Is raising a glass raising a concern?
Understanding alcohol and mental health.
People drink for many reasons:
to celebrate, socialise, commiserate or drown their sorrows.
We may drink to try and change our mood: to feel more relaxed, courageous or confident.
However, the effect of alcohol is only temporary. As it wears off, we often feel worse because of how alcohol withdrawal affects our brain and body.
You may feel like alcohol is your coping mechanism:
a way to deal with depression, stress, anxiety or other difficult feelings. You might be nervous about what life would be like if you stopped drinking or cut back.
However, relying on alcohol to manage your mental well-being can become a problem in itself. There’s no shame in asking for help and exploring what a new relationship with alcohol could look like.
