After a terrible breakup, a job loss, or a significant life event, some admit they turn to alcohol to numb their pain. Since alcohol makes you sleepy, a few beers or glasses of wine can help you feel more at ease and less upset.
Understandably, finding ways to cope is not wrong. One bottle of beer or a glass of wine cannot harm you, but if you need to drink whenever you feel down, which is always, you might consider getting evaluated by professionals.
Depression and Alcohol Abuse Disorder
Depression and alcohol abuse disorder go way back. One-third of people with depression have alcohol abuse disorder. It isn’t surprising because people with mental health illnesses try every coping mechanism to feel good. But in this situation, alcohol use can make your depression symptoms severe.
Research shows that when depressed and excessively drunk, a person is more prone to experience frequent, severe depressive episodes and contemplate suicide. Also, antidepressants are less effective if you drink a lot.
Generally, depression can occur before, during, and after your alcohol use disorder.
Signs that Your Alcohol Use Has Become Too Much
To determine how severe your alcohol addiction is, you must identify how many symptoms you exhibit. Here are the common symptoms of alcohol addiction:
- Difficulty in cutting down alcohol
- Drinking most of the time
- Uncontrollable urge to drink alcohol
- Neglecting work, school, or home obligations because of drinking
- Drinking alcohol even if it harms your physical, social, career, or relationship
- Neglecting your hobbies in exchange for drinking
- Experiencing a hangover when not drinking
- Having short-term memory loss or blackouts
- Extreme mood swings and irritability
- Drinking to feel normal, to cope with stress, or to relax
- Becoming distant or isolated from close friends and family members
- Drinking while driving
- Exhibiting withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking
How to Treat Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder?
Treatment is available for alcohol addiction just as it is for any other disorder. Here at Skyward Treatment, we commend individuals who accept that they need help to recover. We offer various treatment programs that target substance abuse disorders and mental health illnesses or co-occurring disorders.
We have treatment programs like Medically-Assisted Detox, Outpatient Treatment Program, Residential Treatment Program, and therapies that are scientific-based and proven effective for co-occurring disorders.
Skyward Treatment is based in Sugar Land, Texas. If you have more questions or clarifications, our helpline is open and we’re always looking forward to helping those who want to change their lives for the better.
Reach out to us today for more information.