The Alcohol-Depression Connection: Symptoms, Treatment & More

Alcohol consumption reduces negative emotional states, including anger, and is negatively reinforcing via tension reduction (Sher & Levenson, 1982). Anger also contributes to relapse via psychological and interpersonal influences. Enhancing anger management skills may improve coping with anger as well as enhance accessing other cognitive and behavioral coping skills disrupted by anger arousal. Consistent with our previous work (Walitzer et al., 2009), we hypothesized that AA Facilitation treatment would lead to greater AA involvement, and increased AA involvement would predict improved drinking outcomes among these clients. Clients receiving the AA facilitation treatment reported significantly more AA behaviors and steps worked than clients receiving alcohol-adapted anger management treatment.

• Muscle tension, headaches, irregular heart rate and blood pressure, sleep difficulties, and the potential for heart problems or even stroke may be possible risk factors for chronic anger and emotional regulation issues.
• One way to manage anger-related to depression is to develop a sense of compassion for yourself instead of directing your anger inwards.
• Women are more than twice as likely to start drinking heavily if they have a history of depression.
• The more you drink, however, the more likely your emotional state will begin plummeting back down.

Nor does the absence of family drinking problems necessarily protect children from developing these problems. People with alcohol use disorders drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. Research has substantially improved understanding of the etiology, course, and treatment of co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of these two disorders, and these gaps present important opportunities for future research. If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression and alcohol misuse, you may be interested in learning more about how alcohol can play a role in depression and vice versa, as well as the different factors that can affect alcohol, depression, and addiction.

Getting help if you’re worried about your drinking

Time after treatment (months 1 through 6) was modeled as a continuous variable. More knowledge about optimal treatments for co-occurring AUD and depressive disorders is needed. Although medication and behavioral therapy have both shown promise, response rates have been somewhat modest.

Furthermore, an angry drunk may not feel like consequences matter, making it seem like a good idea from their perspective to create or partake in a dangerous situation. If you feel like you have a pattern of being alcohol depression and anger aggressive when drinking alcohol, you should understand how your behavior can impact yourself and others. Furthermore, alcohol can make you focus too much on specific words or behaviors from other people.

How Anger and Alcohol Contribute to Domestic Violence

In the DSM-5, AUD requires at least two symptoms, whereas DSM-IV alcohol abuse required only one symptom. Also, from DSM-IV to DSM-5, modifications were made to the symptoms that were included as diagnostic criteria. For example, the criterion of legal problems related to alcohol was removed, and the criterion of alcohol craving was added. Thus, where possible, this review identifies which version of the DSM was used in a study. Meditation can help clients to relax physical tension, become more self-aware, and work toward creating a healthy mind-body balance. Other holistic methods are often used during a comprehensive addiction and anger management treatment program as adjunctive, or complementary, treatment methods.

If you believe you or someone you love may be struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you determine a path to treatment. They are peer-led organizations dedicated to helping each other remain sober. Support groups can be the first step towards recovery or part of a long-term aftercare plan. Anger management therapy is one of the best options available for helping you understand your emotions and find effective ways to cope with them. Lack of impulse control can make someone fly into a fit of rage or become aggressive rapidly.

What is Anxiety Disorder?

Don’t stop taking an antidepressant or other medication just so that you can drink. Most antidepressants require taking a consistent, daily dose to maintain a constant level in your system and work as intended. Stopping and starting your medications can make your depression worse. In addition, if you join a group with a facilitator, you might discover helpful strategies to better manage your depression and anger. A support group that understands what you are going through is important, especially if you begin relapsing after treatment. Emotionally focused therapy has been shown to help relieve depression, raise self-esteem, and reduce distress in interpersonal relationships.

• Benzodiazepines, a class of anti-anxiety drugs that some people with depression may use, may help with alcohol withdrawal.
• In small to moderate amounts, alcohol can temporarily lift your spirits and help improve your mood.
• The views herein do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAAA or the NIH.
• By engaging in a professional treatment program, you can begin the path to happier, healthier, and sober living and learn improved coping skills so you can live a drug- and alcohol-free life.

You’ll live in safe, substance-free housing and have access to professional medical monitoring. People who are the closest to the alcoholic who struggled with anger often get the most abuse. You may find yourself walking on eggshells to avoid an alcohol-induced anger outburst. Additionally, there is evidence that chemical and biological factors play a role.

Stick to moderate drinking

If you wake up feeling miserable after a night of drinking, you don’t have to wait it out. Here are a few strategies to help you lift your spirits in the moment. As a result, any troubles you’re facing, from work stress to relationship issues, may get worse. You might begin drinking more regularly in order to feel better or forget about those unwanted emotions and memories. You might feel depressed after drinking because alcohol itself is a depressant. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.

• The question is, does regular drinking lead to depression, or are depressed people more likely to drink too much?
• As a result, any troubles you’re facing, from work stress to relationship issues, may get worse.