Alcohol affects people in different ways. While some drink and feel fine the next day, others wake up sad or anxious. There is a chemical explanation for why this occurs. Understanding why you’re experiencing depression after drinking may provide insight into how alcohol affects you physically and psychologically and can help you decide if it’s time to cut back or quit altogether.
What Is Depression?
Depression is characterized by continuous feelings of sadness and decreased interest in activities you love for a lengthy period of time. To receive a clinical depression diagnosis, you must experience feelings of sadness for at least two weeks and the majority of the day, most days of the week. Although depression stems from a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors, some things can worsen your symptoms, such as alcohol or drug use.
Is Alcohol a Depressant?
Yes, alcohol slows down the central nervous system (CNS) and affects the brain and body in several ways. Alcohol has a significant effect on your brain chemistry, which is why it directly impacts your mood. Many people struggle with depression after drinking. While some people may notice a difference in their mood after a drink or two, substantial, long-term changes may occur for those who drink heavily on a chronic basis.
Why Do I Feel Depressed After Drinking?
Most people experience initial feelings of happiness after a drink or two. However, some people experience depression the morning after a heavy night of drinking. This is due to an alteration in your brain chemistry. As you drink, “feel good” hormones, including GABA and dopamine, are released in your brain. You may initially feel relaxed, stress-free, and happy. However, if you are a regular drinker, you may find that you need more alcohol to achieve the same feelings of relaxation.
This increased need for alcohol is because your brain also alters its chemical response when you drink, creating less GABA and dopamine over time. If you decide to stop drinking for good, you may experience significant bouts of anxiety and depression in response until your brain fully recovers from alcohol use.
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Drinking to Self-Medicate
When you drink to deal with worry, depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems, you are self-medicating. Some people drink to forget about their fears or feel better for a short time, but this can cause major issues. While alcohol may dull your feelings for a while, it doesn’t fix the underlying mental health challenges. Self-medicating can make your mental health worse over time, causing more anxiety, depression, and even addiction.
It’s easy to rely on alcohol to dull your emotions, and as your body adapts to using alcohol to cope, you may need to drink more to get the same effect. This can make you dependent on alcohol, which makes it harder to quit and poses long-term health risks like addiction, increased depression after drinking, liver damage, and memory loss.
Instead of drinking, it can make a big difference to deal with your feelings in healthy ways. Many people find relief in talking to a mental health professional, working out, or learning relaxation techniques like meditation.
Ways To Cope Other Than with Alcohol
- Indulge in your favorite hobbies – pick up a book, listen to your favorite podcast, or watch a funny movie to distract yourself from what is stressing you out.
- Cultivate a hobby – If you enjoy creative activities like painting, journaling, or baking, use these activities as constructive outlets for your stress.
- Connect with others – The emotional support friends and family can provide can help you put things into perspective and think of new ways to tackle challenges when they arise.
- Practice gratitude – Keeping a daily gratitude journal and focusing on the positive aspects of your life can make you feel better emotionally.
- Exercise regularly – Adults who regularly engage in physical activity may experience fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms than those who do not.
Can I Drink on Depression Medication?
Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Footprints to Recovery
While some people may only experience depression symptoms after they drink, others may be coping with a depressive disorder alongside an alcohol use disorder. If you’re struggling with mental health and alcohol use, our dual-diagnosis treatment program can provide the support you need to address both conditions simultaneously. Although there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing dual diagnoses, treatment usually involves a combination of medication, therapy, and positive lifestyle changes.
Alcohol Treatment at Footprints to Recovery
Alcohol use disorders can cause serious physical, psychological, and social problems. Our alcohol recovery plans at Footprints to Recovery can ensure you receive the right combination of treatments to address your alcohol use while helping you develop healthy coping mechanisms. During treatment, you will have a safe, alcohol-free place to learn skills integral to long-term sobriety, set reachable goals, create a strong support network, learn how to cope with triggers, and treat any underlying mental health issues that make it challenging to stay sober.
You may find that some techniques work better than others, and that’s okay. By experimenting with what works and finding out what doesn’t, you’ll create a helpful list of things you can do when things get tough without reaching for alcohol.
Experiencing a life free from the grips of alcohol addiction is possible. If you’re struggling with your alcohol use and are ready to embark on your journey towards sobriety, contact Footprints to Recovery today.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3632802/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318605/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8582291/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5724975/
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines
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