New research from the University of Chicago suggests that drinking to cope with stress may have the opposite effect.
The body’s reaction to stress involves separate physiological and emotional responses that occur at different times. For example, stress causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, releases cortisol and increases feelings of tension and negative mood. Each of these reach a peak and dissipate at different rates. If alcohol is introduced into the equation, its effect will depend on the point at which it enters the system.
The research, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, demonstrated a bi-directional relationship between alcohol and stress.
Alcohol changes the way the body deals with stress. For example, it can decrease the hormone cortisol which the body releases to respond to stress. It can prolong the feelings of tension and it can reduce the pleasant effects of alcohol or increase craving for more alcohol.
In short, alcohol can prolong recovery, make a person’s response to stress worse and make it more likely that we will want to drink more alcohol.
We know that long term stress is harmful – not only psychologically, but also physically, leading to illness and having to take time off work.
If you are interested in reading more about how the body reacts to stress you may like to read the earlier post entitled Stress and Work.
If you are concerned that you may be suffering from stress and would like to speak to someone about psychotherapy, please click here.
