It’s Time for All of Us to Accept the Link Between Alcohol and Depression
Once we accept the link between mental health and alcohol use, we can all do something about it.
Friends, family, commercials, TV, and movies all tell us that drinking alcohol is a great way to unwind and relax.
Alcohol companies spend billions of dollars each year on advertising to create a culture that encourages drinking and makes people feel bad about themselves if they don’t drink. These messages are problematic because they create unrealistic expectations for what drinking can do for you.
Alcohol is a depressant.
You may be familiar with the term “depressant” and know that alcohol is one, but you may not know exactly what it means.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down your brain’s activity. Most of the time, drinking alcohol slows down your reactions and makes it hard to make good decisions.
In addition, alcohol can cause you to feel tired or sleepy. It may also lead to slurred speech and difficulty walking or standing upright.
It’s also widely known that drinking can cause problems for people who struggle with depression. But how? And why?
