It’s an undisputed fact that alcohol can boost your mood.
After a few sips of a nice Chardonnay or glass of Scotch, you can feel your tension give way to good feelings.
So, it’s easy to draw a link between alcohol and happiness. But, the thing is, drugs and alcohol are always just a loan on good feelings. And that loan must always be paid back.
The Link Between Alcohol and Depression
The truth is that alcohol makes depression worse.
At its heart, this is a chemical response. Drinking alcohol results in a dip in important mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. The more you drink, the worse the effect.
If you drink often enough and heavily enough, you’ll find yourself feeling low all the time.
That effect is compounded by the fact that heavy drinking reduces the amount of folic acid in the body (people with depression often have folic acid deficiencies). It’s also true that, while drinking may cause you to fall asleep more quickly, research shows that it results in a poorer quality of sleep.
Other Possible Factors in Alcohol Depression
While it’s not always the case, heavy drinkers often tend to be lacking in two areas that we all know are important for our physical and mental health—getting exercise and eating a healthy diet.
What’s more, many heavy drinkers tend to drink alone. That’s a problem because research also tells us that social interaction is a key component in preventing and fighting depression.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Colorado
If alcohol is affecting your health or well-being, it’s probably time to slow down. If you try to control your drinking, but can’t, that’s a classic sign that you may need help tackling the problem.
At The Raleigh House, we take a whole-person approach to recovery. That means we don’t just get the alcohol out of your system. We work with you to help you recover psychologically, mentally, spiritually and socially, as well. Rehab isn’t just about giving something up; it’s about getting your life back. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about the alcohol addiction treatment program at The Raleigh House.
