17 Uses for Alcohol Besides Drinking It Reader’s Digest
The link between stress, anxiety, and drinking is well-known. In the short-term, small doses of alcohol are an anxiolytic, meaning they reduce feelings of anxiety. Alcohol does this by reducing activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain that generates fear responses to threats. This is the same neural mechanism that makes people feel more sociable and brave on alcohol. Cox is quick to stress the advantages of hydration when it comes to alcohol alternatives. "Having alternatives to alcohol will give your liver a break and hydrating drinks are always a good option for this. The body's organs, including the liver, function best when they are hydrated." Alcohol is famously a social facilitator; it lowers inhibitions, making individuals feel more relaxed and open in social situations. However, these effects…