Alcohol is a depressant and can trigger feelings of confusion, sadness, and hopelessness, which are also symptoms of clinical depression. The link between alcohol and depression is complex, with some studies suggesting that alcohol abuse leads to depression, while others suggest that depression triggers drinking problems. People with depression should not consume alcohol while on treatment, and using alcohol in combination with prescribed antidepressants can be fatal.
There is indeed a relationship between alcohol and depression, but it has proven difficult to tell whether alcohol abuse contributes to depression or whether depression triggers drinking problems. In fact, both strands of thought have foundations, and studies on the connection between alcohol and depression have produced decidedly different results. Most experts agree that alcohol is a depressant and those suffering from clinical depression should not consume it while on treatment.
Chemically, grain alcohol is considered a sedative, which means that it suppresses or slows down the natural function of whatever system or organ it encounters in the body. Once alcohol crosses the blood brain barrier, it essentially numbs the areas of the brain responsible for rational thought processes and mood control. While the short-term effect of alcohol can be feelings of euphoria or a lowering of social inhibitions, long-term alcohol often triggers feelings of confusion, sadness and hopelessness. These symptoms also occur in people diagnosed with clinical depression.
An alcohol addiction isn’t necessary to experience the feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and sadness associated with depression. However, a number of people suffering from depression will seek out depressants such as alcohol or Valium® as a form of self-medication. The momentary feeling of euphoria and mental relaxation experienced while drunk is thought to compensate for the painful sensations caused by depressive thoughts. In this sense, depression triggers interest in a legal depressant available without a prescription or medical examination.
Some studies suggest that the link between alcohol and depression starts with alcohol. People who show no symptoms of clinical depression may decide to drink alcohol excessively, especially during their late teens and early adulthood. This recreational or social drinking habit can trigger a genetic predisposition to clinical depression or other mental illnesses. A moderate to heavy drinker may fall into a state of depression after suffering the physical, mental and social problems associated with alcoholism. It could be argued that alcohol abuse leads to depression, because many alcoholics lose their support networks and find it difficult to live on their own.
A study on the connection between alcohol and depression focused on the differences between men and women in terms of managing clinical depression. The study found that, in general, men tended to become depressed after developing a drinking problem, while women often turned to alcohol after becoming clinically depressed. Either way, many psychiatrists caution against using alcohol in combination with prescribed antidepressants because the interaction can prove fatal. Depression is primarily caused by an imbalance of mood-stabilizing chemicals, and continued use of alcohol can nullify the effectiveness of mood-enhancing drugs prescribed for depression.
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