Hacker News Reader

Please see my other comment about GABA down regulation. Consuming alcohol may allow one to feel temporary relaxation but when the alcohol is gone, neurons down regulate GABA and stress is increased over the longer term.

This is short sighted. Trading temporary relaxation now for worse stress down the line. Alcohol consumption increases stress over the long run.

View on HN

We are saying the same thing. People drink to feel better despite the fact that it doesn’t help in the long term.

It’s just as important to examine and understand the psychological drivers behind drinking as it is to understand the physiological impact.

Many anxiolytics cause GABA down regulation....

Yes, because they are GABA agonists (like alcohol) and they generally are taken continuously.

What is your point then? Ethanol is a short-lived gabaergic anxiolytic.

Yes, and comes with a ton of off target effects

My point was that it increases stress and anxiety over time

Reply on news.ycombinator.com