One of the common reasons for consuming alcohol is to alleviate both physical and emotional pain. More often than not, when emotional pain becomes overwhelming, people seek ways to make the feelings go away, hence the reason for turning to alcohol and other substances. In such difficult circumstances, these may seem like the best approaches to reducing negative emotions in the shortest time possible, but addictive substances often make things worse than they are. This article examines the connection between alcohol and emotional pain and demonstrates why alcohol abuse worsens emotional trauma.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
There is a scientific connection between mental health disorders and alcohol abuse. In most cases, people who suffer from mental health such as anxiety and depression usually use alcohol and other substances as a way of eliminating the trauma they feel or even relaxing after a stressful event. Nonetheless, after the alcohol wears off, anxiety and depression can still be felt, and in other cases, these problems become worse to the extent of forcing a person to use again. This process can result in a dangerous cycle of substance abuse leading to dependency and addiction. If you are struggling with mental health and addiction, visiting a facility that offers premier alcohol treatment in California can ensure you get the help you need to deal with your emotional pain as well as the problem of alcohol abuse.
Effects on the Brain
Drinking alcohol enhances or depletes brain chemicals responsible for regulating mental health. Alcohol can make you better at the moment, but things could get worse after because it interferes with the mechanisms involved in regulating emotions. Furthermore, alcohol may affect the reward system of the brain, making it associate the substance with euphoria, thus increasing one’s cravings for more substances. The repeated abuse of alcohol will make the brain dependent on it, resulting in withdrawals in the absence of the substance.
Alcohol and Emotional Pain
People who use alcohol to deal with emotional pain experience worse psychological trauma once the alcohol wears off. Chronic misuse of alcohol can result in a negative emotional state called hyperkatifeia. The outcome – dysphoria, irritability, and anxiety – fuels further intake of alcohol, making your emotional pain even worse.
Seeking medical intervention presents you with the opportunity to explore various treatments, therapies, and healing modalities that serve two functions: relieving and eliminating the emotional pain you’ve been numbing using alcohol and other substances, and; learning essential skills needed to cope with emotional pain in the absence of alcohol and other substances.
Final Word
The connection between substance abuse and mental health is undeniable. That said, the best way for a person to deal with emotional pain is by quitting the consumption of alcohol and other substances. If you believe you’re mentally and physically dependent on alcohol, you need to take the initiative and get professional intervention to prevent the situation from getting worse. Reaching out to friends and families, addiction experts, and recovery centers can go a long way in helping you deal with your addiction problems.