Is alcohol good for health?

There are sometimes stories in the media about moderate drinking being good for health including protecting from heart disease, lowering the risk of having a stroke and lessening the chances of you getting diabetes. Unfortunately, stories like this are very misleading for a few reasons. One is that the media is biased- they are much more likely to print a story about research showing the benefits of alcohol because that is what people want to hear. There are many more studies saying that there is no benefit to drinking alcohol, but these stories won’t sell papers! Also, the studies that do indicate that drinking moderately has benefits are sometimes flawed in their methodology and don’t make clear that the amounts of alcohol that may be beneficial are much lower than the average person might think- less that one unit per day. So even if you are following the government guidelines of drinking 14 units per week, you are still drinking more than the ‘beneficial’ quantities and have moved into a range that will have some negative consequence to health.

Do I have an alcohol problem?

We are very black and white in our thinking about alcohol problems in our society and generally think that you are either an ‘alcoholic’ or ‘normal drinking’ with no room in between. In actual fact, issues with alcohol are on a continuum. Some people drink occasionally with no negative consequences. Some people drink more than they would like which slightly impacts their energy, sleep and well-being but they are still able to work and function fairly well. For some people alcohol takes over their lives and means that they are unable to hold down a job or maintain relationships. Plus all that lies in between.

If you are questioning whether you have an alcohol problem, this tells me that it may be holding you back in some way or that you imagine your life would be better if you reduced or stopped your alcohol intake. This is something I can help you explore.

Will alcohol help me sleep?

The short answer to this is ‘no’. Alcohol may help you to fall asleep, but it will stop you getting good quality sleep. A lot of people find they wake up frequently in the night if they have been drinking or wake up the next day feeling completed unrested.

One of the most common benefits clients often experience from having a break from alcohol is the good quality sleep they experience- this can take a few days or even weeks, as your body adjusts, but you will feel more rested and energised with alcohol-free sleep.

Can alcohol cause anxiety and depression?

Alcohol can certainly worsen anxiety and depression in those who have it and, indeed, cause it in those who drink a significant amount. This is for a variety of reasons. Alcohol is a depressant and acts as a sedative in the brain which makes us feel relaxed. However, our body tries to compensate for this by producing stimulating chemicals so the next day, when the alcohol has worn off, we feel jittery and anxious.

Alcohol also stops us getting good quality sleep which negatively impacts mental health and it can lead to behaviour we are ashamed of which makes us feel low or worried. Using alcohol as a coping strategy means that we don’t learn positive and effective ways of dealing with emotions like talking to friends, exercising and other self-care activities, this means we are less able to cope with the day to day stressors we encounter in life which can exacerbate mental health issues.

It is also important to note that alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness or some mental health medication. So, if you are taking these and drinking, they may not work as well as they would without.

When does alcohol become a problem?

When you say it becomes a problem. The media portrays people with alcohol issues always at the extreme end of the spectrum. They hit ‘rock bottom’ and admit that they are an alcoholic and must abstain from alcohol, going to support groups for life. This gives us the message that we don’t need to worry about alcohol until our lives really fall apart and no one wants to be labelled an alcoholic. This means it is easy just to carry on even if we do have niggling doubts about our relationship with drinking.

Remember, alcohol has a significant impact on the brain and generally, if you have any issues with alcohol, they will get worse over time so the sooner you look at them the better. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up alcohol forever - some people take a break from it and some cut down. Doing this alone is quite difficult so it is good to get a bit of support.

What if I’m physically addicted to alcohol?

If you are physically dependent on alcohol you will need medical support to cut down and/or stop. You will need to see you GP to advice on this.