You are probably aware that alcohol has measurable impacts on physical health. For example, long-term alcohol consumption increases the risk of hypertension and stroke. It can damage the liver and cause gastritis.
These are all well-known side effects of long-term drinking. But did you know alcohol also affects mental health?
There has been greater awareness of mental health issues since the COVID pandemic back in 2020. More people are taking charge of their mental health by adopting good habits and healthier lifestyles.
For those with existing mental health conditions, avoiding alcohol could be one of the best decisions to make.
Alcohol’s impact on mental health is directly related to three things:
• Changes in brain chemistry
• Poor sleep
• Risky behaviour
Combined, these three things create a vicious cycle that tends to amplify mental health struggles. Below are three mental health issues made worse by alcohol, along with suggestions on how to deal with them. If you are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, please get professional help.
1. Depression
The buzz you experience while drinking results from alcohol being a depressant. A depressant slows brain activity and reduces mood. It also intensifies sadness, hopelessness, guilt, and low energy. So a person already experiencing depression is more likely to feel more intense depressive emotions during and after drinking.
Because alcohol disrupts normal sleep patterns and reduces the effectiveness of standard antidepressant medications, depressive symptoms worsen the more a person drinks. And as symptoms get worse, a person’s thinking trends more toward depression.
For so many people, depression and drinking become a loop. They drink to numb the pain of depression, yet the alcohol worsens how they feel. The worse they feel, the more they drink.
What Can Be Done
If this describes the way you feel, reducing or stopping alcohol consumption is the ideal solution. But seek out medical support if you are a heavy drinker, and your plan is to undergo alcohol rehab. Stopping alcohol entirely should lead to noticeable mood improvement.
You might also consider evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and prescription medications from your GP. Through a support group, you might be able to build coping skills that will help you break the alcohol-depression cycle.
2. Anxiety
For someone with anxiety, alcohol can have a calming effect – at least initially. This is because alcohol boosts certain inhibitory brain chemicals. But over time, the brain compensates. The result is an increase in baseline anxiety. That anxiety can be worsened as a person’s brain withdraws from alcohol.
The previously mentioned poor sleep also affects anxiety. A lack of restorative sleep is a critical driver of daytime anxiety and emotional instability.
What Can Be Done
Just as with depression, gradual alcohol reduction or total abstinence is the best solution to increased anxiety. Taking alcohol out of the equation allows brain chemistry and sleep to normalise once again. CBT seems to work well for some anxiety patients. You can also look into learning relaxation and grounding skills.
The one thing you should not do is rely on alcohol to cope with anxiety. If you need some sort of medication, your GP will probably prescribe a non-sedating drug.
3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
People with PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms often turn to alcohol to numb their memories and nightmares. It is an avoidance strategy. But avoidance only prevents the brain from properly processing trauma. Over time, avoidance actually strengthens PTSD and trauma symptoms.
Poor sleep is another big contributor to trauma and PTSD. Poor sleep increases irritability and impulsiveness. It can make flashbacks and nightmares worse. A lack of sleep disrupts relationships and encourages anger.
Unfortunately, heavy drinking also increases the risk of experiencing new traumatic events, like accidents and assaults. Any new trauma just adds another layer to the existing symptoms. It adds more stress to an already stressful condition.
What Can Be Done
One of the most common recommendations for PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms is trauma-focused therapies like CBT and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Combining therapy with a gradual reduction in alcohol consumption supports genuine recovery, while consuming more alcohol only serves to temporarily numb trauma experiences.
It is also a good idea to build a safe support system that includes trusted friends or family members and local support groups. Learning grounding techniques and adopting alternatives to alcohol can also help, especially when symptoms spike.
Alcohol’s impact on mental health is just as real as its impact on physical health. If you are struggling with mental health and you drink a lot, your drinking habits could be making your mental health condition worse.
Perhaps it is time to seek professional help. Help is available; you do not have to continue living this way.
