How Alcohol Affects Mental Health
Even though the pandemic left many jobless, slowed down the economy, and devastated the service industry, one thing did thrive since last year's vicious invasion of the Covid-19 virus… alcohol sale and alcohol consumption.
While many lawmakers and government officials differ in handling Covid, almost all of them relaxed the alcohol regulations allowing restaurants and bars to sell alcohol off-premises and even deliver right to consumers. Alcohol delivery apps like Drizly reportedly saw a dramatic increase in sales right after the shutdowns began last March.
Data from the Nielsen market from late last year showed that the total alcohol sales outside bars and restaurants surged approximately 24% during the pandemic, with spirits with higher alcohol content rising more than 27% increase over 2019. That is a massive shift, but it is understandable. On the one hand, relaxing regulations and allowing businesses to sell alcohol in to-go containers helped businesses generate some income. On the other hand, most people associate drinking with blowing off steam and releasing the stress that the pandemic caused.
While alcohol can occasionally have a short-term positive impact on your mood, excessive alcohol consumption can interfere with your brain's chemicals that are vital for your mental health and can have damaging effects on your mental wellness. Drinking alcohol has been linked to various mental health issues such as depression, memory loss, and even suicide. Moreover, alcohol impacts our ability to process thoughts and make rational decisions. It can also make us less self-reflective, increasing the likelihood of violence or aggressive behavior.
What are the effects of alcohol on brain chemistry?
Our brains operate through a delicate balance of chemicals and processes. Alcohol is a depressant meaning it can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters, affecting our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The early pleasant effects of alcohol result from Dopamine being released from the reward center of your brain. Dopamine is known as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, and it is involved in feeling pleasure. The release of Dopamine is believed to be one of the causes of addiction. Drinking alcohol initially releases serotonin and another neurotransmitter that gives you the feeling of wellness, happiness, and calm.
The problem is, over time, your body will develop a dependency on alcohol to release Dopamine and serotonin, limiting the ability of your body to produce them naturally. This will lead to your body not being able to naturally cope with stress and anxiety, leaving you in a worse mental health state.
Alcohol also increases the effects of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that decreases the responses in the brain. The slowed neurotransmission also affects emotional responses, resulting in the loss of inhibition experienced while getting drunk, resulting in aggression and violence.
The good news is that taking a break from alcohol allows your brain to restore the balance of neurotransmitters in your brain and improve your mental health. The point we are trying to make is not to stop drinking alcohol altogether. We want you to know that there are many healthy ways you can increase the production of endorphins and "happy" neurotransmitters in your body, such as exercising, listening to music, meditating, and enjoying a relaxing massage. You can enjoy alcohol in moderation without causing severe mental or physical health issues; however, if you feel like you have grown a dependency on alcohol and need help, please seek help.
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