Alcohol and Depression: How Exercise Helps

Alcohol and depression are closely linked, and drinking alcohol can contribute to depression in a number of ways. The consumption of alcohol can affect parts of the brain that control inhibition, which can lead to feelings of relaxation, confidence, and less anxiety in the short term. But chronic alcohol use can also have a neurological impact on the brain, causing biological depressive symptoms.

Alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, which can lead to a lack of quality sleep — and lack of sleep is directly linked to depression and anxiety. People with a family history of depression or alcohol use disorder, a negative outlook on life, low self-esteem, or difficulty with social situations may be more likely to develop depression or an alcohol use disorder. People who have experienced abuse, trauma, and relationship problems may also be more likely to misuse alcohol.

What Alcohol Does When You're Depressed

Alcohol is a depressant that affects your brain's naturally occurring "happiness chemicals" — serotonin and dopamine. This means that although you'll feel an initial boost when drinking, the next day you will be deficient in these same chemicals, which may lead to feeling anxious or depressed.

It is also possible that regardless of the mood you are in, with increasing alcohol consumption, negative emotions will take over — leading to a negative impact on mental health. Alcohol can be linked to aggression, with some people reporting becoming angry, anxious, or even more depressed when they drink.

Relying on alcohol can mean a vicious cycle of dependency behavior, which could lead to a rollercoaster of emotions that ultimately makes symptoms worse.

How Exercise Helps with Depression

Regular exercise helps release feel-good endorphins — brain chemicals that enhance your sense of well-being.

Exercise can be a positive distraction — taking your mind off worries so you can get away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety.

Regular exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits, including:

Improved self-confidence. Exercising regularly can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.

Social connection. Exercise allows you to meet new people. Meeting others and having a laugh can help your mood significantly.

Healthy coping mechanism. Doing something positive to manage depression or anxiety is a healthy coping strategy. Trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how you feel, or hoping depression or anxiety will go away on its own can lead to worsening symptoms.

Exercise offers a long-term solution to easing and preventing depression, while also being beneficial for your overall health. Alcohol does quite the opposite.

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