Do you think people reveal their true selves when drunk?

[UsedtobeFeckless]

I've got a mate who is confidant, sensible and well balanced when sober and a self-loathing, paranoid mess when they've had a skinfull. DP thinks this is her real self and she needs help and l'm more inclined to think people say any old stuff when they are plastered.

If you try to raise any of the things she says after the event she laughs it off ...

I think your DP is right. Being drunk just magnifies who you are, it doesn't change you imo.

Agreed

I don't agree. I have seen people change when they drink, however, I believe that this is usually a good indicator of a drinking problem. Usually, when those people stay sober for a long period of time, the "drunk" self doesn't appear again. I am always very wary of people who change significantly when drunk.

In vino veritas.

I have an ex sil who was charming when sober but absolutely vicious and awful as soon as she had a drink. You could physically see her face changing, I’ve never known anything like it. I only really knew her superficially as they lived quite far away when they were married so can’t say if that was her true personality or not.

My dad is loud and obnoxious when he's drunk but is honestly the sweetest, kindest, most loving and generous person I've ever met when sober. He hardly ever drinks, so I can't believe that he's constantly repressing his true self. So on that basis I disagree with your DP.

Well if it’s true I’m a bloody brilliant dancer!

I suspect its a mix of the two

Alcohol can definitely act as a depressant, making you maudlin, irrational, paranoid etc especially if you have too much

I suspect she is just one of those people who is a depressed drunk rather than a happy drunk

I’m not sure. Different types of alcohol has such different effects on me. Gin makes me cry, and tequila makes me crazy, I used to take really mad risks on it.
It was so specific, I don’t think it could have been anything but the alcohol.
I hardly drink now, and looking back I can see why.

If they do my real self must have split personality disorder.

I hope not as I stopped drinking due to the negative impact on my behaviour and life!

I also disagree with your DP I have heard people say the rudest things when drunk or do things that are so unlike them. Drink effects people in different ways,I reckon take it with a pinch of salt

I find that how I feel when I start drinking is mega magnified by the demon booze, so if I feel happy at beginning of night I'm blissfully happy by end, but if I'm upset or worried at beginning I'm a blooming mess by the end... Basically I try not to drink unless I feel good at the beginning these days

Whenever a drunk has said something hurtful to me and then retracted it when sober I have never believed them. It is usually something which I suspected they thought but until the drink hit them they had never expressed. It always has the ring of truth about it. I think alcohol just removes their inhibitions.

If this happens and I am forced to socialise with them again (obviously I try not to) I try to distance myself from them when I see them drinking.

It's not everytime she has a drink - she's normally cheerful and good company after a few. We went to a party and she hadn't eaten beforehand and the host was handing round shots ... She got really wobbly so we drove her home and she was coming out with all sorts of "l'm a failure, everyone hates me, l can't keep a boyfriend" type stuff ... We've been freinds for ages and l always thought she was really confidant! I want to help if there is a problem but l don't know if it was just the Tequila talking.

I hope not, I drink very little because I don't like who I am when I'm drunk, I'm m inclined to be a bit harsh.

Idk, I always used to think that alcohol just removes your 'filter', so to speak, and makes you less able to hold back what you really think. "A drunk mind speaks a sober heart" and all that.

But, I know some of the most lovely people who'd do anything for anybody who are absolute shit bags when they've had a few. Nasty, aggressive, say the most horrible things. If the drunk versions of them are their 'real' selves, they must be hella good actors in their day to day lives, which I don't think they'd realistically be able to maintain without their mask slipping at some point.

So I'm inclined to think no, the drunk version isn't their real personality.

I'm an annoying twat if I drink vodka,I am not an annoying twat in real life.Promise!

I disagree. I think for some people alcohol changes their personality.
I’ve known a couple of people who were extremely unpleasant when drunk but since they’ve been sober for some years they are lovely people with no hint of the person they were when drunk.

mrsgrindah

DP thinks l should keep trying to get her to open up but she just said that she talks rubbish when she's pissed and that l should take no notice - l don't want to annoy her by pushing it, but his worrying has got me worrying if you see what l mean ... ( She's his cousin, before people start wondering why he's so invested! )

I have different 'types' of drunk.

Rum, whisky, these kinds of things... and I'm chatty and playful.

Gin makes me rambly and overopinionated.

Too much beer and I go utterly silent...

White wine (especially when it's coming up to that time of the month) and I'll KILL a man.

So... true self, I don't know – but maybe I have many personalities!

I hardly drink these days - it's too complicated

Gin (more than any other alcohol) seems to exaggerate the mood I was in before I started drinking the gin - so if I was already generally upbeat and positive, then a couple of gin and tonics will make me love everybody and everything. If I'm already a bit glum and hacked off, then gin makes me hate everybody and everything. The point is - sober, I can mask how I'm feeling. Drunk, I can't.

Interestingly, a family friend is quiet, to the point of rude/ignorant/hostile, says what she likes/whatever comes to mind but when drunk is warm(er), confident, chatty, smiley, approachable.

She’s definitely herself when she’s sober though.