Can quitting alcohol cause depression? Depression and alcohol misuse are interconnected in many ways. For some people, depression leads to drinking. For others, it develops during periods of heavy alcohol use. And for many, it can appear once alcohol is removed. It often leads people to ask, do you get depressed when you stop drinking, […]
Category: Addiction Advice
What are the Emotional Effects of Alcohol?
Many of us drink to feel happy or relaxed or to mask or avoid our feelings. Alcohol is a powerful drug that initially can seem like a one-stop solution to any situation. It can even act beneficially if used responsibly. However, when a person starts to abuse alcohol, the emotional effects it produces can turn […]
The difference between binge drinking and alcoholism
What Is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking is defined as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol within a short period or drinking to get drunk. This is defined as 6 units for women and 8 units for men. Of course, this can vary. Not everyone drinks the same way, and how much they can drink is determined […]
What Are the Benefits of Rehab?
Whether one has an alcohol, drug, or behavioural addiction, the benefits of rehab can help anyone into a successful and lasting recovery. Ireland offers a variety of treatment options for addiction, ranging from self-help programmes to luxury residential rehabs. Although rehab is not the only option for addiction treatment, depending on the person, it may […]
Am I Married to a Functioning Alcoholic?
A functioning alcoholic (sometimes called a functional alcoholic) is not always easy to spot. Unlike most alcoholics, functioning alcoholics do not exhibit obvious symptoms of alcoholism. They also manage to be generally competent in all or most aspects of their lives, therefore avoiding the stereotypical image of alcoholism. They are often middle-aged, successful, and have […]
Why can’t alcoholics stop drinking, even when they want to?
Alcoholism is a chronic illness that takes over the mind, and sometimes the body as well. It is extremely tough to control one’s behaviour with any addiction and alcoholics find it harder to stop than most. This helps explain why alcoholics can’t stop drinking, even when they understand the risks. Sometimes, an alcoholic has to […]
How Does Long-term Alcohol Misuse Affect the Brain?
For many people, alcohol is a part of their regular life, be it drinks with dinner or catching up with friends over a Friday night cocktail. In low to moderate amounts, alcohol has its benefits – it makes people more happy, more social, and more relaxed. It is also believed that responsible drinking carries certain […]
Teenage Substance Misuse
Ireland has one of the highest rates of underage binge-drinking in Europe, ranked fifth, and drug use among young people has been steadily rising. Binge-drinking is the most harmful type of drinking, and it doesn’t take much to get there – for young women, it means four or more drinks in one sitting, and for […]
What Happens to Your Brain When You Blackout from Drinking?
You may have had the experience of waking up somewhere unsure how you got there. Blackouts are common during episodes of binge drinking. The more frequently you drink, the more likely you are to black out. And while heavy drinkers tend to blackout more, anyone can blackout while binge drinking. It’s alarming to not know […]
Why is Cocaine so Bad for Your Brain?
All psychoactive drugs affect your brain, by definition. Habitual use will cause change neurotransmitter levels, making you physically dependent so you need more to feel the effects. Long term use of many drugs causes cognitive impairments, including poor memory, poor focus, and lack of coordination. If you quit, many of the withdrawal symptoms affect your […]
How Achieving Flow Can Help You Stay Sober
Most of the work you have to do in recovery requires some grit. You have to confront old wounds and examine some aspects of yourself you may not like. You have to learn constructive ways to deal with stress and wait out cravings. You have to make lifestyle changes like eating better and exercising. You […]
Why is Quitting Benzos So Hard?
Benzodiazepines are a prescription medication and are relatively common. They don’t cause euphoria like opioids and they aren’t ubiquitous like alcohol. Since they’re fast-acting, unlike SSRIs, you can take them only when you experience acute anxiety or can’t sleep. Benzos seem like a convenient and relatively harmless drug, yet it’s very hard to quit. What’s […]