When a person has a bad day or is feeling anxious she may drink alcohol in order to feel relaxed and forget about her anxiety, but in reality alcohol can actually cause negative feelings to worsen and anxieties to increase, report experts at the Mayo Clinic. Alcohol consumption is generally not recommended by mental health professionals when a person is suffering from depression.
Basics
Depression can cause intense feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, irritability, fatigue, inability to find pleasure in anything and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. In some instances, depression is caused by chemical changes in a person's brain, notes FamilyDoctor.org. Alcohol also changes the chemicals in the brain and can influence depression.
Significance
Consuming alcohol has a depressive effect on the body. According to TeensHealth.org, alcohol slows down the central nervous system and changes the information that a person's brain receives; which results in impaired coordination, eye sight, hearing and changes in emotions and perceptions. These changes in perceptions or emotions, which are induced by alcohol may trigger or intensify depression symptoms.
Considerations
The intake of alcohol is not always appropriate for a person who is afflicted with depression for various reasons. A person who is taking medications to treat her depression should be aware of the potential interactions alcohol can have, reports the Mayo Clinic. Alcohol may cause her depression medications to be less effective or to have dangerous side effects. A prescribing doctor or pharmacist should be consulted if a person is considering drinking alcohol while taking depression medication.
Also, alcohol can negatively affect a person's sleep patterns. Getting good quality sleep is important in overcoming or reducing the chances of experiencing depression episodes and alcohol can make it hard to obtain quality sleep; therefore, increasing or inducing the chances of developing depression symptoms.
Treatment
During depression treatments a mental health professional will rule out the presence of alcohol problems. A mental health professional will determine if the person experiencing depression also suffers from co-occurring alcohol abuse or addiction problem.
Treatment for depression with a co-occurring alcohol abuse or addiction diagnosis will result in a treatment plan that helps overcome both illnesses. Generally, treatment will focus on reducing the intake of alcohol, which will likely relieve some of the depression symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and family therapy will also be use to reduce depression symptoms, help the person learn more positive ways of thinking and relieve tensions within the family.
Risks
The risk for suicide is high when a person is depressed and when alcohol consumption is added to the mix the risk may increase. Alcohol consumption might induce a person to act on her thoughts of suicide she has been having due to depression. In addition, suicide may result from a car accident or an accident with weapons; in these cases the person may not have been intentionally trying to take her own life, but she did not care if she died by accident. If a person is suspected of suicide and she is intoxicated, 911 should be called immediately and the police should be informed of the person's mental health issues and alcohol use.
