Withdrawal symptoms, like pain, sleeplessness, anxiety or irritability, occur when a person who is addicted stops drinking. According to the NIH, this stage is where someone stops drinking to feel the “high” of alcohol, drinking rather to escape the “low” of the withdrawal. A 2019 study found highly shy people experienced reduced anxiety while drinking, but their anxiety increased the day after a night of drinking. Binge drinking is drinking enough alcohol to raise one’s BAC to 0.08% or above. Women typically reach this level after about four drinks and men after about five drinks in two hours. Binge drinking—and heavy drinking—is a type of alcohol misuse (a spectrum of risky alcohol-related behaviors).
Alcohol may cause or worsen depression
Chronic alcohol use often triggers neuroinflammation, an immune response in the brain that can exacerbate mental health problems. Studies reveal that excessive drinking increases levels of inflammatory markers such as cytokines, which can lead to impaired brain function and heightened depressive symptoms. Long-term alcohol consumption has profound effects on brain health, impacting not just neurotransmitter function but also the physical structure of the brain. These changes significantly contribute to the co-occurrence of alcoholism and depression, making recovery more challenging. Chronic alcohol use can damage critical areas of the brain that govern decision-making, emotional regulation, memory, and overall mental health.
- Furthermore, alcohol overuse can damage the body and may lead to AUD.
- Among people in treatment for DSM-IV AUD, almost 33% met criteria for major depressive disorder in the past year, and 11% met criteria for dysthymia.
- Depression can also be directly caused by alcohol in the case of a substance-induced disorder.
- Holistic strategies, including lifestyle changes like exercise and mindfulness, further support brain and emotional healing, while aftercare programs and support networks provide long-term accountability.
- A person should speak with a healthcare professional if they think they have AUD.
Children born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are more likely to develop depression later, according to an earlier study from 2010. Research from 2011 found that having an alcohol use disorder significantly increased a person’s risk of having depression. Regular drinking can lead to depression, and depressed people are also more likely to drink too much. Research indicates that it can have negative effects even in low amounts. Furthermore, alcohol overuse can damage the body and may lead to AUD. Another medication, called disulfiram, causes negative symptoms such as nausea after consuming alcohol.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
So, your system prioritizes getting rid of alcohol before it can turn its attention to its other work. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is irreversible and can lead to liver failure and liver cancer, even if you abstain from alcohol. Prolonged alcohol consumption is also closely linked to cancer and suicide. Depressants are commonly known as “downers,” as they typically reduce stimulation.
Research shows that depressants affect one’s central nervous system by reducing feelings of stimulation or arousal in users while also slowing down or interfering with messages between their brain and body. Research suggests that light or moderate wine consumption may reduce the risk of dementia, but drinking an excessive amount of wine increases the chance of dementia and cognitive decline. Whether you’re experiencing depression or not, it’s essential to evaluate your drinking habits and consider why you drink, when you drink, and how you feel when you drink. Individuals diagnosed with clinical depression should be extremely cautious when it comes to using substances such as alcohol. According to Kennedy, for those taking antidepressants, combining them with alcohol can reduce their efficacy.
Therapy
Dr. Sengupta shares some of the not-so-obvious effects that alcohol has on your body. In short, the more often and more heavily you drink, the more difficult you may find it to regulate your emotions over time. Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you.
On the other hand, both conditions also share certain risk factors, such as genetics and social isolation. Having either depression or alcohol use disorder increases your risk of developing the other condition. Despite the availability of difference between na and aa several evidence-based medications and behavioral therapy approaches for treating co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders, improvements in treatment for this population are clearly needed. Consideration of disorder heterogeneity and key subgroup differences may help develop more targeted and personalized treatments to improve outcomes for this population. It’s also worth noting a correlation and causation issue here in that substance abuse and diagnosed depression often coexist in many people, which can make it hard to pinpoint where one problem ends and another begins. “Data reveals that 27% of people with major depressive disorder also have a drug addiction,” says Jameca Woody Cooper, PhD, a psychologist and adjunct professor at Webster University in Missouri.
Psychosocial treatments and mutual help
Excessive alcohol drinking can also cause problems socially, such as issues with family, school, employment, and friends. This could have a carryover effect on depression since loneliness and lack of social support are linked to depression. People with depression may use alcohol as a form of self-medication. Drinking alcohol can become a coping mechanism to deal with feelings of hopelessness, numbness, guilt, and worthlessness. Naltrexone may also be used to reduce drinking without quitting cold turkey.
The research needs more representation of women to increase understanding of the sex differences and to better characterize the mechanisms underlying women’s heightened vulnerability for depressive disorders. These populations experience disparities in access to care for AUD and depressive disorders but are underrepresented in studies of these disorders. Mutual-help groups also can be effective elements of treatment for co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders. Nearly one-third of people with major depression (or major depressive disorder) also have alcohol use disorder. Research shows that depressed children are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road. Also, teens who’ve had a bout of major depression are twice as likely to start drinking as those who haven’t.