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For some, it creeps up slowly; for others, it hits fast after heavy drinking. Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use can increase an individual’s risk of alcohol use disorder. At the same time, people with depression may attempt to self-medicate with alcohol.
Connection between alcohol and depression
One study of people with both AUD and depression undergoing treatment for both conditions found that the majority of symptom improvement for both conditions happened during the first three weeks of treatment. Excessive alcohol drinking can also cause problems socially, such as issues with family, school, employment, and friends. This could have a carryover effect on depression since loneliness and lack of social support are linked to depression.
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- When COVID-19 hit — bringing the compound stressors of illness and uncertainty — it threw many individuals into instant, extreme stress.
- People may turn to alcohol as a way to cope with mood problems, but drinking alcohol can also contribute to symptoms of depression.
- It’s important to remember that drinking alcohol in moderation is typically fine.
- Alcohol lowers your emotional guard, letting negative emotions like guilt or shame creep in.
- Alcohol use can also affect how antidepressants work, which can affect depression treatment.
- “Therapeutic interventions designed to address both issues often include a focus on addressing emotional pain or trauma, as well as developing and practicing healthy coping behaviors,” says Kennedy.
Alcohol can increase blood pressure and triglycerides, potentially contributing to the risk of heart disease and stroke. One of the most well-known effects of alcohol is its impact on the liver. The liver metabolizes alcohol and breaks it down into less harmful substances. Drinking too much alcohol can overwhelm the liver and lead to inflammation, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Individuals with alcohol use disorder often develop a physical dependency on alcohol.
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This is a common part of diagnosis because both so frequently occur together. Your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam and a psychological evaluation. These tests help them calculate your risk factors for either condition. This multi-test approach will help them rule out other conditions that might account for your symptoms.
Does Depression Drive You to Drink Alcohol?
Another way that depression could lead someone to drink alcohol is through changes in their brain as a result of depression. These changes can heighten the physiological “rewards” of alcohol and increase the likelihood that they will continue their pattern of drinking. One study of 421 people found that 25% had both alcohol misuse and depression. Drinking small amounts of alcohol can have some cardiovascular benefits, but excessive drinking can harm the heart and blood vessels.
Get Help with Alcohol Abuse and Depression from Discover Recovery
But “the rebound effect is that it can actually exacerbate” negative emotional states, says Amy Goodwin, an addiction counselor at UCHealth in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It’s important to remember that drinking alcohol in moderation is typically fine. But if you find yourself needing to drink more to receive the same effects, it can lead to excessive drinking and some of the health problems described above.
- Alcohol can increase blood pressure and triglycerides, potentially contributing to the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Treating one without addressing the other often leads to recurring struggles.
- Over time, heavy drinking disrupts brain chemicals that keep your mood steady, making you more likely to feel depressed or develop alcohol dependence.
- Alcohol may be a socially acceptable drug, but it’s still a drug.
- In this article, we look at the different ways that drinking alcohol can make your depression symptoms worse.
For most moderate or severe AUD drinkers, however, clinical intervention — including detox and the use of medication — may be the only way to a cure, Fehling notes. Researchers agree that alcohol and depression have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that depression can cause overuse of alcohol, but overuse of alcohol can also cause depression. It helps Oxford House people understand events and thought processes that lead to depression and substance misuse. Treating one of these conditions may improve symptoms for both. However, for the best results, your doctor will likely treat them together.
Therapy
Though depression is experienced by many, it can often go undiagnosed and untreated. You don’t have to battle the depression alone and relying on alcohol to make you feel better will only cause further pain. Reach out to a mental health professional to talk about treatment and strategies for dealing with depression.
