ALCOHOL CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
It’s Friday night and it’s been a long week. Your supervisor has been on your case, and you had a slew of deadlines that your had to rush to meet. Your partner and you got into a minor argument and you still haven’t gotten around to the mounting pile of laundry starting at you from the corner of your room. Your friends call you and say they are hitting the local bar and invite you to come out for a drink, or two. You could stay home, and try and deal with the mess or you can go out with your friends and forget about all this stress for just a little while.
Many people can relate to this scenario in some way. It may not be exactly this, but a version of this story. Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed drugs in Canada. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, in 2017 at least 20% of Canadians consume above Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. Individuals who are struggling with their mental health and who may not have develop ways to cope may rely on alcohol as a way to deal with their mental health issues. Often those struggling with depression and anxiety may turn to alcohol to escape their mental suffering. As a person’s blood alcohol content rises they may start to feel sensations similar to relaxation. When your not sure how to cope, alcohol may seems like the best way to manage.
However the use of alcohol can actually induce or trigger mental illness. Both anxiety and depression can actually be caused by prolonged drinking and chronic over consumption of alcohol. While alcohol can reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms for a short period of time, it can also exacerbate existing symptoms, leaving the person feeling elevated levels of anxiety and/or depression. Regular, heavy drinking can interfere with the neurotransmitters in our brain, making us more susceptible to developing mental health issues that may not have been present previously.
This doesn’t mean that you need to do away with alcohol entirely, however it is important to be mindful of your consumption as well as your mood during and after drinking. If you are aware that you feel awful mentally a day after drinking, that may be a sign to re-evaluate your drinking habits. It may also be helpful to work on developing healthy coping skills like regular exercise, reaching out for support, mindfulness practices, and pro-social activities.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism or worried about having a problem with alcohol here is a link to Connex Ontario that provides information for Addiction, Mental Health, and Problem Gambling Treatment Services:
https://www.connexontario.ca/organization-1615
