It also has some stimulant effects, Addiction Center says, especially if consumed in small quantities. Stimulants are defined as drugs that produce an abundance of dopamine and can have effects like euphoria, talkativeness, energy, difficulty sleeping and increased pulse and blood pressure. It’s true that alcohol can, in fact, help calm feelings of anxiety. But once you stop drinking, that anxiety is almost certainly going to return. Here are five ways that drinking too much alcohol can affect your long-term mental and emotional well-being.
If you’re dealing with severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and hallucinations, among others, then your doctor may suggest medications such as chlordiazepoxide or other benzodiazepines. Many studies have found that alcohol dependence is closely linked to depression. When it comes to diagnosing an alcohol use disorder and a major depressive disorder, it’s important to address them simultaneously, as they can significantly impact your recovery. Drinking persistently and excessively can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder. It can also aggravate symptoms of pre-existing depression and endanger your health and mental health.
- Major depressive disorder involves persistent and prolonged symptoms, but depression, in general, takes on many different forms.
- BAC, also known as blood alcohol content or blood alcohol, is “the amount of alcohol in your blood,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
- If you’ve experienced an overdose, you may experience mental confusion, vomiting, unconsciousness, slow heart rate, low body temperature, bluish skin, and irregular breathing, among other symptoms.
- Your body breaks alcohol down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages your DNA.
Depressive symptoms can result from life stressors, mental health conditions, medical conditions, and other factors. However, alleviating depression does not resolve the alcohol use disorder. In some cases, you may receive a dual diagnosis of a major depressive disorder (MDD) and an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This co-occurring disorder isn’t uncommon, but it can be difficult to treat. Alcohol and depression are connected in several ways, and the two often feed off of one another. People may turn to alcohol as a way to cope with mood problems, but drinking alcohol can also contribute to symptoms of depression.
Effects on the body
It acts on an inhibitory neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA makes nerves cells less able to send, receive, or create signals. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Alcohol may even increase the risk of depression in babies exposed to alcohol in the womb. Children born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are more likely to develop depression later, according to an earlier study from 2010. Research from 2011 found that having an alcohol use disorder significantly increased a person’s risk of having depression. Alcohol can make a person feel depressed and may even trigger or worsen depression. Depression is also a risk factor for using alcohol, since people who feel depressed may use alcohol to ease their symptoms. People who are depressed and drink too much have more frequent and severe episodes of depression and are more likely to think about suicide.
It can be tempting to drink for the “mood-boosting” side effects, but this can lead to alcohol abuse or dependence on alcohol. The immediate effects of drinking alcohol can help you feel more relaxed, more confident, and less inhibited. However, as these short-term effects wear off, other effects begin to take hold. This includes feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. While alcohol can have some stimulating effects (like increased heart rate and anxiety), these effects are brief. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your central nervous system, leading to decreased Heroin Treatment blood pressure, drowsiness, poor coordination, and reduced alertness.
Therapy
No matter how severe the problem may seem, evidence-based treatment can help people with AUD recover. Drinking too much alcohol is a risk factor for new and worsening depression. Children who were abused or raised in poverty appear to be more likely to get both conditions. A person should speak with a healthcare professional if they think they have AUD.
Health Fast Facts
Pouring yourself a glass of wine or cracking a beer at the end of a long day may temporarily relieve feelings of depression, because alcohol acts as a sedative, but it will exacerbate those feelings and actually intensify them. Alcohol can produce feelings of euphoria and excitement, making you feel instantly happier and more confident, but those feelings are fleeting. Much like barbiturates (sedatives), alcohol is a drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain’s functionality.
The study found that teenagers with depression who drank alcohol were significantly more likely to act on suicidal feelings. This comprehensive approach addresses the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of dual diagnoses, offering individuals the tools needed for sustainable recovery and a healthier future. Studies of twins have shown that the same things that lead to heavy drinking in families also make depression more likely. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions.
Blood, and therefore alcohol, is quickly distributed throughout the body and the brain. This happens faster than the liver can metabolize and eliminate alcohol. A psychotropic substance impacts the brain and can affect thoughts, mood, or behavior.
Overview of Depressive Disorders
Because women tend to have less water in their bodies than men, if a woman and a man of the same weight drank the same amount of alcohol, the woman’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) would likely be higher. This could help explain why women are more likely to have negative effects from alcohol. While quitting alcohol is crucial for people with alcohol use disorder and depression, avoiding alcohol will not cure depression. People may wish to seek quality psychological care from a doctor, therapist, or both.
