People who are dependent on alcohol may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit drinking. These symptoms may range from nausea and anxiety to seizures and hallucinations. The pathways resulting in the development of co-occurring alcohol use disorder and depression are complex and intertwined. For others, symptoms of depression can influence the development of an alcohol or drug abuse problem. As one of the most widely used and socially accepted drugs in the world, alcohol is easily abused.
Stimulants vs. depressants
- These symptoms may range from nausea and anxiety to seizures and hallucinations.
- In this way, depressants can cause depression symptoms, but, with a couple of noted exceptions, they don’t usually create the mental health condition in the user in the first place.
- Nicotine is one example, although it is most frequently characterized as a stimulant.
- Some compounds can have characteristics of both depressant and stimulant drugs.
- Some are safer than others, but all produce lower levels of awareness in the brain and cause the activity in the CNS to slow down.
This is because self-medication with alcohol is linked to increased psychiatric comorbidity and stress levels, as well as a lower quality of life. But another connection that behavioral scientists have been looking at is any association between increased instances of alcohol consumption and increased rates of depressive episodes and symptoms. In addition, drinking alcohol quickly and in large amounts can lead to more severe symptoms, such as memory loss, coma, even death. If not treated, alcohol use disorder can become a life-long struggle.
Long-Term Alcohol Risks
There is a lot that we still need to understand about the link between alcohol and depression, and this is an emerging area of research. Existing research indicates that depression can cause alcohol overuse, and alcohol overuse can cause depression. 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. “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. In other words, depressants can both lead to feelings of depression while also making matters worse for people already battling clinical depression.
What causes depression and alcohol use disorder?
Drinking too much alcohol can be harmful to your health and may lead to an alcohol use disorder (AUD). It may be helpful to understand how alcohol in particular can affect these feelings. “Alcohol is known as a depressant because it slows down brain and nervous functioning,” explains Rosenthal.
General Health
However, the flip side is that people who frequently use alcohol are more likely to also be depressed. Drinking a lot gallbladder and alcohol may worsen these feelings, which may actually drive further drinking. Alcohol may be a form of self-medication for people with depression.
People may develop an addiction to alcohol after using it to cope with stress or traumatic life events. Addressing emotional or mental health concerns can help people with AUD find ways to cope that do not involve alcohol. Individuals diagnosed with clinical depression should be extremely cautious when it comes to using substances such as alcohol.
Almost 30 percent of Americans will experience alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. People who develop AUD continue to consume alcohol despite experiencing negative consequences. This condition can have a negative effect on health, central nervous system depression relationships, and emotional well-being. A person should speak with a doctor about healthy alcohol consumption.
A common psychoactive drug, alcohol, alters your consciousness, thoughts, and mood. It can be tempting to drink for the “mood-boosting” side effects, but this can lead to alcohol abuse or dependence on alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant that bac depends on what reduces the speed of brain activity.