The Glass Closet: How Alcohol Addiction Affects LGBTQ+ Mental Health

The Glass Closet: How Alcohol Addiction Affects LGBTQ+ Mental Health

You've probably seen it too, a friend, laughing and carefree one minute, secretly struggling with addiction the next. It's like a punch to the gut, a harsh reminder that even in our safest spaces, we can be hiding in plain sight. In the LGBTQ+ community, where we're supposed to be free to be ourselves, many of us are still trapped, by shame, by stigma, and by the silent killer of alcohol addiction. We feel like we’re living a lie, pretending everything is fine while secretly suffering.  It's a weight we carry alone, even in a crowd of friends, and it's time we started talking about it and how it affects the mental health of LGBTQ+ people

When drinking becomes a way to connect 

With drinking being central to the commercial LGBTQ+ scene, many use alcohol as a ‘social lubricant’ to feel confident and relaxed, to socialize with strangers and to party with loved ones. It has become a way for some queer people to feel validated and accepted, whilst celebrating the union of the LGBTQ+ community in such spaces.

This inherent need to connect with other people who share similar experiences may nudge them to have another drink or take that tequila shot in the club. With belonging being so vital to good mental health and heavy alcohol use a vehicle to that same belonging, particularly in LGBTQ+ spaces; alcohol use risks become a problematic double-edged sword for LGBTQ+ people. 

How the pressure to fit in drives LGBTQ alcohol use

Drinking can be a way to unwind and connect with others, but for LGBTQ+ individuals, it can also be a source of anxiety and self-doubt. When the pressure to fit in with societal norms and expectations is added to the mix, it can be hard to know what's real and what's just a shot of liquid courage.

Alcohol use may contribute to the identity construction of queer people. Its consumption may reinforce traditional views of binary gender where drinking ‘straight’ alcohol, beer or hard liquors are associated with ‘manliness’ and sweet, colorful drinks, like ‘alcopops’, are more ‘feminine’.

But what happens when these expectations are turned on their head, and a drink becomes a powerful tool for self-expression and rebellion? For some, the pressure to conform to these norms can be overwhelming.

Some may feel the pressure to drink ‘appropriately’ in order to fit in, and others may use certain drinks to express their sexual orientation or to blend in amongst heterosexual spaces. However, alcohol use may also be utilized to express and challenge gender stereotypes. For some non-binary and transgender people, choosing to drink certain types of alcohol may be a way to break stereotypes and allow people to convey who they are in LGBTQ+ spaces. Visibility can be extremely validating and is protective for LGBTQ+ mental health, and of course, sexual orientation and gender identities should and can be expressed with or without the use of alcohol.

Using alcohol to cope as an LGBTQ+ person: its effect on mental health 

Alcohol can have a profound impact on the brain and life of an LGBTQ+ person, often in ways they don't intend. As they struggle with drinking, they may experience distressing symptoms like blackouts, mood swings, memory lapses, and poor judgment. Its addiction can even lead to mental health effects that are more severe and sometimes permanent. These may include mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and others.

Sometimes, LGBTQ+ people can struggle with both a mental health condition and an alcohol addiction, a condition known as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis conditions often occur because of self-medication. Many queer people turn to alcohol to cope with symptoms of a mental health condition. Using alcohol to reduce or manage the severity of symptoms is not without potential dangers. In some cases, alcohol use will help alleviate symptoms temporarily; however, once the alcohol wears off, undesirable symptoms return.

Sometimes when the fear, sadness, or stress returns, it does so in a more severe and more intense way leading them to drink more often and more frequently to keep these feelings at bay. Using alcohol to self-medicate is a common but ineffective solution that often causes worsening symptoms. For some LGBTQ+ people, using alcohol to manage mental health symptoms may also cause new symptoms to appear. This is especially true when they try to reduce or stop drinking and experience withdrawal.

Better ways to relax

As a queer person, instead of using alcohol as a method of relaxing, you should try to use healthier methods such as yoga, exercise, listening to music, having a hot bath or talking to a friend, family member, or loved one, about how you’re feeling. Hobbies are also great ways to unwind and relieve stress.

Yoga benefits your mental health by enhancing body awareness, relieving stress, and improving attention. Exercise can also improve your mental health by boosting your self-esteem, reducing stress, and anxiety and helping to prevent mental health conditions from developing. This is because when you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins which trigger a positive feeling. Similarly, music triggers the releases of feel-good chemical dopamine.

At Q Space Detox, we understand that once the cycle of using alcohol has begun, stopping drinking is easier said than done. That’s why at Q Space Detox, we offer different programs to help you or a loved one recover from alcohol addiction and learn to address and cope with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. We have helped many LGBTQ+ individuals in different circumstances to overcome alcohol addiction for good, using our effective and sensitive detox, psychological, spiritual, social, physical and holistic approaches.

If you or an LGBTQ+ loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction and a co-occurring mental health condition, please seek help at 412 SW 5th St. Homestead, FL 33030. We are dedicated to helping individuals break free from the cycle of alcoholism and achieve long-term recovery. Contact us online or call 305-745-7768 to get started on the pathway to recovery today.