I did have another topic planned this week, but decided against it, because I was thinking, in between sips of my pink gin, how alcohol has become a social commodity – more or less so since the pandemic – and how that ultimately could impact our physical and mental health. I’ll put a little disclaimer here, while we’re thinking about it, just to say that this isn’t a downer on drinking, it’s just something to have in mind, because it could be affecting you more than you realise – which is something I touch on in my previous post. Hopefully my writing this post will prompt you to take a step back. Now, most of us like a drink. There’s no denying that, despite the potential implications of having alcohol. I find when I have a drink, before I’ve even taken the first sip, that I am giving myself permission to relax, and that is only reinforced as I start to drink. While it does provide temporary release from stress, anxiety and depression, it more than likely comes back to bite the next morning (dare I say the next few days?). You see, when alcohol enters your blood stream it is slows down your central nervous system. Which essentially means that all your bodily functions are slowing down. Great, right – what’s the problem with that?!
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Well, the answer is that it isn’t really a problem if you drink in moderation, or at least take precautions and responsibility for any consequences that might come about as a result. When your central nervous system is slowing down, it is said that your system is ‘depressing’. So, naturally, you can guess what comes next. When your system is depressing, the chemical processes in your brain are being interfered with. This can then emulate symptoms of depression. But, as this is happening, I get the sense that your body is scrambling to adjust to this sudden change – which can then result in heart palpitations and increase the light headed feeling. It can be a good feeling, finding the slightest thing funny, feeling (slightly?) disconnected from it all.
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But what about the morning after? (And no, it’s what you’re thinking – but you never know where the night might take you…) I am talking about the after effects, the hang over (you might be well acquainted?) Why do we drink, despite knowing that if we drink enough, you going to feel awful later? The nausea and dizziness in itself is enough to increase anxiety. Because let’s face it: we don’t like like to feel sick. And nobody likes feeling sick. It’s worth the risk for the good feeling, surely? And if we don’t drink, won’t be seen as ‘weird’? No, you won’t, at least not from me, but it’s very easy to feel cornered. And so, the cycle starts again. To avoid all this, you could set yourself limits. Perhaps one drink a day? Maybe a few every couple of days? I can’t tell you how you do it, because it is very dependent on what works best for you and your circumstances.
-D
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