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As a result, the next day you are likely to be more drowsy and feel less rested.”īeyond that, it’s also a way to pack on extra calories. Instead, she says, “You may fall asleep faster and you may sleep more deeply for the first few hours, but you’re not reaching the truly restorative stage of the sleep cycle – the REM stage.
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That’s because when alcohol is used as a sleep aid, it reduces the amount of time you spend in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. “It’s quite disruptive to your sleep cycle and can cause you to be more fatigued,” Dr.
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“Alcohol use itself, in addition to not eating well in times of increased alcohol intake, can suppress your immune system, so you’re less able to fight off infections,” she notes.Īnd certainly don’t depend on it to help you sleep better. “But,” she adds, “it can predispose you to developing bad habits and alcohol abuse in the long term which can certainly lead to chronic liver disease related to alcohol use.” Lindenmeyer, you’re unlikely to cause liver damage in the short term. If your increase in alcohol intake is recent, according to Dr. Lindenmeyer also concurs on avoiding alcohol as it’s a depressant: “Alcohol is a downer so it doesn’t promote energy.” While it’s harder to determine the specific effects of short-term dependency on alcohol, like drinking to deal with a stressful situation, it can still wreak havoc. “It’s not advisable as a coping mechanism in times of stress,” says liver specialist Christina Lindenmeyer, MD. Increasing your alcohol intake, particularly during stressful times, can also have numerous physical consequences. You don’t want to do anything because all you’re thinking about is getting that next drink. “You can become addicted to alcohol without even knowing it,” says Graham. Graham also says that increased alcohol intake can lead to “ruminating on negative things, the sort of dread thoughts that can heighten your emotional state.”Įven if the drinking is new, increased during a time of stress, it can still lead to a long-term dependence on alcohol. Instead, if someone increases their dependence on alcohol to deal with stress, that leads to the exacerbation of depression and anxiety. You’re not learning to cope in healthy ways.”
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“You’re not learning how to cope with things as they are right now. “If you rely on alcohol for happiness and pleasure, even numbing the stress, then that can actually cause significant problems down the road,” Graham notes. But that’s only a short-term fix that leads to long-term problems. “Even people who aren’t predisposed to anxiety and depression are now experiencing that, too.”ĭrinking a glass of rosé or having a stiff glass of scotch can, indeed, provide you with a bit of relaxation up front, releasing endorphins and boosting serotonin levels, Graham says. How it will last, not being around family and losing jobs and income,” she says.
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The behavioral impactĭenise Graham, a counselor in Cleveland Clinic’s Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center (ADRC), points out that stress and anxiety levels for many people are higher than usual due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and all that come with it.Ī lot of people are experiencing stress and anxiety about the unknowns of the virus. And it can have an impact in multiple ways. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional drink, though, experts say that while depending on alcohol to lift your mood may seem like a good idea, it actually does the opposite. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.