Alcohol and Depression: A Vicious Cycle

There is a vicious cycle between depression and alcohol abuse. Depressed people often seek out alcohol to make them feel temporarily better, and to escape the often overwhelming experience with depression. Depression, for many, is often chronic and unmanagaeble, and alcohol provides an outlet or a way to cope with or manage the symptoms of depression.

I work with a number of men in therapy where alcohol is a factor in their depression. Often times, the first step to treatment is to admit that alcohol us is a problem, and to see how it functions as an escape mechanism or avoidance from the underlying depression and feelings associated with depression.

A dual diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence might look like alcohol abuse or use being one of the things that a patient would report in the first intake session in therapy. They might downplay the role that alcohol plays in their life, or not see the effects that it’s playing on their depression and their life. They might understanding that they are hiding behind their depression by drinking, or masking their depression. 

Minimizing the Amount You Drink

When I work with clients, they may say that “I have a couple of drinks,” which upon further investigation, means that they are minimizing that number her and drinking more. Other behaviors that characterize alcohol abuse and depression, especially in men, may be anger (how many men express their anger) or getting angry when drinking, fighting with one’s spouse about alcohol consumption, withdrawing and drinking, or denial about one’s drinking when confronted. Depression and alcohol abuse are intertwined, and many of the symptoms of each will overlap onto each other.

Some guys, upon recognizing that alcohol is a problem, immediately stop using it, and vow to never drink again. I don’t know if this is realistic or not, but people want something that they can be in control of, so immediately quitting alcohol is seen as a viable first step. It might be, but if depression (or other negative experiences) do come back, which it will, how would you then cope with that overwhelming experience? Would you be tempted to drink again? We want solutions, and stopping alcohol consumption might be an immediate first step, but really understanding and recognizing the relationship or correlation between depression and alcohol abuse is key. You want to know what motivates you to choose alcohol as an avoidance, and seek to work through those issues so that you can experience longer and more sustainable changes, not just superficial ones.

A depressed person would be at risk of alcohol abuse or dependence if they have a family history of this, or because the experiences of depression, including sadness, hopelessness, emptiness and the like, are so overwhelming that they need to be suppressed with alcohol. Alcohol neutralizes the feelings associated with depression, although it also exacerbates it. Alcohol is a depressant, so it will create a vicious cycle of depression and alcohol abuse.

Some ways that depressed people can think about alcohol and monitor its effects are varied. People can realize that alcohol may allow temporary escape of one’s negative feelings associated with depression, but that those feelings keep coming back. Without dealing with them, alcohol is an escape or a way to avoid the pain of those experiences.

Recognizing that alcohol might be a problem, it may allow the new knowledge that something needs to be done about it, and that it’s affecting one’s life in such a way that avoidance isn’t possible anymore. Seeking out professional treatment, for the alcohol abuse and for the underlying issues, would be important for long term change and relief, not just avoidance and escape. Learning effective coping strategies so that one can learn to work through their problems, instead of relying on alcohol, is necessary to achieve a happier and more fulfilling life.

The relationship between alcohol abuse and depression is complex. If you’re dirking more now with COVID-19 and shutdown, you’re not alone. Alcohol consumption is on the rise, especially since bars and many restaurants are closed, and staying indoors for long periods of time would promote the desire to drink more. Keep a watch on it, especially if you are prone to depression, and choose healthier behaviors that won’t have you sink further into the blues or depression more that you would like.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the effects of alcohol on depression or if depression treatment could be right for you, please feel free to contact me or visit my depression treatment page.