Depression and Alcohol Use: Why They Often Occur Together
Ending a bad day with a drink may seem harmless. When it’s a bad week, that drink really feels like it’s needed.
Alcohol can be a short-term fix to depression. It can calm down those troublesome thoughts for a few hours.
Then morning comes. The same issues remain and at times grow worse.
That’s the challenging link between drinking and depression. A person might think that they need to take a drink of alcohol because they are feeling depressed. They might also have a change in their mood following an increase in drinking.
In either case, only treating one side will leave the cycle going.
The “I’ll Just Have a Drink” Cycle
Depression can take a lot out of you and make everyday things hard to do. Even when you’re not at work, sending a text can be too much.
This is when it’s easy to be tempted by alcohol. It instantly uplifts your mood.
The problem is that drinking won’t fix what caused those feelings.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use disorder often coexists with mental health disorders.
Lifetime rates of alcohol use disorder among individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are between 27% and 40%.
This overlap is why there is a need for the discussion of drinking and mental health.
Why Alcohol Can Make Depression Worse
At first, alcohol can make you feel relaxed.
But the relief is short-lived. Alcohol has an impact on sleep, mood, judgment, and emotional control. This can lead to an aggravating cycle.
You’re depressed, and you’re drinking. You may also experience fatigue, anxiety, guilt, and/or a lack of emotion after that. After that, drinking again may appear to be the easiest way out.
There were 27.9 million Americans age 12+ with alcohol use disorder in 2024.
This doesn’t mean that all drinkers are depressed! But the link is prevalent and should be taken seriously.
The Signs Aren’t Always What They’re Expecting
You don’t have to drink day after day to see an alarming trend.
At times, it’s only during stressful times. Some people might drink more following an argument. Alcohol can be used to comfort when feeling lonely.
Or you could suffer from a hangover after a weekend of booze.
Some of the indicators are:
- Alcohol use as a means of numbing sadness or hopelessness.
- Becoming more depressed after drinking.
- Regular use of alcohol to sleep.
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
- Difficulty reducing despite emotional issues.
Not all of these signs mean that you have a disorder. However, they should be discussed with a qualified professional.
Depression Can Be Disguised In “Normal” Drinking
It is still possible to continue working daily. It is still possible to have friends and take care of family.
Everything may appear to be fine, on the surface. However, drinking can gradually become a way of coping.
Imagine a person walks out of an office adjacent to Copley Square after a bad day at work. Taking a break for drinks might seem normal.
Eventually, that pattern can become linked with coping with sadness and/or stress.
How To Tell When It’s More Than A Rough Patch
Symptoms of depression and alcohol-related disorders may overlap. Both can have an impact on sleep and energy levels, concentration, and motivation.
That intersection can be confusing regarding what is happening.
A professional evaluation may be useful to determine if there were symptoms present before the consumption of more alcohol.
In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health says that substance use and mental health problems go hand in hand.
This is one of the reasons that dual diagnosis depression treatment may be helpful. The aim is not necessarily to identify which problem is the first.
Treatment, however, will focus on how both problems impact your life at this present time.
But Treating One Problem May Not Be Enough…
Think of a way to deal with depression without talking about drinking. Alcohol can keep having an impact on sleep, mood, and treatment outcomes.
Now imagine that you just concentrate on drinking!
Even though the situation is improving, the underlying depression can make it seem like it’s too hard to make it.
Integrated treatment is more holistic than treatment of these two concerns individually. Relapse prevention, therapy, and sometimes medication will be used as treatment.
The Connection Matters in Massachusetts Too
Massachusetts is no exception. Things can happen fast around Boston.
There’s a lot that can add up to stress, from the rush of traffic on the Mass Pike to work deadlines or family responsibilities.
For some people, drinking alcohol could become a habit without them realizing it.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 52% of substance treatment admissions included individuals who had previously received mental health treatment.
Don’t delay seeking help until a crisis occurs.
How Forrest Behavioral Health Can Help
Treatment at Forrest Behavioral Health can work to treat the relationship between depression and alcohol use and other behavioral health issues.
Routine assessment can help to identify your symptoms and get to the bottom of them.
The key is in dealing with the overall situation.
Don’t dismiss depression as if it were not a big deal and alcohol is. Don’t overlook alcohol abuse when it seems depression is the larger issue.
It’s Okay To Stop Going Around In Circles
When you’re feeling down, alcohol might seem like a huge relief. But feeling better for a few hours differs from actually getting better.
If you think there is a connection between alcohol and depression in your life, you need to have a closer look.
To learn about treatment options in Massachusetts, visit Forrest Behavioral Health.
You do not have to pick and choose which to do first – treat your mood or change your drinking patterns. In some cases, the best thing to do is to treat both at once.
