Regular alcohol use can lead to dependence and eventual addiction. One of the side effects of long-term alcohol use is depression. Conversely, depression can cause people to turn to alcohol to find short-term relief from their symptoms. However, continued drinking eventually leads to addiction and a worsening of depressive symptoms. By learning more about the connection between alcohol and depression, individuals can pursue healthier alternatives to addressing their depressive symptoms.
Exploring the Connection Between Alcohol and Depression
There is a connection between regular alcohol use and depression that can lead to addiction and a worsening of depressive symptoms. Alcohol is a depressant, but its initial effects are more like a stimulant. People will become upbeat, relaxed, and even happy. But, the more one drinks, the depressant effects occur, such as sleepiness, cognitive problems, balance and coordination issues, and even blackouts and memory problems.
One primary connection between the two is around 33% of people with depressive disorders use alcohol or other substances to self-medicate their condition, leading to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Usually, depression comes first, and AUD later. However, AUD can develop first, and depression comes late as the person’s addiction worsens.
Other connections between alcohol and depression are:
- Family history: When someone has a family history of AUD or depression, they are at a greater risk of addiction and mental health disorders.
- Unresolved trauma: When someone experiences a traumatic event, it can lead to depression if it is left untreated. Additionally, some people use alcohol to self-medicate the emotions and feelings they have due to unresolved trauma.
- Binge drinking: Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period can lead to AUD and depression. Some people also binge drink when they are experiencing depressive symptoms.
- Social standards and stigma about depression: Various social standards and stigma about depression can cause people to turn to alcohol to self-treat their symptoms. For example, men are often taught that being depressed shows weakness, so it is better to hide this than share it with others. As a result, they turn to alcohol to cope with their symptoms.
Another significant connection between the two is AUD and depression share several similar symptoms, including:
- Sleep disturbances: Insomnia or sleeping too much is common with alcohol use and depression.
- Persistent sadness: AUD and depression can have periods of consistent sadness.
- Loss of interest in activities: Both conditions often feature a lack of pursuing hobbies and activities once enjoyed.
- Problems concentrating: People have difficulties focusing, making decisions, and memory issues with depression and AUD.
- Feeling worthlessness and guilt: People can blame themselves for their depressive symptoms or inability to control their drinking and feel worthless or guilty.
- Mood swings, irritability, or agitation: These symptoms are common with depression and occur with AUD when the effects of alcohol wear off.
- Social isolation: People with depression and AUD will isolate away from friends and family and even avoid social activities.
- Appetite and weight changes: People can lose or gain weight due to changes in eating habits associated with drinking and depression.
- Self-harm and suicidal thoughts: Severe depression and severe AUD can result in having thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
Effects of Alcohol on Depression Symptoms
Alcohol has short-term and long-term effects on depression symptoms. When someone initially starts drinking, alcohol forces the release of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that produce feelings of happiness and pleasure while reducing depressive symptoms.
However, alcohol only provides temporary relief, and once its effects wear off, the symptoms return. Continued drinking slowly depletes neurotransmitters, and the body gradually develops a tolerance to alcohol. So, to achieve temporary relief of depressive symptoms, larger and larger amounts of alcohol are required.
As the effects wear off, insufficient levels of neurotransmitters are left, so symptoms worsen. Eventually, even when consuming large amounts of alcohol, the person will not find any relief from their depression symptoms. Instead, they may start contemplating self-harm or suicide to make their pain stop.
Challenges in Treating Depression with Alcohol
Some of the significant challenges in treating depression with regular alcohol use are:
- Each condition can worsen the other regardless of which one came first from continued drinking.
- Using alcohol to self-medicate depression does not treat the underlying causes.
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms intensify depression symptoms, leading the person to drink more alcohol.
- For people taking antidepressants, drinking alcohol interferes with their effectiveness and can result in taking higher doses than prescribed or experimenting with other substances to find symptom relief.
Since depression and AUD are linked, it is vital to treat both conditions simultaneously. Only treating one or the other will only result in relapse. Dual-diagnosis treatment is required to address both conditions and ensure comprehensive treatment is provided to individuals for lasting recovery. Dual-diagnosis care ensures individuals overcome their AUD and receive the appropriate care, tools, and strategies for managing their depression without relying on alcohol.
Strategies for Managing Depression Without Alcohol
There are several effective strategies available to help manage depression without having to rely on alcohol, including:
- Individual Therapy: Helps people uncover the underlying causes of their depression and develop effective coping skills.
- Group Therapy: Allows people to learn from others, learn more about depression, and learn how to apply coping skills in real-life settings.
- Family Therapy: Depression and alcohol use impacts everyone. Family therapy helps educate family members on how they can support their loved ones and resolve any issues depression or alcohol use has had on the family.
- Holistic Therapy: Learning holistic methods to manage depression, such as art therapy, music therapy, yoga, and regular exercise, promotes improved physical and mental well-being.
- TMS Therapy: This non-invasive form of therapy helps target specific grain regions for mood regulation and can help alleviate depressive symptoms.
- Trauma Therapy: Addressing and resolving past traumas without alcohol can help alleviate depressive symptoms.
- CBT: Talk therapy helps people uncover the underlying causes of their depression and learn techniques to manage their symptoms better.
- DBT: Learning how to transform negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors into positive ones is an essential skill for managing depression successfully.
Support Systems and Resources
There are several viable support systems and resources available for people to learn more about alcohol use disorder and depression, as well as provide assistance when it is needed, including:
- The Trevor Project TrevorLifeLine: The Trevor Project provides suicide and crisis prevention services to the LGBTQ community.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 24/7 support is available if you are thinking about self-harm or suicide by calling or texting 988.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: SAMHSA offers free 24/7 information about substance use and mental health disorders, prevention, recovery, and referrals.
- Al-Anon: Al-Anon provides support for families and teens impacted by someone’s drinking.
- AA: AA provides support for people who want to quit drinking and those in recovery to help them maintain their sobriety.
- SMART Recovery: SMART Recovery offers an alternative to AA using an evidence-informed approach to overcoming addiction.
- National Insititute of Mental Health: The NIMH offers access to information and resources for depression and other mental health disorders.
Find Depression and Dual Diagnosis Treatment in California and Arizona Today
Whether you are struggling with co-occurring alcohol and depression disorders, depression, or another mental health disorder, help is available at Montare Behavioral Health. Our treatment facilities in California and Arizona provide comprehensive, evidence-based and holistic therapeutic modalities tailored to your unique needs. Contact us today to take control of your mental health and start the path to a brighter future.
Published: 3/13/2025
