Some people find alcohol gives some sort of relief for everyday stress. Bearing in mind that stress is the direct cause of depression, it becomes clear that many people use alcohol as a kind of self-medication for depression. Many people, particularly men, find a diagnosis of depression to be unacceptable. Some men incorrectly regard depression as an ’emotional woman’s illness’ that doesn’t affect men.
Faulty beliefs there because statistics reveal that an equal number of men and women suffer from depression. However it often goes undiagnosed in men who tend to hide their emotional problems. Some people prefer to drown their sorrows with alcohol, rather than face a diagnosis of depression. Be aware that any person who drinks too much could actually be self-medicating for depression.
Stress and Alcohol – their affect on each other.
Alcohol cause seratonin, the happy chemicals in the brain to get released. That means that while under the influence of alcohol, a person will get relief from the stress or depression symptoms. However, the next day, is another story! The person is left with a hangover and feels far worse. With a hangover, the serotonin levels plummet to a level far lower than they were before the drinking binge started on the previous night.
The remedy?
The bad remedy is to have another drink! Another drink does sort out the serotonin levels to keep up the level of happiness, however without realizing it, alcohol just increase the stress the person is already experiencing. Heavy drinking can change a person’s personality who then acts differently to their normal self. Alcohol can give a false sense of bravado to a person attempting to sort out self-esteem issues. Further stress aggravates relationships, especially within the family. It’s worth noting that children growing up in a home where alcohol is abused often end up, as adults, suffering from a syndrome known as Adult Children Of Alcoholics. One person’s stress has ripple effects.
Alcohol and anti-depressants
If you are on anti-depressant medication, abuse of alcohol is a very bad idea. If you look at the package insert, there are many anti-depressants that specify that no alcohol is to be consumed while on the medication. Follow the insert instructions – they are there for a reason!
If you are using alcohol as a means of dealing with depresssion now is the time to take stock of your life. What is causing you stress? Evaluate in terms of your family and work situation whether what you are doing is really helping. A better route would be to take a look at what is happening in your life and work out a healthier way of dealing with the stress you are facing. Alchohol is a bad form of self-medication.
Learn better ways to deal with stress
Stress is usually the result of the way we view an event, the meaning we give to something that has happened to us. Our thinking can make us prone to stress and to relieve stress it is more helpful to look at changing the way we think. Stress causes a physical reaction in our bodies. Please click here for more information on the physical reaction to stress. For more information on learning to change the way you think and thereby reduce the stress you are facing please click here for details about the psychological aspects of depression. You could also consider seeking professional help as you really don’t want the double burden of having to sort out alcoholism as well as depression. Combining stress and alcohol is definitely a bad idea!
