{"id":78,"date":"2019-05-09T09:03:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T09:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ascert.biz\/?page_id=78"},"modified":"2022-06-20T10:51:39","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T09:51:39","slug":"alcohol-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/alcohol-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol & Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_module=”57198″ saved_tabs=”all”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.14)” background_image=”https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ep_naturalwhite.png” background_size=”initial” background_repeat=”repeat” background_blend=”multiply” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ custom_margin=”|auto||auto|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″ header_text_color=”#292966″ header_line_height=”30px” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”42px” header_2_line_height=”26px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”42px” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n

RESOURCE HUB:<\/h1>\n

Alcohol & Mental Health<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.29.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||17px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alcohol.jpg” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ hover_enabled=”0″ title_text=”Understanding Alcohol” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.3″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#292966″ header_font_size=”53px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n

Alcohol and Mental Health<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down your central nervous system, it can change the way you think and reduces your ability to deal with difficulties. Alcohol can lower your mood or increase anxiety. <\/o:p><\/span><\/h4>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”#292966″ background_color_gradient_end=”#0c31d3″ background_color_gradient_direction=”206deg” background_color_gradient_start_position=”26%” custom_padding=”121px||0px|||” top_divider_style=”slant”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n

Alcohol alters the brain\u2019s chemistry, depleting serotonin levels, a chemical which regulates your mood and increases the risk of depression. It is often associated with a range of mental health problems, and people suffering from anxiety or depression are twice as likely to be heavy or problem drinkers.<\/p>\n

Extreme levels of drinking can occasionally cause psychosis, a severe mental illness where hallucinations and delusions of persecution develop. Psychotic symptoms can also occur when very heavy drinkers suddenly stop drinking and develop a condition known as \u2018delirium tremens\u2019<\/p>\n

Mental health and alcohol problems often go together. For some people anxiety or depression may lead to them drinking to relieve it. For others, drinking came first, so it may be a root cause of their anxieties.<\/p>\n

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Heavy drinking often leads to work and family problems, which in turn can lead to isolation and depression. For heavy drinkers who drink daily and become dependent on alcohol, there can be withdrawal symptoms (nervousness, tremors, palpitations) which resemble severe anxiety, and may even cause phobias, such as a fear of going out.<\/p>\n

For some people going through a tough time, drinking can be a way to cope. It can work in the short term but whatever benefits you think it has, \u00a0it is only temporary. If alcohol is mixed with prescribed medications it can be harmful, particularly with other depressants like painkillers or anti-anxiety medications, intensifying the effects, slowing your breathing and could lead to loss of consciousness and even stop you breathing altogether.<\/p>\n

Alcohol can make people lose their inhibitions and behave impulsively, so it can lead to actions they might not otherwise have taken \u2013 including self-harm and suicide.<\/p>\n

More than half of people who ended up in hospital because they\u2019d deliberately injured themselves said they\u2019ve drunk alcohol immediately before or while doing it<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/craig-whitehead-395918-unsplash.jpg” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ width=”81%” custom_margin=”|220px||||” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″]<\/p>\n

Warning signs that alcohol is affecting your mental health include:\u00a0<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Poor sleep after drinking.<\/li>\n
  • Feeling tired because of a hangover.<\/li>\n
  • Low mood.<\/li>\n
  • Experiencing anxiety in situations where you would normally feel comfortable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″]<\/p>\n

    Things you can do to prevent alcohol affecting your mental health include:\u00a0<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Use exercise and relaxation to tackle stress instead of alcohol.<\/li>\n
    • Use breathing techniques to relax you when you feel anxious.<\/li>\n
    • If you are worried about something, talk about it instead of reaching for alcohol.<\/li>\n
    • Always be aware of why you\u2019re drinking. It may not make a bad feeling go away, it could make it worse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#ffffff” open_toggle_background_color=”#292966″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#ffffff” closed_toggle_background_color=”#292966″ icon_color=”#f39546″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”39px” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ toggle_text_color=”#ffffff” body_text_color=”#ffffff”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Alcohol alters your brain chemistry” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.0.11″]<\/p>\n

      Our brains rely on a delicate balance of chemicals and processes. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it can disrupt that balance, affecting our thoughts, feelings and actions \u2013 and sometimes our long-term mental health. This is partly down to \u2018neurotransmitters\u2019, chemicals that help to transmit signals from one nerve (or neuron) in the brain to another.<\/p>\n

      The relaxed feeling you can get when you have that first drink is due to the chemical changes alcohol has caused in your brain. For many of us, a drink can help us feel more confident and less anxious. That\u2019s because it\u2019s starting to depress the part of the brain we associate with inhibition.<\/p>\n

      But, as you drink more, more of the brain starts to be affected. It doesn\u2019t matter what mood you\u2019re in to start with, when high levels of alcohol are involved, instead of pleasurable effects increasing, it\u2019s possible that a negative emotional response will take over. You could become angry,\u00a0aggressive, anxious or depressed.<\/p>\n

      [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Alcohol can actually increase anxiety and stress” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n

      Unfortunately reaching for a drink won\u2019t always have the effect you\u2019re after.
      While a glass of wine after a hard day might help you relax, in the long run it can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety and make stress harder to deal with. This is because regular, heavy drinking interferes with neurotransmitters in our brains that are needed for good mental health.<\/p>\n

      When we drink, we narrow our perception of a situation and don\u2019t always respond to all the cues around us. If we\u2019re prone to anxiety and notice something that could be interpreted as threatening in the environment, we\u2019ll hone in on that and miss the other less threatening or neutral information.\u00a0 For example, we might focus on our partner talking to someone we\u2019re jealous of, rather than notice all the other people they\u2019ve been chatting to that evening.<\/p>\n

      [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Alcohol + Depression = Vicious Cycle” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n

      If you drink heavily and regularly you\u2019re likely to develop some symptoms of depression. It\u2019s that good old brain chemistry at work again. Regular drinking lowers the levels of serotonin in your brain \u2013 a chemical that helps to regulate your mood.<\/p>\n

      In Britain, people who experience anxiety or depression are twice as likely to be heavy or problem drinkers. For some people, the anxiety or depression came first and they\u2019ve reached for alcohol to try to relieve it. For others, drinking came first, so it may be a root cause of their anxieties.<\/p>\n

      Drinking heavily can also\u00a0affect your relationships\u00a0with your partner, family and friends. It can impact on your performance at work. These issues can also contribute to depression.<\/p>\n

      If you use drink to try and improve your mood or mask your depression, you may be starting a vicious cycle\u2026<\/p>\n

      Warning signs that alcohol is affecting your mood include:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • disturbed sleep<\/li>\n
      • feeling\u00a0lethargic and tired\u00a0all the time<\/li>\n
      • low mood<\/li>\n
      • experiencing anxiety in situations where you would normally feel comfortable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Four ways to help prevent alcohol affecting your mood<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Use exercise and relaxation to tackle stress instead of alcohol.<\/li>\n
        2. Learn breathing techniques to try when you feel anxious.<\/li>\n
        3. Talk to someone about your worries. Don\u2019t try and mask them with alcohol.<\/li>\n
        4. Always be aware of why you\u2019re drinking. Don\u2019t assume it will make a bad feeling go away, it\u2019s more likely to exaggerate it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Alcohol is linked to Suicide, Self-Harm and Psychosis” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n

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          Alcohol can make people lose their inhibitions and behave impulsively, so it can lead to actions they might not otherwise have taken \u2013 including self-harm and suicide (3).<\/p>\n

          More than half of people who ended up in hospital because they\u2019d deliberately injured themselves said they\u2019ve drunk alcohol immediately before or while doing it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          Did you know?<\/em><\/h2>\n

          Anxiety and depression are more common in heavy drinkers \u2013 heavy drinking is more common in those with anxiety and depression<\/em><\/p>\n

          \n
          \n

          Extreme levels of drinking (such as more than 30 units per day for several weeks) can occasionally cause \u2018psychosis\u2019. It\u2019s a severe mental illness where hallucinations and delusions of persecution develop. Psychotic symptoms can also occur when very heavy drinkers suddenly stop drinking and develop a condition known as \u2018delirium tremors\u2019 \u2013 symptoms include body tremors and confusion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Alcohol can damage your memory” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n

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          Soon after drinking alcohol, your brain processes slow down and your memory can be impaired. After large quantities of alcohol, the brain can stop recording into the \u2018memory store\u2019. That\u2019s why you can wake up the next day with a \u2018blank\u2019 about what you said or did and even where you were. This short-term memory failure or \u2018black out\u2019 doesn\u2019t mean that brain cells have been damaged, but frequent heavy sessions can damage the brain because of alcohol\u2019s effect on brain chemistry and processes.<\/p>\n

          Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also have long-term effects on memory. Even on days when you don\u2019t drink any alcohol, recalling what you did yesterday, or even where you have been earlier that day, become difficult.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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          RESOURCE HUB: Alcohol & Mental HealthAlcohol and Mental Health Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down your central nervous system, it can change the way you think and reduces your ability to deal with difficulties. Alcohol can lower your mood or increase anxiety. Alcohol alters the brain\u2019s chemistry, depleting serotonin levels, a chemical which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4915,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-78","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4915"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}