Dealing with depression, grief, or sadness can be difficult to say the least. In some cases, some people may turn to alcohol to get through the tough times. Because alcohol can give a buzz and help you relax, it can provide a sense of relief from sadness. However, that relief only last a short time, then the sadness can become even worse. Therefore, it’s important to avoid depressed drinking for several reasons.
Depressed Drinking: Do I Have a Problem?
It Can Make Your Symptoms Worse
While at first alcohol may seem to help you feel better, it can actually make your symptoms worse. Because of the way alcohol works within the body, it can affect things like sleep, appetite, and anxiety. Likewise, these are all things you may be struggling with while dealing with depression. So, depressed drinking can actually interrupt your sleep, causing you to sleep much lighter. In addition, it can increase and reduce your appetite. Therefore, you may find yourself over-eating or not getting the nutrients your body need.
In addition, depressed drinking can affect your emotional health and increase depressive symptoms. For instance, alcohol can make you feel worse about yourself. It can increase feelings of guilt and worthlessness. In addition, it can increase anxiety, causing you to feel even more anxious and want to drink even more.
It can lead to more drinking
Another reason depressed drinking may not be a good idea is because it can lead you to drink more. As you learn to drink when you feel sad, you’ll build up a need to do so. Therefore, when you begin feeling sad or dealing with depression, your brain will tell you that you need a drink. So, you may begin drinking more often or larger amount of alcohol than you normally would.
In addition, a regular increase in your alcohol intake can lead to serious drinking problems. Before you know it, you may build a dependence on alcohol. After some time, dependence can lead to addiction. Therefore, depressed drinking can encourage you to drink more and lead to dangerous drinking habits.
In short, dealing with symptoms of depression is a serious thing. While alcohol may offer some relief for a short time, it is not the answer. In fact, all of the cons of depressed drinking outweigh the temporary relief alcohol can give. So, try to look for healthier ways to treat symptoms of depression.