Is there a relationship between alcoholism and depression?

Depression and alcohol are two things that we cannot avoid living with in our daily lives. However, there is a strong correlation between them. Depression is associated with lower cognitive abilities, and alcohol is associated with socially withdrawn behaviors.

When we think of depression and alcohol, we can generally think of them as separate problems. or subgroups of the same. Both have negative effects on society and lead people to the point where they cannot function properly in social settings.

• Related article: "Types of depression: their symptoms, causes and characteristics"

Let's talk about depression

Depression is a disease suffered by many people in the world and it is due to many causes.

People with depression often lose interest in the activities they used to do. These losses of interest can be so serious that the patient will begin to avoid all forms of physical or mental activity, closing himself in his own world and isolating himself more and more.

Many people who struggle with depression feel dejected and powerless. They feel that nothing is working for them and that they cannot progress.

That is why it is necessary to develop resistance to the feeling of despondency that we experience when we go through a period of depression. This will help us better deal with feelings and move on in life.

In addition to being depressed, the patient is also often more anxious. This can produce many symptoms of depression and anxiety and affects the quality of the relationships that are created.

And this makes us wonder the question of whether this depressive state can lead to addiction, such as alcohol.

Why is alcohol used?

The previous section closed with a question to which we must answer, unfortunately, in the affirmative. It is necessary to remember that addiction is a complex condition and that not everyone who suffers from depression will become addicted to alcohol.

However, for some people, it is the only way they can cope with stress. This is because alcohol provides a sense of comfort and relief from stress itself. It also makes them feel good about themselves and raises their self-esteem (apparently).

Some of the "benefits" that alcohol brings to those who consume it is that feeling of euphoria, or disinhibition. When you have a drink, it calms you down, you feel good, but then the effect wears off, and if you want to feel that way again, you have to have another, and another. When you want to realize it, you already drink more than you should, so much so that it is the moment when you cannot go without that morning drink, or noon.

It's important pointing that the initial feeling of euphoria is followed by unpleasant side effects such as depression, anxiety, and worry. This adverse reaction can last for a relatively long time after consumption, often progressively worse over a period of time.

Drinking alcohol continually activates the same neurotransmitters in our brain that make us feel anxious and trap us in drinking. That is why the only way to avoid feeling that way is to drink more, which causes you to be immersed in a hamster wheel that will lead you to an ever-increasing problem.

• You may be interested in: "Alcoholism: these are the effects of dependence on drink"

The relationship between depression and alcohol addiction

One of the biggest reasons people feel depressed is a lack of enough energy to keep living. This lack of energy can prevent you from achieving your goals.

The relationship between depression and addiction has also been well studied in recent years. Addiction refers to a pattern in which the person repeatedly returns to using drugs or alcohol despite not being able to deal with their problems on their own. while depression takes you to a state where all you want to do is consume what makes you feel better, without thinking about the problems that can to provoke.

Without a doubt, drinking alcohol may seem like an easy solution so that, if you are depressed, you feel better. However, It is a very negative solution, since it can also make you fall into an addiction, with which you will have to fight with two problems.