But when you need that cocktail every time a problem crops up, it could be a sign of alcohol use disorder. Some people say they drink alcohol to "drown their sorrows" after a bad breakup, job loss, or other major life stress. And yes, because alcohol makes you sleepy, a few beers or glasses of wine can seem to relax you and relieve anxiety.

Binge drinking, you are at a higher risk of experiencing confusion, mood swings, and being injured while still intoxicated. If you think you have depression and often use alcohol to cope, Sharma recommends reaching out to a psychiatrist, therapist, or primary care doctor for a diagnosis and treatment guidance. Gillian Tietz, host of the Sober Powered podcast, began feeling depressed around 10 years old when she faced bullying in school. In addition to a low mood, Tietz often experienced extreme fatigue, apathy, and difficulty focusing. At age 40, Mayfield stopped drinking again — but this time, he started therapy to unpack the underlying issues driving his depression and desire to drink. Below, people who experienced this connection firsthand share how their drinking and depression fueled each other — and how they ended the cycle.

Does Depression Drive You to Drink?

Over time, you may build up more tolerance to alcohol and need increasing amounts to feel relief from depression. The above-mentioned scenario might https://ecosoberhouse.com/ include a more heightened suicidal behavior risk. Depression and alcohol addiction is a vicious pair that can certainly be challenging to overcome.

Get professional help from an addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp via phone, video, or live-chat. Depression is a very serious medical condition that causes feelings of sadness, listlessness, and unhappiness. Alcohol has a complex relationship with depression; depression is a contributing factor to alcoholism, and alcohol is a contributing factor to depression. If not treated, alcohol use disorder can become a life-long struggle. Almost 30 percent of Americans will experience alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. Alcohol use can cause or worsen symptoms of mood disorders.

Could Drinking Be Fueling Your Depression?

Inpatient treatment allows for 24/7 monitoring and care in a hospital or other treatment facility. Feelings of sadness, lack of energy or trouble sleeping can be common occurrences that individuals experience in their daily lives. Losing a job, the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship can naturally cause feelings of grief. And often, people may use the word “depressed” as a way to verbalize how they are feeling. Experiencing both depression and AUD can be a difficult road, but recovery is possible.

He drank daily in his early 20s — around the time when he started experiencing suicidal thoughts. He says his drinking — and depression — "skyrocketed" alcohol and depression at age 24 after his grandmother died. Tietz began feeling intense self-loathing and having thoughts that her husband might be better off without her.

people share how alcohol worsened their depression — and how sobriety helped improve their mental health

That’s why your doctor or psychologist will work with you to create a treatment approach that addresses both issues. Many doctors recommend patients check into a rehabilitation facility. These clinics can help someone go through the withdrawal process with medical supervision. Alcohol use disorder and depression are two conditions that often occur together.