Deciding to stop drinking is commendable; doing so may cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including despair. One of the prevalent psychiatric symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is depression. To treat alcohol addiction, Rehab Counseling Delhi is the best option.
Depression can compound the difficulty of other alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens (DTs). Fortunately, there are methods available for coping with withdrawal & depression that can give you the strength to continue your alcohol-free journey.
Why Does Alcohol Detox Cause Mood Swings?
Alcohol is depressive. Therefore, it reduces mental speed. The brain tries to compensate for its sluggishness after someone has been drinking heavily or for an extended period by generating more stimulating neurotransmitters.
Overproduction of chemicals becomes the new normal resulting in alcohol dependence with alcohol abuse & alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Elevates Levels Of GABA
In particular, alcohol elevates neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels through binding to GABA receptors. It also lowers glutamate levels in the brain. These responses cause significant mental slowdown.
If you quit drinking, your brain will keep making more neurotransmitters, yet the altered GABA receptors & glutamate levels will go back to normal. The brain starts to reset when glutamate synthesis rises, and GABA levels fall.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, insomnia, hypertension, hallucinations (both aural and visual), DTs (delirium tremens), a racing heart, & depression can result from this reset, which can be dangerous in extreme cases.
Within two to four days after abstaining from alcohol, you may experience these signs.
Tips for Overcoming Mood Swings During Alcohol Detox
Depression & alcohol withdrawal can feel like an insurmountable obstacle, but there are ways to cope that are worth exploring.
- Take care of yourself
Taking care of yourselves by eating well and getting sufficient rest won’t solve all your problems, but it will help you feel better about yourself. That can be really helpful during low mood periods.
- Relax
Make an effort to relax and do something you enjoy, like reading, hanging out with friends, or going for a stroll. Self-care is an effective stress reliever and mood booster.
- Get a pastime
Now is a great time to pick up a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but never had the time for while drinking excessively. Taking up a new interest can keep you from dwelling on negative thoughts and drinking.
If you’re worried about giving up on your new interest, you can reduce that risk by trying it with a companion. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
- Seek Assistance
Depression is a severe mental condition that is extremely challenging to manage alone. Don’t be reluctant to seek assistance, whether from loved ones, a doctor, or a therapist.
Depression & acute alcohol withdrawal are two of the most difficult conditions to manage, but with the help of therapy, you may learn to handle both. You can get to the bottom of what’s causing your sadness & alcoholism with the help of a therapist.
- Support groups
Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, may also be helpful. You can find solace and friendship at the meetups. There are probably other people there who can relate to your feelings of depression due to alcohol withdrawal.
- Look at Your Treatment Choices
If you feel that your depression is out of control, you may want to look into inpatient or outpatient programs that specialize in treating symptoms of depression as well as alcohol withdrawal.
Detoxing from an addictive substance may necessitate medical attention and medicines, such as benzodiazepines, to alleviate the discomfort of withdrawal.
Conclusion
Call our Nasha Mukti Kendra right now if you or someone you care about is having trouble with substance misuse.
In order to get through the worst of the sadness as well as other severe withdrawal symptoms, qualified specialists may prescribe antidepressants, offer individual or group therapy, and teach coping mechanisms.