Alcohol and your Mental Health.  

If you are struggling, feeling depressed, low, anxious, not sleeping well, have an overactive brain, roller coaster emotions, the list goes on. Please, take a break from drinking alcohol.

Effects of alcohol on the brain

If you drink alcohol regularly, it will have an effect on you, your physical health or most likely your mental health at some point. The effects of alcohol on the brain have been well documented.

Let's take sleep on its own.  Alcohol impacts on your ability to get good quality sleep.  If you are tired and not sleeping properly this alone will affect your emotional health.

Do you drink regularly? Could you cut down? Does it affect your sleep?   When was the last time you took a break from alcohol?

First things first, take a break; 3 months at least.  Then re-assess, see how you feel.  Most people will feel better within the first few weeks.  While you are taking a break, sleep, be nice to yourself, take it easy, eat healthy food, do some exercise, spend time doing things you enjoy and with people you love.

I have really noticed over the last 15 years, having worked with 1000’s and 1000’s of people,  that when people take a break and commit to stopping alcohol for a while, they feel so much better. No matter what their circumstances.

There are only a few people that don’t feel better from stopping alcohol and if this is you and you are still struggling then please see your doctor or find a therapist that can help.  

Reasons why your drinking might be causing you a problem:

• Alcohol is a depressant drug. It effects our thoughts, feelings, actions and effects our long term mental health.
• Alcohol can cause anxiety and depression. It interferes with our neuron transmitters which we need for good emotional health.
• Regular drinking lowers levels of serotonin in the brain – a chemical that helps to regulate our moods.
• Alcohol is highly calorific and empty calories so it may be causing you to put on weight, which in turn can affect your self-esteem and ability to exercise which is really important for our emotional wellbeing.
• Alcohol can disrupt our sleep and our sleep is incredibly important for our mental health.  When we are tired it can affect our whole day.
• It can affect your relationships adversely and if you are someone that struggles with emotional health issues your family and good friends are really important to you.

 As a general rule I would say that if you struggle in any way with your mental health then it’s best to steer clear of things that can make it worse, short term or long term. There are so many things you can do that will make you feel better instead.

Now is a good time to make changes, check out my book, for loads of practical tips and motivation on how to change your relationship with alcohol There is No Magic Button.

If you would like support to change your behaviour with alcohol and drugs, or with stopping alcohol use, please contact me.