Whilst alcohol isn’t seen as something to avoid, the problems we face will always be the reason why alcohol may be something you need to avoid.
Alcohol
Alcohol itself isn’t always the problem – it’s how we manage ourselves around it that becomes the problem. It doesn’t cause mental illness, but struggles with alcohol are more common in those already dealing with mental health challenges or a predisposition to dependency. Patterns can run in families, making awareness and understanding even more important.
Alcohol and Mental Health problems
That said, there is evidence to suggest that people who consume high amounts of alcohol are susceptible to increased risks of developing mental health problems. Drinking too much alcohol can be a contributing factor to conditions including anxiety and depression.
Alcohol as a 'Pick Me' Up
People may sometimes use alcohol as a pick me up, to help them work through issues around mental health and whilst that may initially work, it is often short-lived. Always look at alcohol in its wider context and look at your lifestyle too, to see if realistically you need to make some changes.
If you deal with depression it is important to understand your depression and why you have it. What is making you feel depressed? Once you can understand the reasons for your depression, you can understand more of what you need to do to make those changes.
If you feel you have a problem with alcohol, the following organisations can help.
(Source: mentalhealth.org.uk)
Don't fool yourself, alcohol must be consumed in moderation or it will be your tormentor before you know it.
It's simply a matter of drinking responsibly; our lives literally depend on it.
Thanks Tim. You're right. As you say drinking alcohol is about responsible drinking. It is important we don't use alcohol as a prop-up to help us sort out our issues.
As soon as anyone does that they will become reliant on it.