Alcohol
happens to be the most preferred go-to thing, whether someone wants to
de-stress after a long day at work or spending an evening with friends. Sadly,
the booze is like a customary for most people. Despite being the leading cause
of preventable deaths, alcohol is marketed openly and projected in the media as
a positive substance.
Contrary to
the popular belief, alcohol does more harm than good when consumed in large
quantities over a prolonged period. It is known to cause numerous negative
effects, ranging from memory loss and blackouts to a number of mental healthissues, such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Since alcohol is a
depressant, it can hamper the normal functioning of brain, affecting one's
thoughts, feelings and actions.
Evidently,
alcohol addiction and poor mental health go hand in hand. For people who cannot
live without alcohol every day, mental health issues are common occurrences. At
the same time, an individual dealing with a mental health condition like
depression or anxiety is more likely to develop alcohol addiction in comparison
to those who are not afflicted by any mental disorder. Precisely, when an
individual deals with both a substance abuse problem and a mental disorder, he
or she is known to have a co-occurring condition or dual diagnosis.
Here are
some most common co-existing conditions, which can cause serious repercussions:
Alcohol
and anxiety
Alcohol
often acts as a first resort to fight the symptoms of anxiety in a short run.
But when the consumption of alcohol becomes a regular affair, it is likely that
the symptoms of anxiety would worsen over time. Drinking heavily interferes
with the healthy functioning of neurotransmitters present in the brain, which in
turn has a negative impact on a person battling any mental health issue, such
as anxiety, thus worsening the existing symptoms.
Alcohol
and depression
Alcohol is a
depressant and therefore its regular consumption can make a person feel sad,
low and extremely tired or uncomfortable. Moreover, consumption of alcohol over
a prolonged period can worsen the existing depressive symptoms. However, for
some people, the presence of anxiety or depression can prompt them to
experiment with alcohol to relieve the symptoms. Clearly, alcohol and
depression form a vicious cycle, which can eventually lead to self-harm,
psychosis or even suicide.
Alcohol
and memory loss
Drinkingalcohol occasionally as well as over a long period of time can cause memory
loss. Actually, alcohol slows down the brain processes, which causes
significant impairments to the memory. Heavy drinking impairs a person's
ability to remember or even recall things. It even puts the person at a risk of
having poor health getting involved in anti-social activities.
Four ways
to help prevent alcohol affecting your mood
- Use exercise and relaxation to tackle stress instead of alcohol.
- Learn breathing techniques to try when you feel anxious.
- Talk to someone about your worries. Don’t try and mask them with alcohol.
- Always be aware of why you’re drinking. Don’t assume it will make a bad feeling go away, it’s more likely to exaggerate it.
Seeking
treatment for dual diagnosis
Unlike a single problem of say, an addiction ora mental condition, dual diagnosis needs comprehensive treatment. While an
inpatient program may be comparatively more helpful for dual diagnosis, the
availability of the latest tools and medications also increases the chances of
overcoming the problem. However, it is important to seek medical help in case
of addiction to any substance or occurrence of any mental disorder, or both.
