According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is thought that disorders related to alcohol use affect over seven percent of adults in the United States. Heavy alcohol use is a particularly onerous problem because it affects every organ system in the body as well as every aspect of a patient's life. There are a multitude of emotional affects of alcohol; it plays a role in family conflict, job instability, depression and anxiety.
Depression
As discussed on MayoClinic.com, alcohol depresses the central nervous system. Though the initial reaction may be one of stimulation, ultimately the overall effect of alcohol is that of a depressant. Patients who suffer from depression or anxiety issues are more susceptible to alcoholism. This condition often makes symptoms of depression worse. A patient who is suffering from depression may exhibit weight changes, irritability, sleep disturbances and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. Treatment of alcohol abuse and of depression should occur simultaneously to help relieve these symptoms.
Anxiety
Patients with alcoholism often have issues with anxiety. In some cases, the anxiety may be the driving force behind the alcohol abuse. In other cases, anxiety is the result of alcohol withdrawal when the patient does not drink regularly or is the result of central nervous system changes from prolonged alcohol use. Patients with anxiety may seem nervous, jittery and unable to relax. In all circumstances, treatment of both alcohol abuse and anxiety is needed to prevent a relapse of alcoholism.
Guilt
Alcoholism results in feelings of guilt for many patients. This may be manifested as a symptom of depression, in which case the other symptoms of depression will be present as well. A patient may also feel guilty for the amount of alcohol he is consuming or for the effect that the alcohol is having on his family's life. Feelings of guilt may present as anger towards family or loved ones.
Suicidality
In extreme cases, alcoholism may contribute to suicidality and in some cases to successful suicide attempts. According to the Center for Disease Control, men are more likely to commit suicide than women and are more likely to have been drinking prior to a suicide attempt. The central nervous system changes that make depression more likely in a patient with alcoholism also make suicidality more likely. Additionally, a patient who has been drinking is more likely to have changes in judgment that make a suicide attempt more likely to occur. For this reason, it is extremely important that a patient with alcoholism receive treatment in order to prevent potentially life-threatening emotional and psychological consequences.
