The Links between Alcohol and Depression

Alcoholism and depression commonly go hand in hand; when an individual has one it is easy to then fall into the other.

During lockdown depression symptoms are three times higher than before, and in turn alcohol abuse has increased. With people isolating and not seeing friends or family, many people have lost touch with the things in life that keep us going and have turned to alcohol instead.

What is depression?

A lot of people have days where they feel low, but for some people these feelings are constant. These feelings can get in the way of their day-to-day life, cause feelings of hopelessness and in turn creating alcohol and drug dependencies. There are also physical symptoms of depression such as fatigue, appetite change and insomnia. Common triggers for depression can include unemployment, bereavement, and relationship problems, however sometimes these feelings can seem to come out of nowhere.

How does alcohol affect your mood?

Alcohol is a depressant, so chemically effects your mood. Although it may feel good at the time to be out of control of your actions, the come down effects of alcohol can be severe for your mental health. Drinking regularly is linked with depression, as many people drink because they are depressed, and then in turn are depressed because of the side effects of drinking.

Sometimes it seems much easier to drink rather than reach out for help, but by breaking the cycle you can gain back control of your life. You will also limit the negative effects alcohol can have on the body such as long-term damage physically as well as mentally.

Get the help you need for alcohol dependency

Take the first step to get help and break the cycle. At New Leaf Recovery, we provide the treatment needed to rehabilitate individuals with an alcohol dependency. We are here to help you turn over a new leaf in a safe environment, please contact us today on 0300 999 0330.