Do you ever wonder why you drink alcohol and the effect it has on you and your mental health?

The whole world seems to revolve around alcohol, until you find these wonderful little bubbles, where people socialise over green tea, or coffee and people make friends without having to be tipsy or drunk. Why aren’t there more of these places? After my last night out, I had a really good time, but the hangover the next day WAS NOT WORTH IT!

When we reflect on why we drink, we generally feel that it is a relaxant; it has a sedative effect. For people who suffer with social anxiety, alcohol can make us open up more in social situations and let go. The alcohol has an effect on the part of the brain responsible for inhibition, which literally makes us lose our inhibitions!

However, the chemical effects on the body afterwards can also have a negative effect on our mental health and well-being. This is really difficult and challenging for us anxiety sufferers.

– Flash Back –

During a recent night out, I only had a few drinks, just to be social and catch up with old friends who I had not seen for months while travelling. The hangover the next day wasn’t worth it at all. I felt like I was going to die most the day after and hid in room watching American Dad and documentaries on Everest.

My heart was beating out of my chest and my pulse was elevated…

I haven’t practised the things I said I would yesterday or today because it has really affected me. I go 2 to 3 weeks (sometimes up to 6) without drinking, then I cave and always regret it.

When did the whole world become so dependent on alcohol to be social?

– Vicious Alcohol Cycle –

We all have experienced it, even a little alcohol and the next day we do not feel 100%. Maybe those bigger drinkers feel it less as their bodies are accustomed to it, but for those who do not drink a lot it definitely takes its toll. It takes its toll on everyone, but especially on those who are suffering from anxiety, stress and depression.

We tend to be more sensitive and feel the negative effects the day after more greatly than others that don’t.

It becomes a vicious cycle; we use it to make us more confident. It has a sedative effect and lowers our inhibitions, so we think this helps us to have fun. Then we suffer the day after; the hangover make us feel more anxious. In turn this eads us to feeling the need to drink to make us more sociable, because we are socially anxious, but in drinking, it makes us feel more anxious… eek!

When we are trying to function on higher vibrations, alcohol may seem a short cut to this, but it just depletes us the next day.

Alcohol takes happiness from tomorrow.

It makes you backstep in your healing journey. 

It makes you more susceptible to darker energies, brings your mood down, makes you irritable and lowers vibrations.

Drinking causes your vibration to drop over time, so if you drink one glass of wine or have one beer, it will decrease. Subsequently, when you focus on healing from anxiety, depression or stress then have a night in a bar, it really takes its toll. We tend to feel so full of energy and feel the positive effects of all progress we have been making, till we drink. Then it feel like we have taken 100 steps backwards.

It also really affects anxiety levels, causing them to rise the day after a drinking session. On the converse, many people say that when they’ve quit alcohol and smoking and put considerable effort into healing, they report feel differing experiences and less intense anxiety.

– Is Alcohol Worth It? –

In my experience, not anymore! It definitely has consequences.

To rectify this, it might be worthwhile to make friends with people who do not drink, or to socialise with people and hang out in places where drinking is not the main social gathering. Co-blogger does a lot of activities that require people to be sober, such as photographing the northern lights or climbing mountains. Whenever I suggest doing non-alcohol related things to my friends, such as going for walks, a nice meal, trip to the seaside, or to the cinema, they are always up for it!

Costa Rica News has some interesting views on this topic “spiritual consequences of drinking alcohol“

It is intriguing for sure, especially quoting this part:

“As we strive to heal, awaken, and transform our world – I pray that we wise up to the dirty trick played upon humanity in regards to alcohol. Non-benevolent forces have wanted to keep us oppressed, disempowered, and asleep.

How many of us have seen families broken and lives lost because of alcohol and alcoholism?

Do you think it makes us smarter or healthier or overall better people?

It’s time to change things.

Let’s stand behind replacing the rampant abuse of alcohol with more health-enhancing practices and activities – and learn how to live awakened and empowered lives!”

Alcohol definitely throws us off balance for sure! There are things we can do to combat this destructive habit though. When we take a break from alcohol, we notice our symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression improve.

– Break the Alcohol Cycle –

It’s worth questioning why we feel the need to drink and looking for routes to deal with this emotion or feeling, without the need for alcohol. This is a really big thing, because when we look more internally, we can realise the need for destructive habits and address it in a more healthy way.

While exploring the reasons why we drink, there are some things that you can do in the interim to break the cycle:

1. Organising out door activities both after work and on a weekend

2. Offer to drive (then you can’t be tempted to drink later…)

3. Arrange fitness classes or to do exercise on a weekend

4. Make a dedication to focus on yoga & meditation

5. Go for a day out

6. Organise to go for Sunday Dinner on a Sunday

7. Offer to babysit for friends who struggle to get out

8. Spend evenings with T-total friends

9. Watch a film with a takeaway

10. Go visit family

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If we stop drinking and can retrain our minds to learn to be social without the tipple… our mental health will improve.

What are your views?

I’d love to hear from you!

Aimee Lou