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I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. Generally, when we talk about alcohol and depression, we’re speaking specifically about co-occurring depression and alcohol abuse. The lowered inhibitions that are mentioned above can lead a person to make decisions that normally wouldn’t be made. When it’s combined with heightened mood states, displeasing effects can occur.
Seeking Help for Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain’s functionality. Studies suggest drinking often and heavily can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder (MDD). It can even exacerbate symptoms of pre-existing depression or anxiety. Nearly one-third of people with major depressive disorder also have alcohol use disorder. Some research also shows that children with depressive disorders are more than twice as likely to start drinking alcohol early on in life.
Alcohol artificially elevates dopamine levels in your brain in a big way. When we drink, the reward system in the brain gets switched on, and we start to feel amazing. Alcohol can also affect the areas of a person’s brain that assist in regulating emotions. Commonly, a person might start drinking to forget what’s on their mind. Once the initial boost starts to wear off, it’s typical that the individual will start wallowing in their emotions instead.
- When we drink, the reward system in the brain gets switched on, and we start to feel amazing.
- But after a while, alcohol can make them feel drowsy, lightheaded, nauseated, irritable, and foggy-brained instead, leaving them confused and even more depressed.
- Our program is 100 percent accessible through your smartphone or personal device, and is in-network with many insurance providers.
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Low serotonin levels are linked to feelings of depression and low energy. They can also lead to symptoms of anxiety, decreased self-esteem, difficulty sleeping, aggression, and more. The more you drink, the lower your overall serotonin levels become, making underlying feelings of depression worse. An individual might begin drinking more regularly to feel better about themselves and forget about unfavorable memories and emotions. It is more likely to worsen a negative mood state, along with the person’s physical health. If you are curious about the overall effects of alcohol on depression, it is important to learn more about how this substance and mental health disorder affect one another.
Why Is Alcohol A Depressant When It Makes Me Happy?
This is responsible for the redness and flushing that occurs with drinking, as well as an artificial feeling of warmth. Carmen Chai is a Canadian journalist and award-winning health reporter. Her interests include emerging medical research, exercise, nutrition, mental health, and maternal and pediatric health. She has covered global healthcare issues, including outbreaks of the Ebola and Zika viruses, anti-vaccination movements, and chronic diseases like obesity and Alzheimer’s. Chai was a national health reporter at Global News in Toronto for 5 years, where she won multiple awards, including the Canadian Medical Association award for health reporting. Her work has also appeared in the Toronto Star, Vancouver Province, and the National Post.
This is what makes individuals feel happy, excited, courageous, and energetic when they first start drinking. Avoiding self-medication with substances like alcohol is critical, as this can worsen depression and lead to additional health problems. Instead, learning healthy coping mechanisms, such as stress management techniques and engaging in enjoyable activities, can help manage depressive symptoms more effectively. Understanding and implementing these strategies can lead to better control over depression and a higher quality of life. While it might provide temporary relief from depressive symptoms, alcohol ultimately disrupts brain chemistry and mood regulation, leading to an intensification of depressive episodes over time.
- Given all of this, Boden recommends that anyone dealing with depression just stay away from alcohol.
- It’s been shown to be clinically effective in treating cases involving depression.
Two of the neurotransmitters involved in both alcohol use and depression are dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is involved in the brain’s reward system and serotonin helps to balance mood. Fortunately, several important ongoing studies will help answer some remaining questions regarding the treatment of coexisting depressive or anxiety disorders in the context of alcoholism. The COGA investigation will gather more data regarding potential alcoholic subtypes and will continue to explore possible genetic linkages between alcohol dependence and major depressive and major anxiety disorders.
What to Know About Alcohol and Mental Health
Primarily, it alters the levels of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals in the brain and affect mood and behavior. Alcohol, often used as a coping mechanism for depression, can significantly worsen the condition. That’s why our programs focus on the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our clients. We also work closely with families to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships, creating a supportive environment for lasting heroin addiction success.
What should I do if drinking makes me depressed?
If you think you are suffering from clinical depression or anxiety, and you’re drinking to cope, you have options for ending the alcohol/depression/anxiety cycle. Similarly, if you have AUD, develop depression and drink alcohol to cope with symptoms, you need help to end the alcohol cycle. Serotonin is the body’s feel-good hormone, responsible for giving humans the feeling of pleasure and happiness. When the body’s serotonin “tank” is emptied in by alcohol, it causes depression symptoms as the body works to refill it. If an individual is already experiencing depression, it will exponentially worsen these symptoms. Speaking with a mental health professional can be a great first step to feeling like yourself again.