Using psychology to improve your mental health
Today I want to take another look at alcohol’s effect on cognitive functioning, specifically learning and memory. I have already touched upon learning theory in earlier posts, especially the role played by this in the development of alcohol problems. Here I also want to explore memory.
Continue reading “Day 26 – a stumble down memory lane”
Here’s to alcohol, the rose colored glasses of life.
Today I want to take a look at looking. I have already noted in a previous post that alcohol, in common with all psychoactive substances, affects our emotions, thinking and behaviour. At the heart of these we find the key role played by perception. It is not the case that our sense organs project a multi-sensory representation of the world into our brains. The process of perception is active rather than passive. Reality is created in our brain by integrating and interpreting the mass of data that is being transmitted through a maze of neural pathways. The nature and quality of this data are in turn affected by how alert or drowsy we are, and by what is guiding our attention. At any given moment we are only conscious of a small fraction of what is happening around us and within us – oh, did I just feel a twinge in my knee and a little flutter in my tummy? An apposite reference here to the cocktail party effect – even if you are deep in conversation with someone, your attention will be activated if you hear your name being mentioned by someone else in the room.
Studies (e.g., Dal Lago et al, 2023) have shown that alcohol use is associated with an impaired ability to recognise faces. The inability to recognise faces is a neurological condition known as prosopagnosia. Could the effects of alcohol here account for the well-known beer goggles, and explain why everyone is a “best mate”?! But there is another side…
I wrote yesterday about some of my favourite pubs in London and said that I would write today about some of the actual beers I have enjoyed in those pubs. However, having done some extensive research today into the history of London beers, I found it all a bit complicated and overwhelming. The city has been a hub for beer brewing for over 350 years and many companies have come and gone during this time. Giants such as Fuller’s, Truman’s, Courage, and Charrington’s have merged with other breweries and/or have been taken over by much larger corporations. The old Truman brewery in Brick Lane is now a business and leisure complex. Young’s brewery was founded in 1831 in Wandsworth but its beer is now brewed in Bedford in partnership with Charles Wells’.
Continue reading “Day 22 – there’s something a brewing”
I call myself a Londoner these days even though I was born in Croydon. In those ancient times Croydon was part of Surrey, but it was moved to London in 1965 when local government boundaries were changed. It was already in my blood because my paternal grandfather was a true Cockney. I remember how we had to learn to speak differently and develop a taste for cockles, whelks and jellied eels. I never did. But on the brighter side, we could drink all those lovely London beers! Er, when I became old enough, of course. And now, when I feel rich enough – the average price of a pint of beer in London is currently £5.67.
Continue reading “Day 21 – maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner”
I have returned to my photograph of empty glasses for the featured image today. My thinking was that they symbolised both my state of mind and my physical energy levels. I had no idea what topic I would choose for today’s post. The posts over the past few days have entailed a lot of research on my part and they were pretty heavy in places. My physical energy levels are quite low today as well. I thought that cutting out alcohol would lead to an increase in zest, but maybe this has been compromised by a bug or just the passing of the years. Sadly, I will not be able to follow Brigitte Bardot’s example – “Champagne is the one thing that gives me zest when I’m tired”. Maybe a twist of lemon is what I need.
Continue reading “Day 20 – empty glasses”
There seems to be a theme developing here – yesterday’s featured image was of a clown on the beach at Calais with a plastic bottle of wine! This clown has travelled, even as far as Blackpool. Twice. The first time was to attend a conference and the second time to experience the famous illuminations with my daughters. Ten kilometres of illuminated kitsch and more than a million bulbs – and we ain’t talking daffodils here. But it is all great fun, and Blackpool has for many years attracted thrill seekers and hedonists. Which leads me to today’s topic – pleasure.
Continue reading “Day 18 – welcome to the pleasure zone”
Understand Yourself Better 