Alcohol abstinence and depression?

[Parkmama]

2 questions here . . .

1. Do you think giving up alcohol has led to depression / anxiety (that wasn't previously apparent)

1. Do you think abstaining from alcohol whilst recovering from depression / anxiety helps?

In January this year I did dry January and February and simultaneously I started for feel anxious and have depressive symptoms which have now become full blown and I'm take sertraline. I wondered if doing dry January triggered it?!

In response to the first question, yes, giving up alcohol can induce feelings of anxiety and depression, as your body and brain learn to adapt without alcohol. This is particularly true of heavy/regular drinkers, and can last for some months. Also, you may have found that the alcohol masked underlying anxiety (at least temporarily), and it's become more apparent in sobriety.

The second question, alcohol is a depressant in its own right. It won't be helping your existing anxiety, and will reduce the efficacy of the sertraline.

In short, it's best to steer clear of the booze, at least until you feel more stable, and it WILL get better.

I haven't had any alcohol since March because I was having anxiety attacks. I knew alcohol would make the anxiety worse.
I used to drink wine every week.
Not drinking didn't make you depressed, it just stopped you covering it up. The depression would have hit you eventually.
Alcohol makes anxiety and depression much worse.

Been there.
The alcohol just masks what was already there. My advice from painful experience is to knock the drinking on the head leave everything to settle down see how you feel, then go to the GP