Alcohol and mental health

[changeling86]

Just finished dry jan and am thinking of carrying on alcohol free.

I've been thinking about the negative effects of alcohol on me as I get older, and I've started noticing that in the last few years that being hungover seems to make me feel really mentally unwell, like almost horribly depressed.

Does anyone else feel like this as they've got older? I can have a night where a have only 2-3 beers and then wake up having heart palpitations and feeling like I'm having a nervous breakdown. Then spend the rest of the day feeling like a completely different person, it almost feels like some kind of psychosis.

Anyone else?

Anyone?

Hi,
I have the same problem. In fact I had it yesterday!
I'm not drinking anymore for the same reason

I have battled alcohol addiction in the past and can assure you, it does nothing good for your mental health. I suffer mental health issues anyway, but in my case it definitely magnifies it. I cut alcohol completely out in January and I can feel a difference already.

Yes! I gave up 4 years ago . It impacted me much more than it did when I was younger and literally felt like I was being poisoned ( not far from the further !) I don't miss it !

I've just done Dry January but had a drink yesterday, and I'm now thinking I'm going to continue not drinking in February.

I never used to feel this bad when I was younger! I obviously had hangovers, but never felt completely insane the next day.

I'm not a big drinker (2 or 3 on a weekend) but I find it creeps up around the holidays so I might drink most nights over Xmas. I like to do dry jan as it resets bad habits. I might have a couple of drinks next Saturday but not decided yet.

OP- I Completely identify with your description, down to a T.
I do have underlying serious MH issues (intermittently) but alcohol triggers it horribly these days. I’ve gone from routinely drinking most of a bottle of wine several times a week, to mostly having nothing apart from an occasional small glass of IPA or single glass of red (maybe once or twice a week).
If (like at Christmas) I have a small drink on consecutive evenings it triggers a full-scale breakdown. It’s sad, as it feels like another thing that my illness has robbed from me (I used to love expensive red wine or an occasional night in the pub with speciality ales). But better to be dry than mad.

I've been sober coming up 2.5 years but DP still drank daily. He's just done dry Jan and the change was incredible frankly.

He was far more relaxed, laid back, easy going. Less stressed and more able to cope with stress.

He intends to continue for the main part having managed to step out of habitual drinking and seen the impact.

Hi OP, you're not alone. There are some great AF threads here. I've experienced suicidal depression and psychosis after heavy bout of drinking. I have a MH condition which is made so much worse drinking. I'm still trying to stay AF. I can tell you from previous times of stopping it feels completely amazing to be in control and free of that. Go for it, you'll never look back!

@MuckyPlucky

OP- I Completely identify with your description, down to a T. I do have underlying serious MH issues (intermittently) but alcohol triggers it horribly these days. I’ve gone from routinely drinking most of a bottle of wine several times a week, to mostly having nothing apart from an occasional small glass of IPA or single glass of red (maybe once or twice a week). If (like at Christmas) I have a small drink on consecutive evenings it triggers a full-scale breakdown. It’s sad, as it feels like another thing that my illness has robbed from me (I used to love expensive red wine or an occasional night in the pub with speciality ales). But better to be dry than mad.

This exactly. I'm sad about it.

But I feel like I have to stop. It makes me too mentally ill when I drink. I'm also medicated for long-standing MH issues.

I also want to stop drinking, but I'm not sure how. It sounds terrible written down like that. I mean, stop drinking when out in the pub with people. I don't think I even really liked alcohol that much in the first place, but these days I just think, what's the point?

I haven't drunk in the last couple of years and haven't missed it, but I've avoided going to the pub (pretty easy in a lockdown). I feel pressured to drink socially as I can't say it's for religious reasons, or because I'm an alcoholic. "Meh" just doesn't feel like an acceptable reason to suddenly be teetotal.

It's ridiculous: I'm in my 40s and am feeling peer pressure!

I don't mind other people drinking around me, I just can't be bothered anymore, and I don't know how to say 'I don't drink anymore' without other people taking it the wrong way and feeling judged.

@misspercy wouldn't you just say "it doesn't agree with me any more" and if people press you just say the same thing in different words "it makes me feel rotten/yukky" "it just started to disagree with me" (these wordings might hint at digestive issues so hopefully people wouldn't wast to enquire further!)

I have said in this situation that it spoils my sleep (which is true and i think may also contribute to some of the MH effects) - and a surprising number of people go "oh! You know now you mention it I think it does that to me too"

There was an interesting mini-series of podcasts on This Naked Mind in December, called What I Wish I Knew Before My First Drink, which explain what alcohol does to the brain- I'd really recommend them.

@misspercy I'd just make a joke out of it- Not worth the hangovers I get these days! or whatever. Most people really won't care or even notice. Anyone who does mind what you drink may well have a problem themselves, in which case you'll be doing them a favour by leading the way.

On another thread someone recommended the book Alcohol Explained which i downloaded the kindle version from Amazon for 99p and read over the last 2 days.

It was very interesting and helpful in explaining why alcohol, even in small quantities, can mess with you physiologically and psychologically.

I really recommended that one and Kick the Drink Easily by Jason Vale.

Yes I've read Alcohol Experiment and I'm on the Naked Mind FB group.

I think I'm just done. It's not worth it anymore.