People are continuously seeking methods to escape reality and calm themselves down in this fast-paced world where they don’t have time for themselves. When stress and worries hit them, most people turn to alcohol as a solution, though it’s not permanent; it’s often treated as a temporary solution. There is doubt that alcohol tends to have a calmer effect but what is hidden under the surface are the disadvantages it can bring to the table, Alcohol is often associated with sadness and depression, You might be wondering How.?
In this article, we are here to help you understand the link between alcohol and depression and how it can affect an individual.
Meaning of Depression and Alcoholism
Depression is a mental illness where an individual has feelings of sadness and does not take an interest in any activities. It can also influence how you think about things, behave, and approach people.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical illness in which an individual is hooked to alcohol despite its negative emotional and physical consequences.
How Alcohol Contributes to Depression
Relief, which is temporary
One of the main causes of turning to alcohol is that people have this delusion that alcohol can calm them down and solve their problems, which is not true, It may cause temporary relaxation but it covers itself in the cloth of trouble and later unleashes physical and mental problems in the life of an individual.
A cycle
Most people consume alcohol to escape their sadness, but what they don’t realize is that they are trapping themselves in a deadly cycle, It doesn’t provide relief but puts you in a messier situation, which is very hard to come out of.
Study on the link between alcohol and depression
A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine reported that
Subjects who were professionally stressed had a 5.9 times greater prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption than those who were not professionally anxious. Subjects at risk of getting depressed had 4.1 times the prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption compared to those who were not at risk of developing depression.
Effects of alcohol on mental health and physical health
- Problems in personal and professional lives
- Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
- Cancer of the breasts for women
- stomach and pancreatic cancers
- Accidents and injuries due to blackouts
- Liver problems, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty liver.
Recognize the issues
It is very important to recognize the issues related to alcohol, Better late than never.
Being aware of the problem is key; try to understand how alcohol and depression are linked to each other.
When you understand the changes that it is causing to your body and mental state, it is very important to seek help at the earliest possible time and avoid further worsening conditions.
Does the treatment work?
There is a positive side to all the challenges in the world, and when it comes to addiction to alcohol, the good news is that no matter how bad the problem is, people who are going through alcohol use disorder can get better with the treatment provided by many institutions.
- Treatments such as detox- where the individual is given medication at treatment centers to avoid withdrawal symptoms,
- Therapy and counseling centers also help you to understand the problem and you can also relate your problems to others in the group and find a sense of support from them.
- Support from family and friends is very vital in times of difficulty. You must ensure that your loved ones are present to assist you during your rehabilitation.
- Creating different objectives and goals may help redirect your attention. Exercising, creating new interests, making new objectives, and doing the things you want to do will help you be an effective version of yourself on this road ahead.
Conclusion
In short, the relationship between alcohol and depression is complex and toxic, which more people need to identify. It is critical to raise awareness about the fatal cycle of alcohol and sadness that most people are locked in, especially because of the consequences it has on your physical and mental health, leading to grave diseases like depression and cancer.