It is common for adults to turn to alcohol, especially because they believe it serves as a stress reliever. Once they drink an ample amount of it, they get to forget every issue they have in their lives. Apparently, the habit works sometimes, specifically if the goal is to get distracted and drunk. However, it is not entirely a solution to the problem because it will only leave things undone.
To be honest, the problem here is the effect of drinking too much alcohol. And though it may intentionally make someone dizzy and contribute to faster sleep, the overall outcome can be damaging. Some would ignore the warning signs because they believe that the physical effects would just be passed by. And that once they relieve themselves from drinking for like a couple of days, weeks, or months, things will be okay again. Generally speaking, the physical impact of too much consumption is not the issue here since a lot of people can take medications or lay low from drinking.
The main concern here is that constant drinking leads to an overall health dysfunction that may include liver and heart problems, skin irritations, cognitive delay, and even anxiety and depression.
Mental Health Impacts Of Alcohol
If an individual is a serious alcohol drinker (but not an alcohol addict), some of the issues he may experience can relate to physical symptoms. Surely, some of these are short-lived issues since there are ways to gain better health once the individual decides to quit drinking. Shifting to healthy ways, such as drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating healthy foods, can do the trick sometimes.
However, there are still complications that might not take into consideration; too much alcohol consumption can cause anxiety. According to licensed medical experts, alcohol can impact brain chemistry. It can trigger tension and feelings of panic, especially for individuals already struggling with a mental health problem or mental illness.
The effects can be devastating for some individuals as they can promote negative addictive behaviors. It is also problematic since too much alcohol consumption can worsen internal and other mental health conditions.
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Some Ways To Control The Effect
There are ways to control alcohol-induced anxiety. However, though some of these may work, they won’t probably work with individuals who require a different mental health treatment approach.
Limiting Alcohol Intake – As experts say, one way to get rid of anxiety caused by alcohol is simply to limit alcohol intake. When there is no alcohol in the system, it is less likely to cause anxiety. However, one must note that alcohol is not the only thing that causes anxiety, there are far more things in life that can trigger mental health conditions.
Take Some Medication – Of course, another way to get rid of the anxiety from drinking alcohol is to take medication. The one that is prescribed by a licensed professional or a clinically expert doctor who knows what you should and should not take. Remember not to take not scientifically tested medications, and always seek medical advice. It is also important to take into consideration natural remedies before taking too many drugs.
Exercise And Hydrate – Alcohol drinkers and experts know that one way to get rid of alcohol is to sweat it off. You can get it done by exercising for a couple of hours until the body and brain recover from the chemicals you put in. Getting physically active and sweating off the residue of the chemicals is the fastest, easiest, and safest way to get sober. Of course, you will have to replenish all the water you lost during the workout, so drinking enough would also help flush out the toxins.
Seek professional Help – Sometimes, too much alcohol consumption is not about drinking it because you like it. It can mean something that affects you psychologically. So if you think you may be dealing with a mental health disorder or an unidentified condition, seek professional help and get diagnosed.
If you still wonder how too much alcohol impacts mental health, here are the answers to the frequently asked questions.
How long does anxiety last after drinking?
Many people thought alcohol drinking to be a good escape from an emotional and mental health issue. That is why they often binge-drink alcohol to cope with social anxiety disorder despite its known potential harm. However, alcohol-induced anxiety usually lasts for quite a few hours. In some cases, the mental health problem stays for an entire day after drinking several amounts.
Alcohol-induced anxiety can be a serious matter as it can promote panic attacks. Too much alcohol consumption is always bad as it intends to make your mental health condition worse. No, it is never true that drinking can ease your mind and body. It does not allow you to rest your body and regenerate your cells, for that matter.
How can I calm my anxiety after drinking?
You can learn to manage anxiety by finding ways to slow it down and preventing it from increasing and cause some unwanted attacks. To do that, you need to practice breathing in and breathing out to calm yourself, especially when you begin to feel a little anxious. It would also help if you can realign your thoughts and focus more on the positive things. Always put in mind that overwhelming thoughts often bring negative mental, emotional, and even physical consequences.
Can being hung-over cause anxiety?
Some people believe that binge-drinking alcohol helps them reduce their anxiety. However, as the influence of alcohol wears off, mental health problems tend to return. And sometimes, the physical hangover symptoms can cause anxiety that often makes them feel even worse. Alcohol-induced anxiety doesn’t go away and often lasts for several hours and even for an entire day.
Can dehydration cause anxiety after drinking?
Yes. Dehydration is often the primary result of too much alcohol in the body. That is because it tends to make you urinate more than usual. It is not entirely safe to think that drinking too much liquid in the form of alcohol can allow extra or enough water. That is because the combination of the chemical content of water and alcohol leads to dehydration. With that, research shows that this contributes to other changes in mood and anxiety.
Does drinking water reduce anxiety?
Yes. In fact, water is known to have natural calming properties that support the brain and body’s overall function. Drinking enough of it addresses dehydration’s effects on the entire brain and body’s system. It is an important step in managing the physical aspect and caters to the need for emotional and mental health. Drinking enough water helps with dehydration and creates feelings of relaxation.
Why does alcohol make me emotional?
Alcohol sometimes makes you emotional because it acts as an antidepressant. However, there are many times that you might feel depressed after drinking too much because alcohol is a depressant. Drinking too much of it or an amount you can no longer control activates the brain’s reward system and triggers a dopamine release. You must control your drinking even if you think you benefit from its stimulating effects.
Do true feelings come out when drunk?
A lot of people believe that alcohol stifles reasoning skills, which allows them to reflect on consequences. Thus, they believe they are more likely, to tell the truth when they are intoxicated. Some explain the action as offering up unfiltered and brutally honest opinions. Perhaps that is because alcohol can give some individuals the courage to do or say things they usually wouldn’t say.
Does alcohol bring out the truth?
People say that alcohol allows them to say what is truly on their hearts and minds. They often categorize it as a truth serum. However, some disagree since they believe that alcohol often caused people to misbehave and have a shorter fuse. For some individuals, alcohol causes mental and emotional negativity in a more exaggerated way that changes people’s perspectives on things around them.
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Why do I cry after drinking?
Alcohol affects brain function as it acts as a depressant. Too much of it alters the brain’s natural chemical levels like dopamine and serotonin. Sometimes, drinking an ample amount makes you feel light as it gives an initial boost the night before intoxication. However, the next day when these same chemicals become deficient, they feel anxious, stressed, empty, and even depressed.
Which alcohol is the healthiest?
Some alcohols tend to be healthier when you drink them occasionally. The type of alcohol you can consider drinking includes Tequila, Rum, Rosé, Whiskey, Champagne, and Red Wine. However, even if these alcohols provide health benefits, too much can still cause a lot of damage to the physical and mental aspects. You must drink moderately.
How do you tell if you’re getting drunk?
You can tell that you are drunk when you experience lower inhibitions. That is usually doing or saying things you otherwise do not see yourself doing. Then there is the warm sensation, feeling of well-being and relaxation, and too-loud or too-fast speech. You can also experience an inability to drive a car or do complex tasks and often lose fine motor coordination.
How do you get undrunk?
Some ways can help you sober up. One is to go back to sleep. Relaxing your mind and body helps a lot. If the intoxication is unbearable, an OTC pain reliever can provide a little help to treat your headache. Also, drinking water helps counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Thus, sports drink fortified with minerals and vitamins, like Gatorade is a considerable choice.
What is the drunken level?
The BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit of intoxication in the United States. It is the level that often causes a distinct impairment of balance and muscle coordination that usually results in difficulty with walking, moving, and driving skills.
How long does drunk last?
Usually, it depends on a person. Often, if you are intoxicated and your current blood alcohol level is 0.16, you can still expect to feel sober in about 8-12 hours. But note. Getting sober within this time frame does not guarantee that you will feel great in the meantime. Sometimes, it will take you more than half a day to get completely sober.
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Insight
Anxiety is not something you should take lightly due to the tendency to cause you many health issues. Instead of ignoring it, find a way to reduce it. But do not use alcohol and assume that it can become a great idea for anxiety reduction. It is never considered a healthy coping technique and will never become a solution for any mental health issue.