Alcohol & Depression | Addiction

It’s common for the consumption of alcohol to be tied with depression. Mental health disorders like depression can drive someone to using alcohol or substances as a coping mechanism. In the case of an addiction, these mental health disorders are known as “co-occurring disorders.”

Regardless of whether the depression comes first or the addiction to alcohol, both conditions fuel each other and cause each other to worsen. It is important to seek help from a professional when dealing with either or both depression and an addiction to alcohol. Clinical and medical professionals can help you recover from both conditions so you can live a life free from addiction and with better skills for managing your depression.

The Relationship Between Alcohol and Depression

Since alcohol loosens inhibitions, people turn to it in an attempt to cope with the symptoms of depression or other mental health disorders. However, alcohol is a depressant. When you consume certain amounts of it, it can lower your mood and worsen the depression.

As you continue to consume alcohol, you become more dependent on it. This can lead to increased depression, as well as an addiction and other struggles, such as strained relationships or missing out on work.

Treating Alcohol Addiction and Depression

Treatment for someone struggling with alcohol addiction and depression is done using the dual diagnosis approach. This is an addiction recovery approach that includes mental health therapy to help patients develop healthier coping skills for their mental health disorders, such as depression.

The dual diagnosis treatment approach is effective in helping patients reach recovery from their addiction and to stay recovered without feeling the need to return to using alcohol as a coping mechanism for depression.

Start your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery

At Tulip Hill Recovery, we emphasize the dual diagnosis approach in many of our treatments. We believe it helps equip patients for an improved quality of life after their initial treatment to help prevent relapsing, so they can continue to live free from addiction.

Are you ready to talk to someone about treatment for addiction and building a better future for yourself? Please contact us online or call us at 877-845-8192 to get in touch with our team and start your recovery journey.