The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

Ask Dr. Bob

QUESTION
Can an alcoholic's personality become so altered that he would do things while drinking that he would not normally do? Or are traits like aggressiveness, irresponsibility, unfaithfulness and dishonesty blamed on alcohol but are more typical of the person's character?


ANSWER
This is a very good question, and one every family member close to an alcoholic struggles with -- either openly or secretly. You may wish to look at our previous comments on related topics. (May 2004: Would you consider it an alcoholism-related problem when most times when I get very drunk, I end up acting like a completely different person.; October 2002: Is alcohoolism a 'proven genetic disease' or more of a psychological imbalance; July/August 2001:What are the effects of alcohol on the brain? Is there permanent brain damage? Is it treatable?.)

It is a complicated issue with a rather stock answer but with several other factors to consider. Most alcoholics act differently while drinking than while sober. In fact, many tell themselves that they will change their behavior "next time" around, but of course it does not change. The fact that they wish to change it, however, indicates their concern that this is not "normal" for them and not an acceptable behavior. Virtually all alcoholics are dishonest at times, often to hide their addiction which they usually believe is unknown to anyone else. Frequently their onerous traits are directed toward those they love and care for, in part because they are around most of the time. If we consider these alcohol-triggered episodes to be "drug-induced behavior" in the same manner that actions may be touched off by cocaine or marijuana, this interpretation makes more sense.

We do not assume other drug-stimulated behavior is typical of the individual then under the influence but that the behavior is altered by the specific effects of the drug on their nervous system. Thus, for example, a cocaine user may act paranoid when using, but be "normal" otherwise. Similarly, an alcoholic may be abusive and aggressive while drinking but remorseful about it later and not truly be that sort of person. Frequently there is a memory lapse associated with this behavior. The difficulties in interpreting this behavior occur when there is some evidence for a mental disorder in the alcoholic while sober, or a suggestion that he may have ingrained anti-social traits, or that his drinking has become so well entrenched over so many years that brain damage may have occurred causing a permanent type of personality change. So it can become complicated, a good reason to have available for consultation an addiction-qualified psychiatrist!

Thanks for your inquiry.


Dr Bob



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Disclaimer

Dr. Bob does not provide specific medical advice or a medical diagnosis for any particular condition described, nor verify the authenticity of any information described in the questions presented. Patients should always consult their physician to discuss any specific symptoms, conditions, or modes of therapy for any particular mental or physical difficulties, diseases or conditions.

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