The Alcohol-Depression Connection: Symptoms, Treatment & More

For some individuals, however, the problem is much more severe and protracted. While the causes of depression are not clearly understood, they include a number of genetic, environmental, and personal factors. Depression can severely impact a person’s personal and professional life and potentially even lead to suicide. Drinking can counteract the benefits of your antidepressant medication, making your symptoms more difficult to treat. Alcohol may seem to improve your mood in the short term, but its overall effect increases symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even if you are not already struggling with depression, research shows that misusing alcohol can increase risk of developing depression in the first place. To disrupt the cycle and the toll it takes on mental health, you need to reduce or stop your alcohol use and learn to cope with depressive feelings in healthier ways.

• You may need to drink more to get the same effects, and other coping methods may no longer work.
• Whether you’re experiencing depression or not, it’s important to evaluate your drinking habits and consider why you drink, when you drink, and how you feel when you drink.
• Studies have shown that, among people abusing alcohol, somewhere between 30 percent and 50 percent suffer depressive symptoms at any given time.
• If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today.
• This means that regular drinkers don’t get as much of the feel-good rush, and many increase the amount they’re drinking while trying to regain it.

Individuals with alcohol use disorder often develop a physical dependency on alcohol. People with a family history of either condition may have a higher risk. Research suggests a genetic predisposition may make you more likely to experience depression or alcohol use disorder. Previous trauma is also https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a risk factor for alcohol misuse and depression. Children who have major depression as a child may drink earlier in life, according to one study. Alcohol may be a form of self-medication for people with depression. The “burst” of energy from alcohol can be a welcome relief against some symptoms.

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Drinking more and more alcohol to cope with depression can quickly increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol use disorder, as well as exacerbate depressive symptoms in the long term. It causes more frequent and severe depressive episodes over time instead. It reduces the effectiveness of antidepressants and increases the likelihood of suicidal ideation. AUD is a medical condition “characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health consequences,” according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use can increase an individual’s risk of alcohol use disorder. There also is research saying certain genetic risk factors are present in both AUD and major depressive disorder, so there may be a genetic predisposition for certain people with depression to also become dependent on alcohol.

Alcohol and antidepressants can also exacerbate depressive symptoms. After the alcohol begins to leave the brain, however, the chemicals deplete and it can leave the person feeling even worse than before they drank.

Does Alcohol Recovery Increase Depression?

Individuals with dual diagnosis have a unique set of circumstances to work through. For example, 30 to 40 percent of people with an alcohol problem also struggle with depression. It’s only once they’re at the facility that they discover the presence of depression. Some people with a drinking problem start because they enjoy the effects of alcohol. They aren’t trying to escape the symptoms of a mental illness or relieve the stresses of a difficult life event. It’s common for people to use alcohol to get through difficult times. It seems like a quick way to relieve anxiety, lessen feelings of depression, and take the edge off.

Moderate amounts are very healthy, but too much can have devastating effects. CBT can teach you ways to modify your thoughts and behavior to feel better and help you avoid misusing alcohol. In alcohol and depression addition, your doctor may prescribe medicines that are meant to lower alcohol cravings, which can reduce your desire to drink. Treating one of these conditions may improve symptoms for both.