Five signs your mental health may be struggling as a result of alcohol

Our mental health is something that we all need to pay more attention to, particularly in today’s day and age where there are various everyday stresses such as the rising cost of living, wars across the world and everyday stresses from work to relationships.

For many of us, we turn to alcohol as a way to unwind and socialise, but actually its effects on mental health can be further detrimental and leave us feeling much worse than when we’d poured that first glass.

It’s something that impacts many, often to the point of addiction where alcohol rehab is the only real way back to a healthy, happy and anxiety free lifestyle. But what exactly are the signs that alcohol could be causing damage to your mental health?

Increased Anxiety and Depression

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it can disrupt the delicate balance of chemicals in your brain. While it might initially provide a sense of relaxation or euphoria, these effects are temporary and often followed by heightened anxiety and depression. You might notice that feelings of sadness or hopelessness become more frequent or intense after drinking.

Alcohol can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger new ones. If you find yourself feeling increasingly anxious or depressed, especially the day after drinking, it might be a sign that alcohol is negatively affecting your mental health. Monitoring your mood and emotional state in relation to your drinking habits can provide valuable insights.

Sleep Disturbances

Alcohol can have a significant impact on our sleep. While a night on the booze can aid in falling asleep quicker, alcohol inteferes with the REM stage of sleep, which is important for restorative rest. In fact, studies show that even a low amount of alcohol can decrease sleep quality by almost 10%, while more than two drinks can decrease sleep quality by almost 40%!

This can affect mood when we wake up, while if this happens on a regular basis, it can contribute to mood swings, irritability, and cognitive impairments that can all have a profound impact on our mental health.

Increased Irritability and Mood Swings

In fact, not just from sleeping can alcohol lead to mood swings and irritability. As a result of drinking, you’ll find yourself reactivating abnormally to situations, which can exacerbate the likes of anxiety, depression and stress. 

By drinking regularly, you’re effectively becoming more emotionally unstable, and if it’s having a significant impact on your day-to-day, it’s worth looking into limiting your intake or giving up completely.

Loss of Interest in Activities

Alcohol has a bit of a habit of making itself your number one priority, creating a false sense of enjoyment and fulfilment that puts other hobbies and interests on the backburner.

Those hobbies and interests were once things you used to manage your mental health in a healthy manner, and losing those can contribute towards feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction. 

Increased Dependence and Cravings

Finally, if alcohol continues to become more and more your go-to in order to cope with stress or to relax, then that is a huge red flag. You may begin to notice cravings or a sense of unease when you’re not able to drink which is a key sign that there is a problem. 

This is a clear sign of alcohol use disorder and not managing your mental health efficiently and recognising that and getting the help you need to change it can be absolutely vital in order to get your life back on track.