Suffering from depression and alcohol addiction can be debilitating. No matter how much you want to feel better, you may be stuck in a loop and unable to navigate what to do. Treatment for co-occurring disorders like this requires one-on-one support and an individualized treatment plan. At Mental Health Hope, we offer the resources necessary to guide you in treatment for depression and alcohol addiction.
Why Depression and Alcohol Addiction Happen
Drinking alcohol could make you depressed. And depression could lead to alcohol misuse. No matter which occurs first, suffering from both of these conditions at the same time is not uncommon. To understand why this happens, we have to look at the foundation of both diseases.
Understanding Depression
Depression is not just feeling sad or having a bad day. It’s feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness that do not improve easily. You may struggle to find good in the day, even though you do not have anything “bad” to report. There are numerous depressive disorders, all with slightly different symptoms and causes. Examples include:
- Major depressive disorder, where symptoms typically last 2 weeks or longer and impact your ability to work, eat, or function
- Persistent depressive disorder, sometimes called dysthymia, has less severe symptoms but tends to last longer, often at least 2 years.
- Postpartum depression, which typically occurs due to hormone fluctuations during and after pregnancy
- Seasonal affective disorder, brought on by a lack of exposure to daylight, often intensifies in the winter months
- Psychotic depression, a condition that forms when a person experiences hallucinations, delusions, and depressive symptoms
Notably, depression is a component of bipolar disorder. Though bipolar disorder is a different type of mental health disorder, a person experiencing a low or irritable mood may suffer from this condition without knowing it.
Alcohol Use and Depression
In some situations, alcohol use disorder (AUD) forms in individuals who are struggling with depression. One example of when this occurs is when a person turns to alcohol as a type of self-medication strategy for dealing with their intense emotions that sometimes occur with depression. Alcohol is a depressant itself, meaning it slows the nervous system down and can blur thought patterns. The brain becomes programmed to seek out anything that numbs the symptoms they have, leading to increasing use of alcohol. Over time, the development of AUD occurs.
Once AUD occurs, a person is unable to simply stop drinking alcohol. They often face intense withdrawal symptoms, feelings of being ill, significant irritability, and muscle pain. This is your body’s way of encouraging you to seek out alcohol.
Finding Help for Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression
There are situations where a person’s mental and physical health is significantly at risk, which can make immediate help critical. This could mean seeking out acute care. For addiction, that typically includes a period of detox, in which a medically monitored detoxification process occurs to allow the body to flush away the presence of the toxins and refocus the brain’s efforts on seeking out more.
In situations of mental psychosis, where there is a break from reality, with hallucinations or debilitating thoughts of harming oneself, a mental health hospital becomes necessary. In these acute care scenarios, immediate help is available that can provide a person with symptom relief while protecting their life.
Alternatives to a Mental Health Hospital for Alcohol and Depression
For people facing alcohol use disorder and depression, without acute symptoms, there are alternatives to a hospital psych ward that can help. That includes the following care plans:
- Mental health retreats: A shorter-term stay of a week or more in a private area where you work with mental health professionals through evidence-based treatment and medication management for both conditions.
- Residential treatment centers: Often offering longer stays up to 30 (and sometimes 90 days), these locations create a home-like environment where you receive support through individual and group therapy and experiential care.
- Partial hospitalization program: This is an outpatient program in which a person receives care for 5 or more days in a treatment center during the day while living at home. A stepped-down version of inpatient care, this allows for managing real-world complications.
Additional outpatient programs exist as well, which offer decreasing amounts of time spent in treatment. For many people, these programs can be helpful in reaching a level of safety both mentally and physically.
How to Get Help for Depression and Alcohol Addiction Near Me
If you are looking for treatment or answers, we can help you. Contact Mental Health Hope now to inquire about the treatment options we offer, including alternatives to mental health hospitals for the treatment of depression and alcohol use disorder. Treatment can help you rebuild your health and provide you with clarity on navigating your future. Contact us now to learn more.
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