Problems associated with alcohol and depression are closely correlated. People who suffer from depression may turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication. Long-term use may result in dependency. Every time a person gets depressed, they may reach for the bottle to cope with the symptoms of their condition.
Alcohol abuse can, in turn, intensify the symptoms of depression. If a person constantly feels sad, worthless, lonely, apathetic, or suicidal, persistent alcohol abuse can accelerate the downward spiral. Eventually, both depression and alcoholism are interlinked, treating co-occurring disorders.
Alcoholism and Depression: Co-Occurring Disorders
A person who has both an addiction and a mental disorder is often diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. Each condition can trigger the symptoms of the other addiction. Likewise, each condition can become worse due to the existence of the other condition.
In most cases, the mental disorder goes undetected because people often focus on the behaviors associated with the addiction. For this reason, professional treatment for co-occurring disorders is necessary to manage both conditions. An addiction treatment center in Texas provides a wide range of programs that can help clients who have occurring disorders.
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Symptoms of Alcohol and Depression Disorders
The symptoms of alcohol and depression are similar because they cause similar mental or physical conditions. At first, nobody notices the symptoms. The alcoholic often disguises the symptoms or dismisses them. However, as the conditions worsen, the symptoms become more apparent. Signs of both conditions often include:
- Feeling sad, gloomy, or apathetic all of the time
- Sudden changes behavior such as insomnia or loss of appetite
- Isolation and disconnect from normal life, friends, or family
- Neglecting personal or professional responsibilities
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harm
- Obsession with alcohol – can’t live without it
A symptom of alcoholism is actually depression. A person who may not normally become depressed can start showing signs of depression if they have been struggling with alcoholism for several months or years.
Dual Diagnosis for Alcohol and Depression
A person who suffers from depression and alcoholism may want to seek help at a depression treatment center in Texas. Thus, a center offering detox, rehab, and aftercare services to help a client recover from addiction and manage their depression symptoms is the best.
Treatment begins with dual diagnosis. A therapist provides a complete assessment of the client to determine if they have depression and what type of treatment is most suitable for the condition. The purpose of dual diagnosis is to help the treatment specialist discover the root causes of the addiction.
It is important to address all issues surrounding alcoholism. If the therapist helps the client with addiction but ignores the depression, a relapse is likely to occur.
Get Help for Depression at Promises P.A.T.H
Do you suffer from alcoholism and depression? If so, contact Promises P.A.T.H. We provide comprehensive care for alcohol and depression, as well as other disorders. To find out more about your treatment options, call us today at 1.713.528.3709. We are here to help you get on the road to recovery.
