{"id":13752,"date":"2022-11-29T11:00:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T11:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=13752"},"modified":"2023-05-19T14:02:45","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T13:02:45","slug":"alcohol-and-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/alcohol-and-depression.htm","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol and Depression \u2013 Are You Drinking Yourself Sad?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"alcohol<\/a>

By: Russell James Smith<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

How connected are alcohol and depression<\/a>, really? And what if you only feel happy<\/a> when drinking alcohol?<\/p>\n

\u00a0“I’m only happy when drinking alcohol”<\/h2>\n

The British public is hardly known for its restraint when it comes to alcohol.<\/p>\n

According to the charity Alcohol Concern<\/a>, 24% of Brits and Scots regularly drink more units than the recommended guidelines<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And it contributes to over six thousand<\/strong> deaths a year, as well as more than 60 medical conditions. One of which is depression. <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Alcohol and depression \u2013 chicken or egg?<\/h2>\n

The relationship between drinking and depression is <\/strong>less about determining which causes the other. And more about an intertwined relationship that becomes a vicious cycle.<\/p>\n

For example, we can convince ourselves that alcohol makes us feel good.<\/strong> We drink to relax after a hard day. So we see alcohol as stopping\u00a0<\/em>any depression<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But even a casual drinking habit leads to<\/strong> lighter sleep<\/a>, fatigue<\/a>, irritability<\/a>, and a lowered performance at work<\/a>. And the more we make mistakes or snap at those we love, the more we feel we have had a bad day<\/a>. The more we drink, and on the cycle goes. Over time, we develop bigger problems in life that mean we feel worse.<\/p>\n

A study by the University of Vermont <\/a>found that alcohol use “significantly predicted decreased happiness the next day” for both men and women in the study, with a slightly higher risk of sadness in women than men.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Is alcohol a depressant?<\/h2>\n

Yes. Alcohol gives you a quick up, but<\/strong> it’s actually classified as a depressant. For example, alcohol increases the amount of a neurotransmitter called GABA. This has the role of slowing your energy down, ‘depressing’ your brain. It is the very neurotransmitter things like Valium work to increase.\u00a0 And we can all agree Valium is no upper.<\/p>\n

If alcohol is a depressant why do I feel happy?<\/h2>\n
\"alcohol<\/a>

By: Kristoffer Trolle<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Alcohol does up your amount of dopamine<\/strong>, a chemical connected to your brain’s ‘reward’ patterns. So alcohol makes you feel that you are suddenly happy. Of course, to maintain that sensation, just like any pleasurable activity that releases dopamine (a good holiday<\/a>, being around someone exciting) you are driven to keep drinking.<\/p>\n

But the more the dopamine release encourages you to drink another few rounds, then the more other parts of your brain are suffering a depressed effect. And that depressed effect lingers, while the dopamine is only a quick hit that fades fast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Is drinking when sad dangerous?<\/h2>\n

It’s worth noting that if you already suffer mood issues, <\/strong>you are more at risk of alcohol issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0An overview pulling data from over 35 studies<\/a> found that if you are prone to depression, your chance of having alcohol problems are more than doubled. And you are at a higher risk for suicide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But what if alcohol and depression don’t seem related for me?<\/h2>\n

Before you convince yourself you don’t have a problem, get honest with<\/strong> yourself if the following sound familiar:<\/p>\n