Alcohol is one of the most popular recreational substances in the world, second only to caffeine. This sedative-hypnotic drug has been used throughout human history to treat various ailments. Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system causing relaxation, euphoria, and lowered inhibitions in small doses. Some people drink alcohol to avoid feeling the symptoms of depression. Using alcohol in high doses for extended periods of time causes cognitive impairment, social dysfunction, emotion dysregulation, and family strife.
Alcohol abuse and depression commonly occur together. While this might be a coincidence, the two disorders have clear connections. Explore the links between alcohol and depression as well as the need for dual diagnosis support in alcohol addiction rehab.
How Can Depression Lead to Alcohol Abuse?
Feeling depressed for a short period of time is common, but long-term depression is a far more serious concern—as many as 350 million people around the world struggle with depression. Unfortunately, nearly one-third of those individuals abuse alcohol. Alcohol may mask symptoms of depression, but it also prevents people from the following:
- Developing coping skills
- Healing from trauma
- Effectively managing anxiety
- Regulating emotions
If people don’t seek treatment for depression, or even if treatment is unsuccessful, they may try self-medication with alcohol. Drinking alcohol can feel like a temporary fix, but the opposite is true. Alcohol is actually a depressant, which only makes the situation worse. Anyone who drinks alcohol on a regular basis can develop an addiction. However, those who abuse alcohol and need depression treatment and anxiety treatment are even more likely to develop alcohol abuse disorders.
Why Alcohol Abuse Can Lead to Depression
Individuals who struggle with pre-existing depression may notice that it gets worse through alcohol abuse. Others might start by abusing alcohol and then see signs of depression emerge. Alcohol not only depresses users, but it can lead to a number of mental and physical health concerns, including:
- Organ failure
- Physical dependence
- Hopelessness
- Family dysfunction
Consuming large amounts of alcohol creates a rush of euphoria for some individuals. Over time, as a person’s tolerance increases, they need more alcohol in order to get the same effects. In between drinking sessions, the absence of feel-good biochemicals leads to feelings of sadness, apathy, and depression.
The Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Clearly, there’s a strong link between alcohol and depression. Alcohol abuse can cause depression, which can lead to alcohol abuse. For that reason, no addiction treatment program would be complete without providing mental health support to clients.
Dual diagnosis treatment is when two or more disorders receive support, attention, and care at the same time. In this case, the two issues would be alcohol addiction and depression. If individuals only seek treatment for addiction, then a bout of depression could lead to relapse. If depression is the first focus, then clients under the influence of alcohol won’t be able to make progress. The only truly effective solution is to treat both issues simultaneously.
Managing Alcoholism and Depression
Fortunately, the rehab and sober living programs at Crestview Recovery can help clients tackle mental health and addiction issues at the same time. There’s a variety of treatment methods to choose from, and we customize our plans to treat the individual person rather than the disease. Examples of therapies available at Crestview Recovery include:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Mindfulness meditation therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Exploring the links between alcohol and depression reveals the importance of dual diagnosis treatment. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, we design our treatment to address both physical and psychological concerns. If you’re ready to start living a life that you and your family can be proud of, contact our Portland rehab center by calling 866.262.0531 to check availability.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
