ALCOHOL USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

Mental health issues not only arise from consuming too much alcohol. They can also compel people to drink too much.

There is some evidence linking light drinking with improved physical health in some adults. Between one and three units daily have been found to help defend us from heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease, and a small glass of red wine daily may reduce risk of stroke in females. But the truth is there is a lot more evidence demonstrating that drinking too much alcohol results in severe physical and mental diseases. Stated very simply, a major reason for drinking alcohol is to change our mood - or change our mental state. Alcohol can temporarily alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression; it can also help to temporarily relieve the symptoms of more serious mental health issues. Alcohol issues are more common among people with more severe mental health problems. This does not necessarily mean that alcohol causes severe mental illness. Evidence demonstrates that people who consume high amounts of alcohol are vulnerable to higher levels of mental ill health and it can be a contributory factor in some mental diseases, such as depression.

How does drinking affect our moods and mental health?

When we have alcohol in our blood, our mood changes, and our behaviour then even changes. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, and this can make us less inhibited in our behaviour. Alcohol can even reveal or magnify our underlying feelings. When drinking, this is one of the reasons that many individuals become aggressive or angry. If our underlying feelings are of unhappiness, anxiety or anger, then alcohol can magnify them. What about the after-effects?

When the effects have worn off, one of the main issues connected with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that individuals may feel much worse. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression. This can lead some people to drink more, to ward off these difficult feelings, and a dangerous cycle of dependence can develop.

Alcohol issues are more common among individuals with more severe mental health issues. If our underlying feelings are of unhappiness, anger or anxiety, then alcohol can magnify them. One of the main issues connected with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that individuals may feel much worse when the effects have worn off. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression.

Help for Alcoholics