Alcohol and Mental Health: Understanding the Connection

It's important to understand the connection between alcohol and mental health, especially if you've been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Many people enjoy drinking because it makes us feel calm and relaxed, or boosts our mood. But when we rely on alcohol to do those things for us, our mental health may start to suffer.

Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer at The Jed Foundation, explains the relationship between alcohol use and mental health. Alcohol can make diagnosed mental health conditions worse, heightening feelings of depression or anxiety over time. It can also lower our inhibitions, leading us to engage in riskier behavior, and it has the potential to interact with other medications in potentially harmful ways. In other cases, alcohol use patterns might be the first sign of an underlying mental health condition for yourself or someone you're close to. Dr. Laura shares steps you can take to approach treatment if you're worried about your alcohol use, including reaching out to support groups, exploring therapy, or seeking medication and medical treatment.

Learn more about the connection between alcohol and mental health: https://jedfoundation.org/resource/understanding-the-mental-health-and-drinking-connection/

The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. To talk to someone now, text HOME to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, text or call 988. To get resources or get involved visit: https://www.jedfoundation.org/

#mentalhealth #JED #drinking #alcoholuse

Видео Alcohol and Mental Health: Understanding the Connection канала The Jed Foundation