Alcohol & Depression

If you are struggling with depression, you may turn to alcohol to cope. The problem is that alcohol is only going to make your feelings of sadness, anxiety and isolation much worse. Then, your depression will become worse, too. Not only that, but you might become addicted to alcohol and end up with a dual diagnosis (addiction to alcohol or drugs along with having a mental health disorder).

Many studies show there is a connection between depression and alcohol and the two conditions may worsen each other. It is very important that anyone with a dual diagnosis gets treatment for both alcoholism and depression together.

If you are struggling with both these issues, our Southeast Addiction team has your back. We are here to help you overcome an alcohol addiction, depression and any other mental health conditions or addictions you might have.

Alcohol Use Effects

Alcohol can affect people in different ways and with this substance being so readily available in our society, there are many people who use it as a way to self-medicate. There are many effects that can occur when using alcohol including:

• Excitement
• Euphoria
• Instant “happiness”
• Increased confidence
• Depression

Since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, the positive feelings that come from using it flow out quickly and then turn into negative effects. This is part of the reason alcohol & depression are often tied together. The more alcohol you consume, the more severe your depression will likely become. The more severe your depression is, the more alcohol you might abuse. Overall, this can lead to lower inhibitions, confusion, mood issues, loss of judgment and many other problems, too.

Factors Leading to Dual Diagnosis Disorders

Do you or someone you know struggle with depression and alcohol addiction? If so, there are many factors that can lead to this dual diagnosis. It can be helpful in your recovery journey to learn more about which factors pertain to you, your family member or your friend. Some of these factors include:

• Genetics
• History of abuse or trauma
• Underlying mental health illnesses
• Exposure to violence
• Assault
• Feelings of loneliness, grief, or despair

If you believe you are at a higher risk of developing depression, an addiction or both, you might want to talk with a mental health professional today. If you already struggle with dual diagnosis issues relating to drugs, alcohol, depression, anxiety, PTSD or other conditions, please reach out to our Southeast Addiction treatment team right away.

Learning About Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

As noted above, there are numerous studies that show the link between depression and alcohol use disorder. When diagnosing the major depressive disorder and alcohol addiction, it is important they are diagnosed and treated together. That is the best way to help a person overcome both of these issues.

It is also important to know that while alcohol use may be socially accepted, that doesn’t mean alcohol isn’t a harmful substance or drug. There are many signs and symptoms pertaining to alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction such as:

• Stopped participating in activities you enjoy
• Alcohol use interferes with work, school, or home life
• Find yourself in dangerous situations when under the influence of alcohol
• Drinking for the purpose of getting drunk or blacked out
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using alcohol such as sweating, nausea, difficulty sleeping, and racing heart
• Tried to stop drinking, but found yourself going back to doing so
• Drink longer or more than you intended to on numerous occasions
• Continued drinking to cope with depression, anxiety, or PTSD
• Kept going out partying despite wanting to do something different

Did you know that studies show around 9 out of every 10 adults in the United States have had an alcohol binge at some point in their life? Many of these people have an alcohol use disorder while others have a drinking problem. 

If you are consuming alcohol to cope with mental health issues, whether you have an alcohol use disorder or not, is quite concerning. Whether you believe you have an alcohol use disorder/addiction or not, it is a good idea to take a look at your drinking habits. 

Think about how much you drink, when you drink, why you drink and how drinking makes you feel. If you feel uncomfortable or uneasy about any of these things, please reach out to our Southeast Addiction team today.

Learn More About Major Depressive Disorder or MDD

There are over 17 million adults in the United States who struggle with feelings of depression. Many of these adults do have a major depressive disorder (MDD). This disorder can negatively impact your behaviors, feelings and thoughts.

How are you supposed to know if you have major depressive disorder or any other type of depression? You can always seek out help from a mental health facility such as with our team here at Southeast Addiction.

Do you have any of the following depression signs or symptoms?

• Feeling hopeless, empty, or sad
• Not having an interest in activities you enjoyed
• Having a significant change in your weight
• Appetite loss or eating too much
• Experiencing fatigue, sleeping a lot, or having difficulty sleeping
• Thought of suicide or death
• Trouble concentrating

Major depressive disorder involves prolonged and persistent symptoms. However, it can present itself in many different ways. There is also a wide range of stressors that can cause or worsen depression such as medical conditions, addiction, mental health issues and much more.

If you are struggling with alcohol & depression don’t let things get worse. You can get the help you need right here at our Southeast Addiction treatment center.

Treatments for Alcohol and Depression Issues

Here at Southeast Addiction, we have a range of treatment options that can help you from admissions help to individual therapy to aftercare planning. When people receive dual diagnosis support for alcohol & depression in a professional treatment center, it almost always is better than trying to go at these issues on your own.

We want you to feel comfortable getting dual diagnosis treatment no matter what your circumstances might be. Some of the treatments we can offer to you include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Trauma-focused therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Medication-assisted treatment (mood stabilizers, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, SNRIs, SSRIs, etc.)

These are just a few of the different treatments that we can provide to you while attending a treatment program here at Southeast Addiction. If you want to know more about these treatment offerings or any others that you might need to treat alcohol addiction and/or depression issues reach out to our team today to find out how we can help you.

Get Alcohol & Depression Treatment Today

Are you or someone you know struggling with alcohol & depression issues? Whether you are struggling with alcohol & depression, PTSD drug abuse or any other dual diagnosis, our team is here to help you work through and overcome these conditions.

Contact us today, here at Southeast Addiction, to speak with a member of our team who can get you into an alcohol and depression dual diagnosis program right away.