The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Something dawned on me just now and I googled it ... What part does alcohol consumption play in increasing estrogen in a drinker?
I noticed that when AH is beside himself he acts like someone who is not only out of control with emotions but like someone whose hormones are raging as well. I discovered that alcohol does in fact create a physical environment where estrogen becomes dominant!
It is recommended that one must . .... "Reduce alcohol consumption. According to Cornell University, alcohol consumption in women is thought to affect the way estrogen is broken down and secreted by the body. Increased alcohol consumption can lead to a significant increase in the levels of estrogen".
For Men: Alcohol is estrogenic in nature meaning it produces estrogen. In fact, alcoholism is another leading cause of estrogen dominance in men. The kidneys natural function is to reduce excessive estrogen but alcohol interferes with that as well. If you can leave drinking altogether, it will help you in not just fighting estrogen excess but many other conditions as well.
I am floored, I had no idea.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
That's very interesting and I had no idea either. It does help explain when some drink too much and become emotional messes.
I have a cousin who is like that. I love her and love hanging with her until shoe drinks too much. She then becomes way too emotional and needy - and it's beyond uncomfortable - it is downright annoying.
I have a boundary with her that we can hang so long as she doesn't drink. She respects that boundary which I am grateful for. I might have to share this with her to help her understand why (perhaps) it happens to her.
I wonder if there is a different chemical change in others that make them mean drunks....I've seen people who I love dearly until they have alcohol. They then become surly, ugly and downright mean....
Thanks for sharing - I will file this under, "Who Knew?"
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
It's worth noting that the relationship between estrogen and emotionality is disputed, in other words it's not clear if there is any. Estrogen's known and unarguable effects are on the body - in men excess estrogen would mean low fertility, breast growth, and sexual dysfunction. The jury isn't in on what if anything it does to men's emotions - and alcohol does enough that it doesn't need any helpers.
I agree with Mattie: I'm not sure how meaningful this claim is. I see an article from 1993 that has a sample size of 37. I can't track down the quoted study from Cornell University although I see a couple references to it. I did see the disclaimer that Mattie quoted about how some studies have not found any relationship between alcohol and estrogen metabolism.
These scientific claims are very slippery sometimes. Just because it says "according to <reliable name>, X, Y, and Z" doesn't mean anything these days. Look for the exact citation then there's evaluation of the article that may need to be done. Research gets misinterpreted left and right over the internet and not too many people seem to go ahead and attempt to evaluate the claims.
I'm not trying to be argumentative but these days, looking closer at research/medical claims is something I've spent a lot of time doing. Thanks for the share Debb: definitely something to look into!
-- Edited by Mark17 on Friday 19th of June 2015 04:03:01 PM
-- Edited by Mark17 on Friday 19th of June 2015 04:03:24 PM
Those articles are from 1998 and 1994, respectively. Do you see anything more
recent: like from the 2010's?
I think if this were a valid and repeatable process then it would be _quite_ a
revelation. I'd be surprised if there weren't lots and lots of articles discussing
different angles about it. That I'm only seeing things that are 15+ years old
makes me wonder if at one point it was a viable hypothesis that just died out
because nobody was able to substantiate it.
Now--I may be wrong about that. It may be true and nobody else found it
of interest enough to continue doing other studies on it, etc. But... I
subjectively find it hard to believe others wouldn't pick it up and run with
it.
The cancer reference says "Alcohol can affect estrogen levels in the body, which may explain some of the increased risk" - I don't mean to be argumentative, but it doesn't make any claims about estrogen and emotionality. I know popular conception holds that women are more emotional, and women have more estrogen, therefore estrogen "causes" emotion. But I believe that psychological and sociolgical studies have found that men and women are equally emotional, but that men are taught to deny and hide their emotions rather than to process them - perhaps one reason why men have more alcoholism, from their lack of skill in processing difficult emotions. I know when I used to live in Britain, the traditional thing for men to do there when they were undergoing a hard time (breakup, divorce, job loss, etc.) was to go down to the pub and get drunk with their friends. This was the only context in which it was acceptable to express distress about their problems - when they were drunk. A powerful incentive to get drunk!
I know these differences of opinion are not very relevant to our reasons for being here, but I'll just note that those are alternative-medicine sources and therefore not the subject of a medical consensus such as some other things (such as "colds are caused by a virus") are.
There should always be difference in opinions!! I thought that the topic of alcohol effecting the estrogen levels in a drinker was very relevant to why we are here and answers many questions.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
More than the actual biology here, I think what you observe from the alcoholic is that they act like an immature teenager because that is where their emotional maturity is at. At what age are people most hormonal? Yes...teenagers. So by correlation, maybe they appear hormonal. I don't discredit the research, but I think the actual behaviors you are referring to are better explained as stunted emotional development and poor coping skills.
-- Edited by pinkchip on Friday 19th of June 2015 08:59:43 PM
I would like to note I am here and attend Al-Anon face-to-face meetings because of my destructive, irrational response to the disease of alcoholism-- not because the alcoholic was immature and childlike, but because I was.
I do believe that the Traditions particularly Tradition 10, cautions us to keep the focus on Al-Anon principles and tools, and suggests that we have no opinion on outside issues so that we are not drawn into public controversy.
Alcoholism is indeed a dreadful cunning and baffling disease and keeping the focus on ourselves and what we need to recover is of the utmost importance
Just trying to share my understanding of the full spectrum of the disease, which is part of my effort to be more empathic, which I thought was part of the Al-Anon protocol as well. Thank you Pinkchip and Betty.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
I agree Debb - I found it helpful and yet another piece of information that may/may not apply to this cunning, baffling & powerful disease....
Love your share, wisdom, & ESH!!!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
