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Fitness Instructor Shiv Simani has advised on how alcohol can cause harm when used as a coping mechanism for stress.
In a tweet, via his official handle, he shared that turning to alcohol when under stress works, at first, but then as one makes it a regular thing the body's stress hormone rises.
"Never drink to lower stress. It works at first, but then cortisol spikes even higher," he said.
He went ahead to say how controlled drinking induces pleasure in one's brain by releasing dopamine, therefore, giving one a feeling of relaxation and confidence.
But this may cause one's reasoning and memory to be slightly impaired.
"Your reasoning and memory may be slightly impaired. This dopamine spike is what we like about drinking and this is what draws us to it."
Alcohol will work the same way when stressed but one is digging a hole for themselves in the long run.
The fitness coach then says that when one is feeling stressed or feelings of anxiety the stress hormone, cortisol, is produced even more.
"When you are affected by stressors such as fear and anxiety, the body naturally produces more cortisol," he explained.
The hormone is what measures the level of stress, so the more cortisol is produced the more you are stressed.
Alcohol sends chemical signals to the brain, and this triggers the adrenal glands to increase stress hormone production.
"Alcohol consumption impacts the brain's chemical signals, prompting the adrenal glands to increase cortisol production."
Remember when he said alcohol causes the brain to release dopamine therefore causing a feeling of pleasure? While this is happening one's stress symptoms are being masked by the pleasure one is feeling.
"While intoxicated the brain produces dopamine which induces feelings of pleasure and masks stress symptoms," shared the fitness trainer.
Shiv continues to say that an increase in stress levels becomes more evident when the drinker's intoxication wears off.
The stress you had before is now more developed giving you the urge to go drinking again, and the cycle repeats itself.
The coach advises that when one has stress, he/she should find other ways to cope rather than drinking.
"The next time you feel stressed, go get your dopamine spike from elsewhere like hitting the gym, which has an additional advantage to you rather than alcohol that is detrimental to you in the long run."
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