Very often, women begin drinking when they are either teenagers or young adults. Initially, it can be a way to fit in, or to relieve nerves in social situations. However, women are more easily susceptible to the affects of alcohol because of lower body mass, hormonal and a higher body fat content as compared with men. Frequently, women do not realise that they are getting drunk, even after a few drinks, because their male counterparts are able to drink several drinks in a row and not experience the same effects.
Physically, the more often a woman drinks, the more her body chemistry adjusts to accommodate the intake of alcohol in her system. For women, this process can be unexpectedly fast and, as a result, women tend to become more quickly dependent on alcohol than men do.
The longer-term physical affects of alcohol abuse are quite striking. Too much alcohol consumed over a short period of time can lead to alcohol poisoning. Consuming large amounts of alcohol over the long term can also result in permanent alterations in cognitive functioning and intelligence performance, eventually causing brain damage. With continued consumption of alcohol over time, liver functioning begins to decline and the body becomes so physiologically addicted to the alcohol that it needs a constant intake just to avoid malnutrition. Women are more susceptible to these affects because of smaller body mass. (This article is electronically protected – Copyright © Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney PTY LTD)