Alcohol and stress

Stress - our body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure¹ - is very common, and it’s a topic that’s widely discussed.

Stress can be normal and motivating, but sometimes it causes health issues or is a symptom of them.² What we do know is that, if you are stressed, ‘drinking to relax’ is counter-productive: it doesn’t help.

Evidence shows that prolonged heavy drinking and binge drinking (more than six units of alcohol in a single session for women and eight units for a men) can cause stress.^3,4,5

Why alcohol makes stress worse

The brain relies on a delicate balance of chemicals and processes. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it disrupts that balance negatively.⁶

The more alcohol you drink, the greater the effect it has on your brain function and – potentially – your mental health. Regardless of the mood you’re in before drinking, alcohol’s effect on the brain can lead to feelings of being less inhibited, depression, aggression, anger, anxiety - or stress.⁷

Alcohol disrupts the delicate balance of chemicals and processes in your brain, affecting your thoughts, feelings and actions – and sometimes your long-term mental health.⁸

Drinking alcohol can also interfere with your sleep, making stress harder to deal with.^9,10 After drinking alcohol, you may spend less time than usual in the important, restorative Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep.^11,12 This can leave you feeling tired the next day, no matter how long you stay in bed, and make feelings of stress harder to deal with.

Having some drink-free days can help and you should sleep better and find it easier to wake up in the morning.

How to deal with stress without alcohol

Drinking alcohol to relieve stress doesn’t work in the long term. There are far more effective ways – try these tips to reduce stress without alcohol:

• Try doing some exercise By changing your scenery and going for a brisk walk, or playing your favourite sport, it can help clear your head of the day's worries. Any form of physical activity can help.
• Challenge your thinking The way you think affects the way you feel. The NHS has tips on how you can reframe unhelpful thoughts.
• Relaxation methods Meditation, yoga or breathing techniques can all be helpful when you feel worried or anxious.
• Allow yourself some positivity It can be as simple as taking some time for yourself to do something you enjoy. Each day, consider what went well and try listing three things you’re thankful for.
• Writing or talking Noting down your thoughts and feelings or talking to somebody you trust about how you’re feeling is also a positive thing to do.

Drink free days: 10 stress-busting tips