nervous. I would recommend dried Amanita Muscaria aka the fly agaric mushroom as an alternative. It is very relaxing but without any negative side effects.

I've had some misadventures with substances, but there are none I've encountered that mess you up as bad as alcohol does.

thank you !!!

Dr. Huberman - about two months ago I decided I was no longer going to order a couple drinks with dinner two or three times a week when I went out. Since then, I’ve had maybe a total of three drinks. When you say “occasionally,” would that be a drink once a month? Once every few months? Once a year? I struggle with anxiety and sleep issues, so I want to be as healthy as possible and avoid any deterrents to my health. But I also do enjoy having a drink once in awhile. What would you recommend?

I typically drink 3-4 on the weekends with my buddies as AH described but I also work out intensely cardio and strength training during the week. I wonder if that baseline cortisol increase is offset some by that?

Andrew Huberman knows it all

My mother was a functional alcoholic….when sobriety was required, she was sober. When sobriety wasn’t required, she was wasted. She passed away just shy of 74 years old. Her parents lived into their early to mid 90’s.

How long after a chronic alcohol drinker stops drinking does it take for the cortisol levels to revert to normal ?

Excellent video. I am listening and doing really well😊 keto lifestyle, fasting, red light therapy panel, toxic people out! Now 4-1/2 days into a 7 day fast! If i can do it, anybody can😂Trust me huge drinker. Later in life? 30's. Started keto because very sick. Wrong diet, alcohol ( will push you to places you never ever want to go) and toxic jealous people and i was 92 kilos. Bloted basically ugly. Yesterday l decided to weigh myself. Rembering its not for weight loss, yhis was too impove my health. So, i could live longer. 10 lost! Right but weigh in was 77 kilos!!!😂 I nearly fell off the scales😂😂😂 And I feel amazing. Its with the help of incredible doctors who care about us!!! Thankyou very much for all your support and kindness😊🌹🇭🇲💃

I’m 62.Don’t drink during the wk.Come fri/sat I get wasted!(half bottle whiskey &2-4 pints strong lager!)each night!The terrible anxiety &depression lasts till Tuesday!Come fri I do it all again!The anticipation on last day of work is unbearable!The calm I feel when drinking (alone)out ways the feeling of dread&suicidal thoughts on a sund night!I feel ok tues-thurs!I just feel,sometimes you have to go thru hell to appreciate heaven!

Thanks Doc, Alcohol is just massive “built in maintenance.” You’re smarter than me but you don’t rub my nose in it. Keep up the good work.

How long does it take to reset ability to handle stress when not drinking So interesting 🤓

How long does it take to reverse the effects of alcohol on the brain and body once you get sober?

I lived with an alcoholic and this is 100% accurate.

Also, once someone stops drinking regularly or at all, how long will it take their brain to get back to normal?

Hi Dr. and all you other interested fans - Question: Can you go back to normal - and is there a faster or shorter way to do so?

Alcohol increases my anxiety 10x l gained tremendous weight from my anxiety and cortisol in 2004 Iraq. I'm an alcoholic, very accurate information. I'm 52 I have trouble self medicating with booze I get very nauseous and get the shakes. I dry heave the next day. All the stress causes me to go into tachycardia.

Thank you so much! I had no idea how alcohol affected my mind and body. Could you do a in-depth study on non-alcoholic drinks. I have looked all over you-tube and I find nothing. I assume it is good for you because it has no alcohol in it and it has help but does it also affect the brain and body if you drink a lot of it?

Are those detrimental effects reversible once you stop drink alcohol completely?

Food for thought.

If you have ever had a drink or 2~3~5~20 a day for 10 consecutive days or more you have developed receptors for it, i.e. an addiction to it, weather or not its apparent to you depends on your level of self awareness or lack there of,, that cortisol he's talking about is there because when your in the in-between days not drinking you are going through withdrawal, that's why when ya have a drink it calms ya down, ya wouldn't need calmed by a drink if ya didn't drink to begin with.. it's a nifty catch 22,, works the same with weed.. the term Alcoholic is to often meant for people who are out of control or on the verge of. You don't have to be blowing your life up doing what you do to be addicted, most people are addicted and don't perceive it that way because they are doing ok in general in life or at least they think they are while wondering why they have so much anxiety when they're not drinking, some resorting to anxiety meds further complicating things, while oblivious to what's really goin on..

This throws out the old question - does the body make the mind stressed or vice versa. Alcohol creates cortisol heightening which increases anxiety thus it is a body first thing. As anyone here that suffers from anxiety will know - sometimes the body has a reaction that gets the mind thinking of all the crap that’s happened or about to happen. But most therapy concentrates on the mind first principle which I think is blinkered

I worry that learning about every single reaction my body has to everything I consume won't see a net benefit in my life.

Glad I quit drinking 9 years ago best thing I ever did for my health.

Ok now I want to know how long it takes off of alcohol consumption to get things back to normal?

So i have a question, as a person who has alcoholics in my family and i drink on the weekend, if i were to stop it completely, could i change my Nuro programming?

I love to do fermentation and just started doing homemade wine (still fermenting). I don't like to drink but I was about to starr since I need to know how it goes... Guess not anymore.

Holy shit. I drink a few everyday. Anytime info without, the evening feels weird like I'm unrelaxed. This makes so much sense now.

Sometimes I need a slice of cake to shake off the day 😁

How long does it take for the baseline stress response to return to normal after giving up alcohol?

What I'd like to know is if these changes are permanent, or will they subside and return to healthy if the drinking is stopped entirely?

Anyone, How do I avoid the TRT Clinics / Pill Mills in favor of maintenance dose?

I used to drink more when I was so broken. Now i have one bottle of wine a week. I like good wine . I have my wine fridge and wine rack i just like to look at it now. Not drinking tue whole March just too busy. I don't feel much drinking but i love to stare at my bottles

How long does it take for your body to repair and balance itself after you stop chronic drinking?

In english subtitles, plz smbdy change access to axis (at least 3 occurances). TY. English is not everybody's 1st language, so subtitles support can be essential to some.

Would this concept also be applied to THC with similar usage habits?

So whether it’s relaxing or not is part of what determines whether they have a predisposition for alcoholism, but which one has more of a predisposition?

So are these "plastic changes" reversible, if you stop drinking for months/years/life? I've been off alcohol for about a year and going to the gym, I would like to know what else I can do to reverse the "damage"

The thing that really pushed me to quit drinking is learning that alcohol is a carcinogen.

Are the changes in neurocircuitry related to alcohol consumption reversible? Means, if a person stops consuming alcohol, will everything change back to normal?

Hi Prof. Huberman, i wanted to ask you about your knowlwdge of korsakoff wernicke encephalopathy, amd especially its role not just with alcohol, intake but if it can manifest or have a genetic basis, in the absemce of it. While I am not seeking medical advice, i did lose a family member (abroad) to this and there is so little research on the subject and I thought you may have some insight ~ Thanks