Once an issue that was brushed under the carpet has finally been brought up on the table for detailed discussion. Yes, we are talking about your mental health! With over 100 million people suffering from various mental health issues to date, emotional health has found its way to becoming topical for everyone globally. Therefore, when mental health issues are concerned, various factors add up to give birth to problems such as anxiety, depression etc.
Unfortunately, one of the leading contributors to mental health disease is alcohol addiction. Simply put, alcohol has a profound impact on your brain and will induce feelings of relaxation for some time. However, as you continue to swoon over additional sips, you will instead get intoxicated and lose control over yourself. People with anxiety and depression often rely on alcohol drinking because it helps them to declutter their minds.
The Impact of Alcohol on Mental Health
Most of the time, people will drink alcohol to ease stress, curtail depression and avoid anxiety. Alcohol has a strong impact on the brain cells and makes you feel relaxed. Mostly, alcohol is used for self-medication. While it sounds fancy to go gaga over this chemical substance for some time, the tables will turn, if you continue to immerse yourself in this habit. Most people claim that the feelings of bliss will quickly wear off and will only transition into larger issues in the future. Here are few severe side effects of alcohol consumption:
- Anxiety and depression
- Severe headaches and nausea
- Stomach ache
- Worsened mental health
Therefore, continuing a strong connection with this drink will no longer bring any good in your life. Instead, whatever bliss you have, will eventually turn into a disaster. Furthermore, when one indulges in binge drinking, it only causes depression and anxiety to worsen. If you don’t know, binge drinking occurs when you consume a lot of alcohol in a day. According to scientific evidence, men can consume up to 8 units of alcohol per day whereas women can consume only 6 units. So exceeding this limit and going the extra mile in the pursuit of added fun will only be harmful.
How Are Alcohol and Depression Related?
Developing a habit of regularly consuming alcohol only triggers depression for the worse. Therefore, if you seek treatment after acknowledging your addiction or quit it instantly, you will feel sick. These signs are known as those of alcohol withdrawal because they are common amongst various people globally. Here awe has compiled signs of alcohol withdrawal , if you’ve never heard of them before:
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Shaky hands
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty sleeping
One usually tries to drink more alcohol to overcome these issues but in reality, additional drinking only worsens the situation. Furthermore, If frequent alcohol consumption isn’t stopped, it will become a major obstacle in your relationships, development of self-esteem and future goal accomplishments. This in turn has a strong impact on mental health and one loses control over their emotions. Alcohol drinking will make an individual more depressed and this will only put you back in the circle of drinking again.
Once alcohol addiction goes out of hand, people commit suicide too. It has been already proven that people suffering from alcohol addiction will most likely think of self-harm or even hurt others. This is enough reason for millions globally to consider its treatment, so they can return to the normal pace of life. Luckily, with the availability of alcohol addiction treatments, many addicts can get rid of this disease and smile again.
Long Term Risks of Alcohol Addiction
Long term use of alcohol weighs serious problems. Here are a few of them:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Liver disease
- Mouth cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bowel movement
- Pancreatitis
Unfortunately, we can’t put a full stop to the problems here. Binge drinking can lead to unwelcome changes in the brain such as difficulty in remembering, understanding concepts and even thinking logically. Very often, this is chanted as alcohol causes brain damage. For many, alcohol addiction is the result of various social issues such as broken relationships, homelessness, divorce, unemployment and domestic abuse.
All of them combined or even a combination of the two can worsen the situation. Therefore, if you already have anxiety or depression, you should never overlook going to a health expert. Try to limit your alcohol consumption to 14 units per week. However, these drinks must not be spread out one after the other.
Try to have a detailed routine for the consumption of alcohol. After all, once in a while is fine but turning to alcohol, for every problem out there will only cause more damage to your mental/physical health. Avoid mixing any medication with alcohol because it can make you sick. Don’t forget to consult with a pharmacist or a doctor because they know the right quantity for your body. Here’s how you could be misusing this drink:
- You aren’t happy about drinking too much.
- You feel lazy throughout the day.
- You feel like you have over consumed alcohol in a week.
- You often get cold sweats during sleep.
- You wake up with shaky hands in the morning.
- You crave a drink to feel normal.
So if you have finally realized the importance of getting rid of this habit, now is the best time to check with a health expert. After all, if left untreated, alcohol addiction can worsen your life. However, if you or you’re loved one is experiencing drug addition, the best way to start the process is to consult with a suboxone clinic to guide you with the journey.
