PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Alcohol is an agonist of GABA receptors, meaning that alcohol binds to certain GABA receptors in the brain, where it replicates the activity of the GABA. This activity causes relaxed or tired feelings after drinking. The body creates GABA from glutamate with the help of certain enzymes.

Detailed explanation-2: -How does alcohol affect GABA? The chemicals in alcohol actually reduce the production of GABA in the brain and throughout the body. When people do not have enough GABA to regulate their emotions, they often experience more mental health issues such as stress, depression, and paranoia.

Detailed explanation-3: -Alcohol stimulates GABA receptors, and thereby dampens activity in the brain. It is thought that this is why it produces an immediate reduction of anxiety, and overdoses can lead to coma. If there is a constant supply of alcohol, however, the brain receptors adapt by reducing GABA receptors.

Detailed explanation-4: -Among the neurotransmitter systems linked to the reinforcing effects of alcohol are dopamine, en-dogenous opiates (i.e., morphinelike neurotransmitters), GABA, serotonin, and glutamate acting at the NMDA receptor (Koob 1996).