As a licensed therapist, White recommends starting with a 30- to 90-day break to get a clear picture of your relationship with alcohol. “This period allows you to identify triggers and develop new coping mechanisms,” she explains. She outlines that it’s about digging into whether those triggers are emotional, tied to your environment, linked to certain exposures or even connected to certain times of the day or year. If it would be helpful, consider reaching out to a professional or someone close to you to guide and hold you accountable. Besides severely affecting your physical and mental health, alcohol can also lead to social and legal problems. These diseases disrupt liver function, severely damaging the body over time.

Alcohol Dependence and Depression

Children who have major depression as a child may drink earlier in life, according to one study. Individuals with mental health Substance abuse conditions may be more likely to use alcohol as a treatment. Several studies suggest that military veterans are more likely to experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and misuse alcohol. Drinking alcohol temporarily boosts serotonin levels, which can improve your mood in the moment.

Stop drinking if you start to feel bad

As you increasingly depend on alcohol for pleasure, you will find other activities less enjoyable. It can lead to anxiety and depression and leave you in a cycle of alcohol abuse and dependence. Treatment is often a two-pronged approach involving psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, your first step is to make an appointment with your family doctor for help. They can refer you to a mental health professional or addiction specialist.

• This slowing of the CNS is why alcohol may impair your movements, emotions, speech, perceptions, and judgment.
• Every glass chips away at your brain’s natural ability to manage those feelings.
• These clinics can help someone go through the withdrawal process with medical supervision.
• Teenagers’ brains are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to adverse physical and mental health effects.
• If you feel more comfortable talking in private, there are helplines you can call.
• Alcohol use disorders may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the combination of symptoms you’re experiencing, but drinking problems can exist regardless of a clinical diagnosis.

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This multi-test approach will help them rule out other conditions that might account for your symptoms. I was working with a fantastic postdoc named Chatpol Samuthpongtorn, who was reading through the literature on depression, looking for an interesting project to take on. And he came across this one paper from 2016 that pointed to the possibility that citrus lowers the risk of depression. There are several FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of depression.

In some cases, you may receive a dual diagnosis of a major depressive disorder (MDD) and an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This co-occurring disorder isn’t uncommon, but it can be difficult to treat. Aside from medication, most people struggling with both alcohol and depression benefit from some type of therapy or behavioral health support. This can mean joining a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery. It can also mean finding a personal therapist, or a recovery coach. People with depression tend to have higher levels of cortisol in their bloodstream to begin with.

What to Do About Depression and Alcohol Misuse

Fast-forward to today, and we are facing a similar wake-up call—this time with alcohol. Alcohol consumption can lead to feelings of depression due to chemical reactions. In the short term, drinking alcohol can make you feel good, sociable, and even euphoric. But if you have trouble managing your drinking, become fixated on alcohol, or keep drinking even though it may cause issues, you might have alcohol use disorder.

For example, a person with frequent episodes of severe depression may turn to drinking to self-medicate. People who frequently drink are more likely to experience episodes of depression, and they may drink more in an attempt to feel better. Previous trauma is also a risk factor for alcohol misuse and depression. This is true for adults as well as children and young adults.

Alcohol and Cancer Risk

However, rehydration can help you feel better physically and improve your overall well-being. With fewer hangover symptoms, you may also see an emotional improvement. These feelings are also linked to alcohol withdrawal, resulting in "hangxiety" and "hangover depression." Alcohol abuse and mental health issues often go hand in hand. This is especially true for depression, and the reasons are often complex. Not everyone who drinks alcohol to cope with depression has alcohol use disorder (AUD), Sharma says.

• White shares that drinking to cope with negative emotions is one of the strongest predictors of developing alcohol use disorder.
• Because of the complicated relationship between depression and alcohol use, Lurie says it's best to address both at the same time through a specialized treatment program.
• Many studies have found that alcohol dependence is closely linked to depression.
• Excessive alcohol drinking can also cause problems socially, such as issues with family, school, employment, and friends.

Treatment for Depression and Alcohol Abuse

Some people abuse alcohol in an attempt to fight depression. They take alcohol to numb the symptoms, but in reality, their depression gets worse in the long run. Additionally, Prashant Sharma, a board-certified psychiatrist and professor at Johns Hopkins University, says drinking alcohol can reduce levels of the brain chemical GABA. At age 40, Mayfield stopped drinking again — but this time, he started therapy to unpack the underlying issues driving his depression and desire to drink. Mayfield first quit alcohol at the age of 21, but he didn't get treatment for depression and started drinking alcohol again about seven years later. Below, people who experienced this connection firsthand share how their drinking and depression fueled each other — and how they ended the cycle.

Depression Raises the Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder and Vice Versa

But if you’re struggling with depression, and also trying to cut back on your drinking, you may want to discuss alternatives with your doctor. Here are three ways drinking can make things worse in the long run. Drinking small amounts of alcohol can have some cardiovascular benefits, but excessive drinking can harm the heart and blood vessels. Alcohol can increase blood pressure and triglycerides, potentially contributing to the risk of heart disease and stroke. Medications like antidepressants have also proven effective in treating depression concurrent with alcoholism. Doctors may prescribe medication if they believe it would benefit your recovery.

These groups offer emotional support, accountability, and guidance in maintaining sobriety. Another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), converts acetaldehyde into acetate. Moreover, consistent dehydration can cause lasting damage to these sensitive areas. Drinking alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances. This can result in pancreatitis (inflammation and swelling of the pancreas).