Alcohol and Your Mental Health

Alcohol is a drug. It is classified as a depressant, which means it shows down vital functions resulting in slurred speech, instead movement, disturbed perception and an inability to react quickly. Alcohol affects teenagers more than adults because teenage bodies are still growing and alcohol has a greater impact on young people's physical and mental well-being.

This is because regular drinking interferes with chemicals in their brain ,that are vital for good mental health. You may initially feel relaxed after a drink,but alcohol can contribute to depression and anxiety and make stress harder to deal with.

Drinking won't lead to a good night's sleep either as it can disrupt your sleep patterns. A lack of good quality sleep is also linked to depression and anxiety.

Taking a step of stopping drinking alcohol can improve your overall mental health and reduce the risks of serious long term harm.

In Diplomats For Health In Resilient Community, we say, " There is life after alcohol addiction." We create safe supportive spaces to help you make connections,find support and guide your recovery journey since we believe, recovery in alcohol is rooted in connections and having good support network from friends, family , workmates and even the community in general.

By: Faisal Njau, Youth Mentor.

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