Alcohol May Cause Depression, Anxiety and Low Mood​

This co-occurring disorder isn’t uncommon, but it can be difficult to treat. If you drink alcohol regularly, your body can become physically dependent on it. When you stop drinking, you might experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability, or depression. For some people, fear of experiencing withdrawal symptoms can perpetuate alcohol use and create a cycle that worsens depression over time. It varies, but many people start to feel depressed as alcohol’s effects fade, sometimes hours later or the next day, during a hangover. With regular drinking, that low feeling can linger, becoming a constant shadow.

Other reasons for the uptick included boredom and availability of alcohol. Then people “fall into a kind of loop” of drinking and depression, and the two conditions feed off each other. She is dedicated to working with individuals who come from Alcoholics Anonymous diverse backgrounds, cultivating a compassionate and inclusive approach to patient care.

Does Alcohol Affect Depression and Anxiety?

• It’s often a lifelong commitment, but one that can improve your life, health, and well-being in the long term.
• Some research also shows that children with depressive disorders are more than twice as likely to start drinking alcohol early on in life.
• In these, you can also find support from others in the same situation.
• They can be helpful for many, so talk to your doctor about this option.
• Alcohol and depression are connected in several ways, and the two often feed off of one another.
• Existing research indicates that depression can cause alcohol overuse, and alcohol overuse can cause depression.
• If you consume too much alcohol, it can depress your CNS to the point of death.

Alcohol can significantly impact the levels of neurotransmitters in your brain, making depression worse. Antidepressants can help even levels of these chemicals and can help relieve symptoms of depression. If not treated, alcohol use disorder can become a life-long struggle. Almost 30 percent of Americans will experience alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. Alcohol use disorder and depression are two conditions that often occur together.

Anxiety and depression are more common among people with heavy drinking habits

No matter your drink of choice, alcohol can easily be abused and often is, especially when it’s used to self-medicate. Alcohol can produce feelings of euphoria and excitement, making you feel instantly happier and more confident, but those feelings are fleeting. Much like barbiturates (sedatives), alcohol is a drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain’s functionality. In the shorter term, without intervention to change drinking habits, researchers expect 100 additional deaths and 2,800 additional cases of liver failure between 2020 and 2023. Substance-induced depression is different from major depressive disorder and, by definition, should improve once a person stops consuming substances (such as alcohol).

How Alcohol Abuse and Depression Often Co-Occur

By Sarah Bence, OTR/LBence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. If you have depression and drink too much alcohol, then you may be wondering if there are any treatments or lifestyle changes for someone in your situation. People with depression may use alcohol as a form of self-medication.

• Depending on your situation, it may be wise to locate and be in touch with a treatment center in case one is needed immediately.
• For example, alcohol may temporarily reduce anxiety and lower inhibitions.
• And if you start drinking at an early age, your risk of alcohol use disorder is higher.
• One explanation for this connection is that people experiencing depressive symptoms turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication to alleviate their stress and escape from negative emotions.

For example, a person with frequent episodes of severe depression may turn to drinking to self-medicate. People who frequently drink are more likely to experience episodes of depression, and they may drink more in an attempt to feel better. Major depression and alcohol use disorder are also co-dependent in women, research suggests. Women with depression are also more likely to engage in binge drinking. There’s also a strong link between serious alcohol use and depression.

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Long-term alcohol abuse can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to illnesses and infections. It does this by impairing the function of white blood cells which defend the body against pathogens. When you have a compromised immune system, it might take longer to recover from illnesses and can increase your risk of developing chronic health conditions. Previous trauma is also a risk factor for alcohol misuse and depression.

Children who have major depression as a child may drink earlier in life, according to one study. The good news is that treating both alcohol misuse and depression can make both conditions better. It probably won’t hurt to have a glass of wine or beer once in a while for social reasons unless you have a health condition that prevents you from drinking. But if you turn to alcohol to get you through the day, or if it causes trouble in your relationships, at work, in your social life, or with how you think and feel, you may have a more serious problem. Alcohol lowers your emotional guard, letting negative emotions like guilt or shame creep in. In the short term, a drink might feel good, but you’re left with a low mood as it wears off.

If you’re already struggling with mental health problems, this drop can hit harder, making you wonder why you feel so sad. Experts caution anyone struggling with depression or another mental health condition to avoid using alcohol. Alcohol may be a socially acceptable drug, but it’s still a drug. Alcohol abuse and dependence are both considered an alcohol use disorder, with studies finding that alcohol dependence is more closely tied to the persistence of depressive disorders. It’s not unusual for low spirits to accompany heavy alcohol use. In fact, research shows that anxiety and mood disorders commonly co-occur with alcohol use disorder, and depression is the most common among them.

How are they treated?

Heavy alcohol use also can make antidepressants less effective. We treat addiction and mental health through a holistic and integrated approach. These feelings of depression often ease as you recover, but frequent hangovers can keep you stuck in a low mood. Although alcohol is a depressant, that does not mean it makes you feel more depressed.