However, alleviating depression does not resolve the alcohol use disorder. 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. The widespread struggles of major depressive disorder are quite serious and, without care and support, alcohol and depression can be too overwhelming for someone to manage on their own. This often leads them to find ways to “manage” their depression and often results in alcohol use disorders (AUDs) developing. As with anxiety and mood disorders, it can help for a healthcare professional to create a timeline with the patient to clarify the sequence of the traumatic event(s), the onset of PTSD symptoms, and heavy alcohol use.

What's the Connection Between Alcohol and Depression?

Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Setting boundaries in your professional and personal life can help you feel better. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses electrical currents to induce a seizure, and has been shown to help people with clinical depression. It’s used in people with severe depression or depression that is resistant to other treatments or antidepressant medications. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant medications and tend to have few side effects. They treat depression by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain.

Persistent depressive disorder

These psychological conditions are often intense enough to interfere with life functioning, and the symptoms are often recognized by physicians and other health care providers as serious enough to require treatment. When depressed or anxious alcohol-dependent people are asked their opinions about cause and effect, they often reply that they believe they drink in order to cope with their symptoms of sadness or nervousness. Abusing alcohol while living with mental health conditions is incredibly dangerous.

• If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help.
• They can be helpful for many, so talk to your doctor about this option.
• Since quitting drinking, Kitley says her mood is the most consistent it's ever been.

Treatment & Support

• Alcohol can produce feelings of euphoria and excitement, making you feel instantly happier and more confident, but those feelings are fleeting.
• It is vital to discuss the risks and possible interactions of every medication with a doctor.
• Managing symptoms of depression involves finding the right combination of medications and therapies.
• When the two conditions occur together, it’s known as “major depressive disorder, severe with psychotic features,” or depressive psychosis.
• Your primary care provider can refer you to a therapist, but you can also try directories, such as this one through Psychology Today.

Regularly drinking a lot of alcohol can cause or worsen symptoms of depression. Self-medicating by drinking more alcohol to try and numb or mask depression can also make your https://ecosoberhouse.com/ symptoms worse. It can influence your mood and produce feelings of pleasure, motivating you to continue behaviors that make you feel good — like drinking alcohol. Beginning at the age of 14, Kelley Kitley, a psychotherapist in private practice, recalls sleeping a lot, losing her appetite, withdrawing socially, and having negative thoughts about herself. 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.

How we reviewed this article:

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. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. If you’re concerned alcohol has become your go-to method of managing negative feelings like depression, there’s no shame in reaching out for support.

Natural remedies and lifestyle tips

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. Then, try distracting yourself to help take your mind off how you feel. It often feels very tempting (and easy) to keep drinking until you feel better, especially when you have less access than usual to more helpful coping methods.

• Drinking alcohol can become a coping mechanism to deal with feelings of hopelessness, numbness, guilt, and worthlessness.
• They can help you create a different treatment plan that may work better in helping you manage your condition.
• Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate your mood and improve symptoms of depression.
• This can lead to withdrawal from friends and social situations, which can increase your risk for depression.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and tetracyclic antidepressants (TECAs) treat depression by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among males, females, teens, and children. 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.