Author Topic: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?  (Read 2579 times)

Flea

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Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« on: February 22, 2011, 02:09:52 PM »
If I have a drink in the evening, I feel extra anxious in the morning.  It's not just the everyday reluctance to get out of bed, it's absolutely awful - feelings of deep anxiety and dread and I want to cry to try and let it all out, but I can't! 

Is there a link between alcohol and anxiety?  If anyone has experience this and stopped drinking, did you find that the anxiety lifted at all?

Thanks for reading. x

SocialServicesFighter

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2011, 05:23:54 PM »
It depends on how much you drink in one evening.

It's been shown that in cases of even the mildest hangovers, the body is chemically imbalanced due to processing the alcohol while sleeping.
It causes similar effects to smoking grass/weed/pot/draw etc with feelings of paranoia and 'I didn't do anything bad last night but I feel guilty like I did'.

The difference with smoking grass though is the paranoia stays forever, 'hangover paranoia' wears off after a day.

One thing to try mate, is eating eggs before going to bed.
Egg yolk contains cysteine which breaks down the 'hangover causing chemical by-products' that the body produces when processing alcohol, hence, no hangover.
Everyone has a b@stard, whether it's an Inner Demon, or some self important @rse who looms over your every move.
The trick is to not let the b@stards grind you down. Shed a cleansing tear, then stand tall and be humbled in knowing that you are much better than they will ever be...
... and you will get stronger.

lightenup

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2011, 06:35:06 PM »
Hi Ameretto a warm  !"£ to the forum, to be honest I always say I drink less than I do, and I firmly beleive it does add to anxiety and depression.  Plus if your on meds its not a good concoction.  Sometimes it seems to help take of the initial edge but long term not the answer.  Funny I was out at the weekend to a friends house, I was very anxious and actually had longing to have a drink before I went to help me get through, but i took two sprintzers when I was and had to force them down.  Funny Friday last week was really bad, but I think drinking less over the weekend has helped me feel a bit better this week.  BTW love Ameretto, and SSF good tip &^%
Poor is the person who takes pleasure out of the persecution of others

MINDFUL HELP

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2011, 06:56:20 PM »
If I have a drink in the evening, I feel extra anxious in the morning.  It's not just the everyday reluctance to get out of bed, it's absolutely awful - feelings of deep anxiety and dread and I want to cry to try and let it all out, but I can't! 

Is there a link between alcohol and anxiety?  If anyone has experience this and stopped drinking, did you find that the anxiety lifted at all?

Thanks for reading. x


I sympathise with you, I really do.

Just a question, what are you like the following morning if or when you don't drink the night before?

It is specifically when you have drunk the night before? And are there any particular reasons you drink such as social gatherings or after work etc, or do you drink alone at night, or any specific days such as weekends etc? Drinking alcohol does effect the brain, it works in 2 ways people regularly drink too much including (including binge drinking) which makes them feel depressed or peope drink to relieve anxiety or depression.

But in your case it's making you feel worse, could it be that you are feeling depressed and not realising it therefore feeling the need to drink to stop you feeling like this but it gives you an adverse effect?

You say it makes you feel anxious, but usually depression and anxiety are very simlar, the fact that you want to cry is a sign you are depressed although im not giving you a diagnosis, is there something your anxious about and maybe not realising it??

I hope you are feeling better! and if you ever want to talk let me know  :)

Lost and confused

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2011, 02:57:06 AM »
Hi,

I personally have found it makes it worse, but i guess it depends on how much you drink as alcohol is a depressant.

The other day i drank alot hoping it would make everything go away but it made it worse, which might be what it is doing to you, i dont exactly no everything about alcohol and depression as im new to this but i dont think the mix well together at all so it would probably be better for you to not drink of an evening sorry if this didnt help x

bel

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2011, 11:33:40 AM »
I've also found that alcohol and depression are not a good mixture. My depression has lifted since I stopped drinking so much...or did I stop drinking so much because my depression was lifting - don't know! If you feel that a drink makes you feel worse the next morning I would say try to avoid alcohol for the time being. Mindful Help makes a good point, maybe you are more depressed or anxious than you realise and the alcohol is just bringing it to the surface. Sorry, I've not really said anything new here have I  ::)

Nissa

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2011, 08:14:45 AM »
I dont drink in the week if I can help it but I do know if I have more than a glass it nakes things worse for me. Of course I always have more than one, it makes me feel relaxed, untill I have too much and I usually fill my head with bad things from the past or things I do wrong. Next day is usually worse too. I know I shouldnt touch it. Cant help myself. But yeah, I'd say there is a link. Alcohol is a depressant.

karma27

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Re: Alcohol and Depression - is there a link?
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2011, 07:55:30 PM »
For me personally i think there is a link as i used to be a alcoholic and drinking got me into the 'non-reality' i drank to forget..to pass out.however this was good for my depressin but the morning after you would feel more guilt,drink to forget and then its a huge cycle again. 
i realised that i wasnt just ruining my own life but i was a person i didn want to be.....is this familuar to anyone?
Hi :)