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There is a darker, quieter side to the holiday, and it does not stop at the new year – alcohol abuse that doesn’t always make the police blotter, but is just as devastating.
The “Post-Holiday Blues” are real. For those dealing with grief, isolation or clinical depression, the forced cheerfulness of the season can be suffocating.
Alcohol is a depressant. People drink to numb their pain, but it only deepens their despair, creating a vicious cycle and emotional distress. The mental health consequences of long-term alcohol misuse can include chronic depression, anxiety and increased suicide risk. Tragically, this contributes to a rise in suicide attempts and completed suicides during and immediately after the holiday season.
The holidays are tough on both sides of an alcoholic. We know that this season of comfort and joy finds us going a little heavier on the “comfort,” which is especially disturbing for those with any addiction. Americans consume up to 27% more alcohol, especially around New Year’s Eve and Christmas, leading to increased binge drinking (binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more for men in one sitting). Many people binge drink during the holiday celebrations, which increases the likelihood of reckless behavior and accidents.
While for some, a drink is just part of the festivities; for others, it is a dangerous accelerant that fuels legal crises, shatters families and leads to tragic, irreversible outcomes.
The notion that January (Post-Holiday Slump) is the most depressing month of the year is often associated with a variety of factors, but it’s important to note that individual experiences can vary widely. Many people experience a letdown after the festive holiday season in December. The excitement, social gatherings and celebrations often come to an end, and people may feel a sense of emptiness or nostalgia.
Remember, the holidays start on the 4th of July and end in the cold month of January. Alcohol is consumed as part of holiday celebrations, often masking deeper struggles many people face during this time of year. Alcohol reduces a person’s mindfulness, letting out negative emotions and weakening their ability to manage stressful situations. Both effects reduce their inhibition when experiencing suicidal thoughts, thereby increasing the risk that they will move from suicidal ideation to an attempt.
For families already walking on eggshells, the presence of alcohol at holiday gatherings is like lighting a match in a room full of gasoline. The risk and severity of abuse can increase even further when other drugs, such as prescription medications or illegal substances, are also involved. The legal consequences, like protective orders, jail time and divorce, are severe, but the emotional scars left on spouses and children are often permanent.
In 2024, the United States experienced a slight decrease in the suicide rate, with approximately 48,800 deaths reported, which is about 500 fewer than in 2023. The provisional national rate fell to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, down from more than 14 per 100,000 the year prior.
What these reports do not show is the cause and effect. Although alcohol is present, the cause of death may read “blunt force trauma (ran their car into a tree);” this statistic would raise the alcohol death rate to hundreds of thousands.
Drugs and alcohol are the real causes, although the accident – car, gun or mishap is written as the cause, no mention of drugs/alcohol. Alcohol acts as a catalyst. It lowers inhibitions, amplifies emotions and impairs judgment, reducing the ability to make safe decisions or operate a vehicle.
Alcohol abuse doesn’t just ruin parties; it ruins lives. It’s a fact that people die around the holidays.
Additionally, if someone is consistently feeling depressed, they need support from friends, family
or mental health professionals.
Details: Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor; Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Dr. Herb Clark of Murphy is an expert in the field of addiction with 33 years of experience. He served on the N.C. Professional Practice board, adjunct professor for two universities and was a U.S. Marine serving 25 years, through two wars and three conflicts traveling the world, seeing the effects of addiction firsthand worldwide. Send questions or comments to him at hypno321@hotmail.com.