Booze blues
Question
When I drink I always end up feeling very depressed. I've also wet the bed after a boozing session recently, which didn't help my mood, so what's going on? Does drink get everyone down?
Answer
It's a fact that alcohol makes some people feel depressed. This can happen because alcohol is a type of drug called a depressant. This means that it slows down the way that the body works and is often linked with making people feel down.
There is a lot of research into why this happens. Most research says that people either feel depressed because of the alcohol or they're depressed already and the alcohol just makes things worse.
It sounds like your feelings of depression are linked to drinking but it's important for you to notice whether you feel down when you haven't been drinking. If so, you might want to talk to someone about the way you're feeling, such as a close friend or relative. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you might want to ring SANEline on 0845 767 8000. They will give you free and confidential advice and information about the way you've been feeling and what support you can get.
It's not unusual for people to wet the bed when they have been drinking. This is because alcohol makes your bladder empty itself more often. Combined with alcohol's depressive effect, this means that you might be sleeping more deeply than you would otherwise. As a result , you're less likely to wake up when you need the loo.
Of course, the best way for you to avoid all of this is not to drink. It may be a difficult decision but you might find that you feel happier and healthier. There are a lot of non-alcoholic drinks available at pubs and clubs, so you won't have to go without a drink when you're out with your friends. You could ask your friends to support you in your decision not to drink and you may be surprised to find that some of them would like to cut down or stop too. If you would like advice on ways to avoid drinking you can contact Drinkline on 0800 917 8282.
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Question answered by Addaction
