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[โ€“] 0 points 3 years ago* (2 children)

Nothing to do with mental health.

This is absolutely not true. Alcohol has significant effects on neurotransmitter activity and your limbic system. Even one-time intoxication can cause emotional dysregulation that may lead vulnerable people to attempt suicide or self-injure where they would not if sober. Chronic heavy use can absolutely lead to depressive episodes due to long-term changes to neurotransmitter activity in your brain, not to mention the depression caused by the psychosocial toll of heavy alcohol use

Not judging alcohol use here, I drink pretty regularly, but also let's not kid ourselves about the real risks

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  • [โ€“] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I'm not discounting it's impact on mental health.

    I'm only saying that when it's described as a depressant that it is the effect on the sympathetic nervous system that is being described. That's the use of the term when applied to drugs and medications.

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