Alcohol and Depression: How Are They Connected?

Physical symptoms can include changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased), lack of energy, low sex drive and disturbed sleep. Alcoholic beverages can be problematic — even dangerous in some instances — if you’re taking antidepressants. “Whenever we prescribe antidepressants, we really advise against combining them with alcohol and other drugs like cannabis — regardless of the type of antidepressant,” Anand says.

Therapy

However, in cases of a serious alcohol use disorder, the brain can take up to 2 years to rebalance itself. Around age 22, Tietz started drinking alcohol — and by the end of that year, she drank alcohol every day. By the time she reached age 25, she could barely get out of bed in the morning due to her depression. But she still felt that drinking helped — rather than hurt — her mood. She soon began going to therapy and taking antidepressants, but continued to experience bouts of depression from time to time — especially after the birth of her four children. Although drinking a small amount of alcohol might make you feel better at first, any positive effects quickly decrease as you continue to drink.

Teenagers’ brains are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to adverse physical and mental health effects. If you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for a few weeks, the NHS advises you to contact your GP surgery to get help. And if you’re worried about your drinking, there are alcohol support services that can help. That could lead some people, for example, to turn to drinking to cope with stress caused by these issues.

Support Groups

• If you’ve ever used alcohol to deal with feelings of depression, you may have found that after your buzz wears off, you’re left feeling even lower than before.
• This means you will feel less of alcohol’s perceived benefits over time, causing you to drink more.
• In addition to a low mood, Tietz often experienced extreme fatigue, apathy, and difficulty focusing.
• Many doctors recommend patients check into a rehabilitation facility.
• Major depressive disorder involves persistent and prolonged symptoms, but depression, in general, takes on many different forms.

Self-medicating is using alcohol as a way to cope with depression. Therefore, it causes symptoms like compulsive behavior and intense cravings. From there, enzymes in your liver break down about 95 percent of the alcohol you consume.

• Research shows that depressed children are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road.
• However, she says finding a community of fellow sober moms, and returning to therapy as needed, has helped her to stay the course.
• Because of its role in our “fight-or-flight” response, increased levels of cortisol can cause feelings of chronic stress.
• Sometimes, alcohol can make you feel even worse than you did before.
• People with depression may use alcohol as a form of self-medication.

Or you might attend an intensive inpatient group a few times each week. Depending on your intoxication level, you may experience decreased inhibition, loss of judgment, confusion, and mood swings, among others. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.

people share how alcohol worsened their depression — and how sobriety helped improve their mental health

Even if you only drink on special occasions or weekend outings, you may find it helpful to explore life without alcohol entirely. In doing so, you may discover how much healthier you feel, how your relationships strengthen and the unexpected ways your overall quality of life improves. But, whether you set weekly limits or put down the glass completely, it’s about finding what aligns with your personal goals and health needs. Watch out for alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

How To Treat Alcoholism and Depression

Substance-induced depression is different from major depressive disorder and, by definition, should improve once a person stops consuming substances (such as alcohol). One study of 421 people found that 25% had both alcohol misuse and depression. If you have depression and anxiety and want to drink alcohol, there are some considerations.

Alcohol affects your brain, making you feel relaxed in a small amount of time. As you drink more, you become intoxicated and unsteady, and you might do or say things you normally won’t. Individuals diagnosed with clinical depression should be extremely cautious when it comes to using substances such as alcohol. According to Kennedy, for those taking antidepressants, combining them with alcohol can reduce their efficacy.

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 affect the part of your brain that controls judgment and inhibitions. This might make you feel more relaxed and confident, leading some people to engage in behaviors they might normally avoid. For someone with depression, this can exacerbate feelings of guilt, shame, and self-loathing. Later in the night and the next day, you’ll become deficient in these chemicals.

People with depression and anxiety might use alcohol to help ease symptoms, but excessive alcohol use can also worsen your mental Alcoholics Anonymous health. Some experts also suggest that both depression and alcohol use disorders share underlying pathophysiology in that they are both neuroinflammatory conditions. Major depressive disorder involves persistent and prolonged symptoms, but depression, in general, takes on many different forms. Depressive symptoms can result from life stressors, mental health conditions, medical conditions, and other factors.

Prescription Medication for Alcohol Abuse

Depression from quitting alcohol is one of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (which can be either mild or severe). This release of dopamine may help explain why many people believe alcohol eases their depression — but these effects are temporary. He drank daily in his early 20s — around the time when he started experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Understanding the Link Between Alcohol Use and Depression

• For example, a person with frequent episodes of severe depression may turn to drinking to self-medicate.
• But regularly drinking more alcohol than these guidelines recommend can pose a number of health risks, including depression.
• When that happens, you’re more likely to feel depressed, particularly if you have a family history of depression.
• By stimulating these two regions, alcohol can make you feel more relaxed, confident, at ease, and positive overall.

Existing research indicates that depression can cause alcohol overuse, and alcohol overuse can cause depression. On the other hand, both conditions also share certain risk factors, such as genetics and social isolation. Having either depression or alcohol use disorder increases your risk of developing the other condition. If you’re battling depression, alcohol isn’t going to make you feel better. It may temporarily suppress feelings of isolation, anxiety, or sadness, but that won’t last.

Certain behaviors and drinking patterns can also expose you to unhealthy amounts of alcohol. These cause long-term changes in your brain chemistry and potentially lead to anxiety and depression. Carmen Chai is a Canadian journalist and award-winning health reporter. Her interests include emerging medical research, exercise, nutrition, mental health, and maternal and pediatric health. She has covered global healthcare issues, including outbreaks of the Ebola and Zika viruses, anti-vaccination movements, and chronic diseases like obesity and Alzheimer’s.