Alcoholism, Depression,Treatment

Alcoholism and depression are intertwined. Many people don’t know that alcohol is a depressant, although its initial effect can be stimulative for some people. There are reasons for the changing nature of alcohol — it affects different parts of the brain as more alcohol is consumed. But, ultimately, alcohol is a depressant. This is incredible when you consider how many people claim to drink to deal with depression. Drinking alcohol makes depression worse. If a doctor gave you a medication to combat depression and it made the depression worse, you’d likely talk to the doctor and ask him to change your medication. So, why do some people continue drinking alcohol, even when it makes the depression worse.

This is from WebMD:

It’s not always clear if depression makes you drink or vice versa. Studies of twins have shown that the same things that lead to heavy drinking in families also make depression more likely.

Researchers have found at least one common gene. It’s involved in brain functions like memory and attention. Variations in this gene might put people at risk for both alcohol misuse and depression.

Home and social environment also play a role. Children who were abused or raised in poverty appear to be more likely to develop both conditions.

There are several possible explanations. One explanation is that alcoholism and depression are co-occurring problems and the person with the alcohol and depression problem is simply confused about why they drink — depression seems to be a good excuse the drinking problem. Another explanation is that the person was depressed before drinking ever started, and small amounts of alcohol do help alleviate the depression, but the person is predisposed to alcoholism, and now the person is consuming more alcohol, and it’s exasperating the depression. Another explanation is that heavy drinking causes the depression — the drinker is depressed because drinking large amounts of alcohol is depressive, plus alcohol is likely creating problems in the drinker’s life that would depress anyone. When you are in debt and your husband is in the process of leaving you and taking the kids, and when your boss is on the verge of firing you, these life problems are certainly depressing.

This brings up another point. Many loved ones of an alcoholic think the person is going out and whooping it up, while they have to stay home and be responsible, but, at some point with the alcoholic, they’re drinking just to feel something close to normal. Alcohol no longer has a significant stimulative effect on the alcoholic, it’s mostly depressive. The alcoholic who drinks because they will experience terrible pain and withdrawals if they don’t drink, and even convulsions, is not whooping it up The individual is sick, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and slowly committing suicide. So, when we discuss causes and effects regarding alcohol and depression, if the signs and symptoms of alcoholism are present, then it does no good to medicate or treat the depression without addressing the elephant of alcoholism.

Conversely, if the alcoholic/depressive has a co-occurring mental illness like depression, the depression, or other mental disorder, must be addressed for the best chances of recovery. If the person has a life-long history of depression, then it’s likely there’s a lack of certain brain chemicals. Because the person has been naturally depressed, then behaviors are affected accordingly, along with  the person’s world-view. It’s hard to untangle and follow the dots of cause and effect. The process of recovery in treatment addresses these behaviors and thoughts. But, again, if the alcoholism is not addressed, there will likely be little change. Until a person is clear of alcohol’s effects on the mind and emotions, it’s hard to tell what’s going on.