Will my mental health improve if I stop drinking?

Now, a new study suggests that people — especially women — who give up alcohol can experience better mental health and reach levels of well-being almost on a par with those of lifelong abstainers. Share on Pinterest Quitting alcohol use could give mental health a boost, new research suggests.

Can cutting back on alcohol cause depression?

Heavy alcohol abuse causes a variety of chemical and structural changes in the brain. These changes can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. In addition, when you quit drinking it is normal to experience unpleasant emotions and lingering depression.

How long does it take for serotonin levels to return to normal after alcohol?

The new research shows that it takes at least two weeks for the brain to start returning to normal, so this is the point at which the alcohol recovery timeline begins. Until the brain has recovered, it is less able so suppress the urge to drink. This is because the alcohol has impaired the brains cognitive ability.

What happens to your mind when you stop drinking?

The MRI research revealed that alcohol abstinence led to brain volume increases in key areas including the frontal lobe and cerebellum. This involved both gray matter and white matter.

What happens to your emotions when you stop drinking?

When a person stops drinking, their brain is still producing extra chemicals, which can potentially cause the unpleasant alcohol withdrawal symptoms that are associated with overstimulation. The mind will readjust, but until it does, a person in withdrawal might feel unwell.

Does alcohol worsen depression?

While alcohol may temporarily relieve some of the symptoms of depression, it ultimately serves to worsen depression on a long-term basis. Alcohol abuse brings with it a bevy of negative effects on virtually every aspect of life.

Why does drinking alcohol cause depression?

When consumed, alcohol has a sedative effect on the brain, at the same time it triggers the release of endorphin and dopamine – the “happy hormones.” Alcohol can cause depression because when the initial effects of drinking fade, levels of these hormones also drop, making the user feel depressed.

How does alcohol affect depression?

As consequences of alcohol abuse persist, depression worsens. This often leads to a damaging cycle of abusing alcohol to self-medicate symptoms of depression while the depression worsens due to the continued alcohol abuse. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows the body down.