State of Mind: Dry January could improve your health

As we near the end of the year and look forward to 2025, around 15 percent of American adults will commit to Dry January, with many more informally joining the effort. While it is perhaps just becoming more widely known, Dry January was launched in 2013 by Alcohol Change UK to help change people’s relationship with alcohol. Coincidentally, alcohol and mental health have many links.

When it comes to risks associated with consuming alcohol, much of the conversation tends to focus on physical health. Rightly so, as alcohol consumption — especially overconsumption either one time or over a period of time — has been shown to weaken the immune system, have negative impacts on the heart, liver, lungs, muscles and bone, and increase risks of sleep problems, digestive issues, heart disease, stroke and various forms of cancer.

Specifically with overconsumption, there are behavioral concerns, such as increased risks of aggression, domestic violence and sexual promiscuity. Then there’s social concerns like negative impacts at work, a potential loss of friends due to behavior issues and financial challenges due to overspending on alcohol. There’s even potential legal concerns associated with things like driving under the influence or other criminal behavior.

Often forgotten, however, are the mental health implications of alcohol. At its core, alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows brain activity and impairs brain functioning, impacting everything from mood and thoughts to behavior. Alcohol also has been shown to increase risks of anxiety, depression and panic disorder. In fact, alcohol use disorder (AUD) often co-occurs with other mental health diagnoses.

All of these potential challenges are compounded by the reciprocal nature of both physical and mental health, and alcohol consumption and mental health. In other words, physical health challenges have been shown to cause or worsen mental health challenges, and mental health challenges have been shown to cause or worsen physical health challenges. Similarly, alcohol consumption has the potential to cause or worsen mental health issues, and mental health issues have the potential to lead to alcohol consumption as people use it as a coping mechanism. There also are overlapping risk factors associated with alcohol addiction and mental illness, such as genetic predisposition or previous trauma.

Conversely, it’s worth considering why one would choose to partake in alcohol. There does exist some possible benefits, such as the potential to temporarily lower inhibitions and increase socialness. There is inconclusive evidence of potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Some people simply enjoy their preferred drinks. Ultimately, the choice to indulge in alcohol is a personal one that should be made by capable adults of legal drinking age.

That individual choice, however, is one that is often clouded with several outside factors. This can include peer pressure, family upbringing, environmental surroundings, perceived social expectations, media portrayals of drinking and even our own perception of the prevalence or normalcy of alcohol use. Interestingly, rates of alcohol consumption can vary widely based on factors like age, race, ethnicity, education, income level, religious beliefs and more.

In the end, alcohol use might exist on a spectrum ranging from a teetotaler, which refers to an individual who simply chooses not to drink, to someone struggling with addiction, and everything in between. It’s important to respect those who choose to pass and offer support to those struggling. And as we celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year, perhaps now is a time to evaluate your own beliefs, expectations, experiences and relationship with alcohol. There may very well be value to both your physical and mental health in participating in Dry January — and maybe beyond.

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Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He also works at Folience, the parent company of The Gazette. He can be reached at bryan.busch@thegazette.com.