You often hear the phrase “alcohol is a depressant” tossed around, but many of us don’t know what that means. If alcohol is a depressant why do I feel happy when I drink? Is alcohol an upper or a downer? Do depressants make you depressed?

If you have ever wondered about the answer to these questions then read on. We are here to tell you everything you need to know about alcohol being a depressant!

Is Alcohol a Depressant or a Stimulant?

When you initially drink alcohol it can feel like a stimulant. It helps you to loosen up and lose your inhibitions. This stimulating effect is why many people drink alcohol in the first place!

But in reality, alcohol is classified as a depressant and has many sedating effects.

Why is Alcohol Considered a Depressant?

So why is alcohol classified as a depressant? And what is a depressant?

Alcohol is classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Drinking slows down the functioning of your central nervous system. This means that your brain function and neural activity is slowed down.

So how does it work? Well, one of the primary things that happen when you drink is that the alcohol binds itself to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is the neurotransmitter responsible for calm, sedation and depression of the CNS. Alcohol also inhibits glutamate which is important for brain function and memory.

At the same time, it causes the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for feeling pleasure. This makes your brain crave more alcohol in order to release more dopamine. But the more you drink the more the depressing effects increase in your CNS.

Alcohol Depressant Effects?

The common depressant effects of alcohol are generally very well known. They are all the traits we associate with being tipsy or outright drunk!

A quick list of the common alcohol depressant effects are as follows:

• Unsteady movement

• Slurred speech

• Lower inhibitions

• Distorted judgement

• Lower ability to think rationally

• Dulled senses

• Slower reaction time

• Memory loss

• Irregular, slower breathing

• Dizziness

• Vomiting and nausea

• Low blood pressure

• At extreme levels, it can lead to comas, seizures and death.

Do Depressants Make You Depressed?

Many of us assume that depressants must cause depression. After all, it's practically the same word! But in actuality, alcohol, and other depressants, do not directly cause depression.

What they do, however, is slow the CNS, which in turn slows your emotional regulation. This can make people who are already struggling with emotional regulation start to feel depressed and emotionally dysregulated.

Can Alcohol Make You Depressed?

Whilst depressants don’t directly cause depression, drinking regularly is strongly associated with depression. Post-drinking depression is also a very common side effect of alcohol.

What is not fully clear is whether drinking causes depression, or depression makes you more likely to drink. Most likely it's a mixture of the two.

To exacerbate the chemical effects of drinking, people who are drunk have fewer inhibitions and less clear judgement so are at a higher risk for things such as losing all of their money, ruining relationships or losing a job. All of which cause, or make already existing depression worse.

Many people find that they feel depressed or down for a day or two after a night of heavy drinking. This is because alcohol has released such as a rush of dopamine that your brain is low on the hormone. If you don't have enough dopamine you might feel down and depressed.

What Can You Drink Instead of Alcohol?

Already struggling with the winter blues, seasonal depression or another mental health condition? Just want to take care of your central nervous system?

Then you might be thinking about cutting down the amount of alcohol you drink, or cutting out completely. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious drinks - instead try out some of the many, delicious alcohol-free beverages not available.

Better news still, scientists have discovered that drinking alcohol-free beer (and presumably other alcohol-free drinks that mimic alcohol) tricks your brain into thinking that you are drinking and causes a slight stimulating effect.

So why not find the joy in missing out and order a JOMO subscription box to truly discover the wonderful world of alcohol-free beverages? Each JOMO box is mindfully put together and includes:

• One full-sized alcohol-free spirit

• Alcohol-free cocktail recipes, mixers and garnishes to go with the spirit

• Thoughtfully selected snacks to pair with the drink

• A selection of ready-to-drink alcohol-free drinks, such as non-alcoholic wine, premixed alcohol-free gin & tonic, etc.

The JOMO box is the perfect place to discover a whole range of alcohol-free drinks so that you can look after your central nervous system, avoid depression and still enjoy a delicious drink.