There is a significant link between depression and alcohol. While drinking alcohol is very common in day-to-day life, many people using it are doing so to hide depression or other mental health issues. In other cases, you may already have a diagnosis of depression, and you’re using alcohol as a way to deal with the feelings you have.
Both alcohol and depression can lead to problems in your personal life, work-life, and social life. When you’re depressed, you may not be interested in doing the things you used to enjoy. You may also find that drinking alcohol makes you feel better for a little while, but it ultimately makes your depression worse.
At Tides Edge Detox, we empower you to break the cycle with comprehensive treatment for both depression and alcohol. Combining alcohol detox and addiction therapy provides relief from both disorders.
What’s the Connection Between Depression and Alcohol?
Depression is a type of mental health disorder with serious implications for overall health and wellbeing. It’s recognized as a constant state of being sad, feeling helpless, and experiencing hopelessness. Depression impacts every part of your life, including relationships. It can also increase the risk of suicide in some people.
Many people with depression find themselves facing a need to manage it with or without professional guidance. They often turn to alcohol as a way to do that, to self-medicate. While alcohol is a depressant itself, it can help to take your mind off your worries. It helps to minimize the symptoms you feel with your mental health disorder.
For some people, alcohol or drug use can create depression itself. If you didn’t feel this way until you started abusing alcohol, you might have been predisposed towards this type of mental health disorder. The alcohol makes it more prevalent.
Whichever way depression and alcohol abuse began, they both contributed to worsening the other disorder.
5 Reasons Why Alcohol Could Cause Depression in Men and Women
Alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction can cause depression to develop to worsen for the following five reasons:
- Drinking allows the individual to forget, momentarily, their discomfort or distress. Unfortunately, it doesn’t lessen or solved the underlying mental health issue allowing it to fester and worsen.
- When someone abuses alcohol, their brain chemistry can alter, making them more susceptible to developing mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
- Excessive drinking or alcohol addiction can put added social, economic, and interpersonal strain on a person worsening their depression or triggering it.
- Alcohol consumption can also directly lead to depressive symptoms, like mood swings, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness.
- Last but not least, quitting alcohol cold turkey can cause or worsen withdrawal symptoms, including depression.
How Can You Treat Both Conditions?
If you have depression and alcohol use disorders, it’s very important to seek treatment that focuses on both aspects. Treating depression without the alcohol use disorder leaves you at risk, as does treating the alcohol addiction without treating your mental health disorder. This link between both conditions is called a co-occurring disorder. For it, we use dual diagnosis treatment. It focuses on treating both conditions simultaneously, giving you the best tools and resources to heal.
You may need this type of treatment if you have symptoms such as:
- Cravings for alcohol
- Constant sadness, even if you are unsure why
- Erratic sleep (sleeping too much or too little) or insomnia
- Unexplained fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself or others
- An inability to stop drinking or returning after vowing to stop
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
What Can You Expect from Depression and Alcohol Treatment?
What can you expect from depression and alcohol treatment? First and foremost, you can expect to receive comprehensive care. This means that we will address all aspects of your addiction, including the psychological and physical components. We will also work to address any co-occurring disorders you may have.
At Tides Edge Detox, we offer treatment for depression and alcohol. This includes a range of treatment options, including medical detox programs, to help you break the dependency on alcohol. We then offer evidence-based therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help you learn how to control your thoughts. Because we offer medical support, we help improve the chemical imbalance depression creates safely.
We also offer holistic treatment, including yoga therapy programs and group support programs. You’ll get one-on-one treatment from your addiction counselor as well. All of this together can empower your health and recovery for mind and body.
Depression and alcohol addiction can be two very serious conditions. When left untreated, they can lead to a host of other problems. However, with the help of a qualified treatment center, you can get on the path to recovery.
Discover the Help You Need at Tides Edge Detox
You can’t manage depression and alcohol abuse alone. You don’t need to either. At Tides Edge Detox, we offer a comprehensive treatment plan to help you take back your life from mental health disorders. If you’re struggling now, our team is here to listen to you and provide you with support from detox through therapy. Contact us to get immediate help when you call 866.723.3127 today.
