Alcohol Use Among Depressed Patients: The Need for Assessment and Intervention PMC

Alcohol Use Among Depressed Patients: The Need for Assessment and Intervention PMC

When alcohol is used, these chemical balances are significantly impacted, which may result in poor decision-making. When this occurs infrequently, the risks are relatively low for long-term conditions to develop. However, when chronic alcohol misuse occurs, the risk grows exponentially and will eventually result in potentially permanent disruption of one’s neurotransmitter balance. This has frequently resulted in depressive symptoms developing or growing in severity. It’s very important to address both alcohol misuse and depression simultaneously when looking into treatment options, as these conditions are closely intertwined and can exacerbate each other, Kennedy explains.

If you’re already hungover, exercising may boost your mood

For some people alcohol can be a trigger for suicidal thoughts too. Alcohol misuse and depression are serious conditions that you shouldn’t ignore. If you think you have a problem with either, talk to your doctor or therapist.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

If you begin to notice any unwanted side effects — physical or emotional — while drinking, it may be best to call it a night. Spending time in nature can also have health benefits, including improving your mood. If the sun is out, that’s even better — sunshine can trigger the release of serotonin, which can help relieve depression. Even if they don’t improve immediately, you’ll probably have an easier time doing something about them when you don’t have to deal with physical symptoms, too.

• Adults who met criteria for alcohol use disorders also had a higher risk for depression.
• If you don’t have alcohol dependence, you can stop drinking alcohol.
• Drinking a lot may worsen these feelings, which may actually drive further drinking.
• The good news is that treating both alcohol misuse and depression can make both conditions better.
• Addiction is similarly distressing for the individual and their families.

Medical Professionals

• “People who have an anxiety disorder and then drink are going to have even bigger effects,” says Koob.
• The most common treatment options are included below, but know that recovery requires a personalized treatment plan that best suits your mental health needs.
• “I used alcohol to cope with feelings of isolation and sadness,” he says.
• Gillian Tietz, host of the Sober Powered podcast, began feeling depressed around 10 years old when she faced bullying in school.
• But if you turn to alcohol to get you through the day, or if it causes trouble in your relationships, at work, in your social life, or with how you think and feel, you may have a more serious problem.

As a result, it’s possible that having a few drinks that make your BAC rise and then fall back to normal again can make you more anxious than you were before. At first, drinking can reduce fears and take your mind off of your troubles. It can help you feel less shy, give you a boost in mood, and make you feel generally relaxed. In fact, alcohol’s effects can be similar to those of antianxiety medications. It can influence your mood and produce feelings of pleasure, motivating you to continue behaviors that make you feel good — like drinking alcohol.

Walking, running, jogging, and even gardening can help reduce the severity of depressive symptoms. It focuses on building social networks into one’s life for support and safety. IPT is also helpful in developing new ways to include support does drinking make your depression worse for alcohol use cessation. There are many different classifications of depressive disorders as symptoms can manifest in many ways, leading to different diagnoses and treatment options. If you don’t have alcohol dependence, you can stop drinking alcohol. Most people will feel better in a couple weeks, and the depression will get better.