-Alcoholism-and-Common-Mental-Health-Issues-m
Mental health conditions not only result from consuming too much alcohol. They can even cause people to drink too much.
There is some evidence connecting light alcohol consumption with better physical health in some adults. Between 1 and 3 units on a daily basis have been found to help defend us from heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease, and a little glass of red wine everyday may reduce risk of stroke in women.
However there is far more evidence indicating that drinking too much alcohol results in severe physical and mental illnesses.
Put very simply, a major reason for drinking alcohol is to change our mood - or change our mental state. Alcohol can temporarily alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression; it can also help to temporarily relieve the symptoms of more serious mental health conditions.
Alcohol conditions are more common among people with more severe mental health problems. This does not necessarily mean that alcohol provokes severe mental illness. Drinking to deal with difficult feelings or symptoms of emotional disorder is sometimes called 'self-medication' by individuals in the mental health field. This is often why people with mental health issues drink. But it can make existing mental health problems worse.
Evidence demonstrates that people who consume high amounts of alcohol are vulnerable to higher levels of mental ill health and it can be a contributory factor in some mental illnesses, such as depression.
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Like Any Illness, There Are Indicators Or Symptoms Of Addiction To Alcohol
How does drinking affect our moods and mental health?
When we have alcohol in our blood, our mood changes, and our behaviour then also changes. How these change depends on how much we drink and how quickly we drink it. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, and this can make us less inhibited in our behaviour. It can also help 'numb' our emotions, so we can avoid difficult issues in our lives.
Alcoholism Is A Devastating Disease
Alcohol can even reveal or magnify our underlying feelings. When drinking, this is one of the reasons that many individuals become angry or aggressive. If our underlying feelings are of anxiety, unhappiness or anger, then alcohol can magnify them.
What about the after-effects?
One of the main conditions associated with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that individuals may feel much worse when the effects have worn off. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression. This can lead some individuals to drink more, to ward off these difficult feelings, and a dangerous cycle of dependence can develop.
Alcohol issues are more common among people with more severe mental health problems. If our underlying feelings are of anxiety, anger or unhappiness, then alcohol can magnify them.
One of the main issues associated with using alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression is that individuals may feel much worse when the effects have worn off. Alcohol is thought to use up and reduce the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, but the brain needs a certain level of neurotransmitters needs to ward off anxiety and depression.