Alcohol and Depression: A Self Defeating Decision
There is so much to be said about alcohol and depression. The truth is, the relationship between the two has never been a healthy one. The fact remains that if you want to recover from Anxiety or Depression, the use of alcohol can only be self defeating. If you want to recover from depression or anxiety, consider the following facts and understand the reasons why alcohol is not a good choice.
There are some very good reasons why people with depression should not drink alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant and it depresses the central nervous system and contributes to depression.
Alcohol lowers the serotonin and nor epinephrine levels in the brain. They are both neurotransmitters in your brain and they are responsible for your sense of well-being. They are also known as your built in "feel good" chemicals. Unlike serotonin, norepinephrine is also a stress hormone and it has a job to also help you during the fight or flight response.
Alcohol temporarily voids out any positive effects of your natural stress hormones. This means, nor epinephrine cannot do its job should you be drinking during a time of real threat.
Alcohol depletes the vitamins you have stored in your body and this includes folic acid. Low folic acid contributes to depression.
Alcohol breaks down and then quickly eliminates the antioxidants in your blood. These antioxidants are crucial to good health. They are the nutrients in our bodies that help prevent or at least slow down the oxidative damage to our body. Oxidative damage is caused by free radicals. The free radicals are by-products that are left behind after the cells in our bodies use up oxygen. So, if you drink alcohol, you are helping to diminish the protective barrier that comes with antioxidants. Even if you are eating well and eating all the foods that are full of antioxidants, you are helping to diminish their power to keep the body healthy. Oxidative damage contributes to health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Alcohol can also activate an "already existing" gene in your body that has been linked to mental illness.
For some, the cause of their depression has to do with their alcohol use. People who drink often usually have depleted neurotransmitters. It can take a long time to bring those neurotransmitters back to a good balance. Yet again another reason why alcohol and depression do not mix. Although you can increase those natural brain chemicals yourself and without medication, a person who drinks excessively may need the aid of medication.
For others, they drink to alleviate their pre-existing depressive feelings. But since alcohol is already a depressant, they are only making matters worse and many times without even knowing it.
If you are depressed and have been using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, please talk to your doctor about finding another method of treatment. Alcohol and depression is a self-sabotaging decision. How much do you want to recover?
A Natural Approach to Overcoming Addiction
click to read the full article
Life Extension Magazine (February 2009) has a great article called
An Innovative Approach to Addiction Therapy By Donna Caruso
For more information on natural supplementation visit Natural Stress Relief.
Return from Alcohol and Depression to Depression Warning Signs
