Alcohol plays a very significant part in our culture and is present in almost every type of social occasion. Although drinking in moderation doesn't harm us, drinking excessively has risen sharply over the last few years, and people not only start at a younger age, they also drink a lot more. What effects exactly does alcohol have on the brain? Alcohol, along with other drugs like tranquillizers act directly as depressants on the brain. Since these drugs slow the brain down, they are needed in higher levels to produce the same results. In essence, the brain builds a tolerance to alcohol and alcohol effects are reduced. The cycle of alcoholism begins as the individual is forced to drink more to get to original effects alcohol once had on their mind and body and the need for alcohol only grows. Alcohol can also cause;- 1) Dementia - The process of loss of memory, similar to Alzheimer's dementia. 2) Psychosis - A slow loss of touch with reality leading to hearing voices and more. 3)Dependence - If you quit alcohol, withdrawal symptoms kick in and you will begin to experience shaking, nervousness and even seeing things that aren't there. 4) Suicide - About 40% of men who have attempted suicide have had an alcohol dependency related problem at some time. Almost 70% of suicide victims were drunk at the time they ended their lives. There is no doubt to the correlation between depression and alcohol. Self affliction and suicide are common behaviors among people who are alcoholics. There is also evidence linking chemical changes within the brain that can effect emotions from consuming alcohol. It is only natural that depression would arise from the problems that drinking can create on family and personal relationships, work performance, and even diminished memory and sexual performance. While alcohol can help us to forget our problems, it is only temporary. Alcohol may help us feel more relaxed and more confident in social situations, but again it is only temporary. Once the temporary fix is over, the problems and issues that perhaps even started the drinking in the first place are still there and many times are even worse. If you do feel down or depressed, well alcohol does appear to be a good option to help you cope with life, but the real hidden evil is that you will soon become addicted as alcohol becomes like a medication for you. So if you have found yourself falling by the wayside through alcohol then first you must come to terms with your drinking problem, and admit that it exists. If you then want to find the exit to alcoholism then you should have a look at the blog which is provided by stopdrinkingadvice and will help you tremendously.
Depression can be termed as a terrible feeling where the addict is surrounded by a lot of thought or a farrago of different emotions. Here, the addict feels low & it lasts for about two weeks. This feeling is entirely different from feeling stressed out or sad about a specific thing or situation. This sort of a feeling exists even when there is no reason to feel depressed.
The person under depression may not have the idea of when he is feeling low. In most cases, activities that used to capture his interest do not perk him up anymore. Some people even find it difficult to get out of bed.
Here are some of the common symptoms of depression:
- One tends to feel depressed almost most of the drug & this becomes a matter of daily routine.
- The patient loses interest in activities that used to excite him in the past.
- One gains a lot of weight or loses a considerable amount of weight.
- Finding trouble in sleeping.
- Sleeping most of the time.
- Feeling tired almost every day without any reason.
- Feeling worthless or guilty for no reason at all.
- Finding it difficult to concentrate or thinking rationally.
- Moving more slowly than usual.
- Speaking more slowly than usual.
- Getting thoughts of suicide or death.
Depression can ultimately lead to addiction. Some people use alcohol or drugs to fight depression they are suffering from. This stage is termed as self meditating by doctors. The effect of alcohol or drugs can provide temporary relief to the person. The individual feels relieved from the feeling of sadness, guilty or worthlessness. However, the sad part is that as soon as the effect of the alcohol or drug is over, the bad feeling returns.
The consequences of depression are bad. Most people suffering from depression often withdraw from social contacts. The even find it difficult to handle jobs or sticking to a particular job for a long time.
People with depression often find it difficult to stay away from alcohol and drugs. They are also unable to pursue healthy relationships as the social expectations are lower.
Sometimes addiction to drugs or alcohol can also lead to depression. Several psychiatric problems are directly related to cocaine. The cocaine abuse can even lead to anxiety, hallucinations, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction & a type of mood disorder.
There is indeed a treatment for depression and addiction. Here, the doctor needs to look at the history of patient. Here, it becomes extremely necessary to keep the patient away from drug & alcohol.
The combination of addiction & depression becomes really challenging to recover. Experts provide special care to the patients in order to get rid of the problem. However, the professional first tries to find out the relationship between addiction & depression.
The best thing to do is to understand the symptoms of addiction & depression & visit a professional as soon as possible. This will provide you expert medical aid on time.
Take a full treatment course as there are chances for the problem to relapse.
Both Ed Philips & Bertil Hjert are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.