The Alcohol Depression Connection

Depression and alcohol often go hand in hand. It is a vicious cycle that can end in death if treatment is not obtained. First, let's look at depression on its own. Depression is a deep sadness or despair and lack of interest in normal activities lasting longer than two weeks. It can be clinical, bipolar, environmental, genetic – there are many types of depression and reasons that depression occurs. There are a variety of ways depression is treated, however the most common are counseling and antidepressant medications.

Many people don't like the idea of taking an antidepressant. Men are especially prone to feeling a stigma is attached to taking medication for depression, or even seeking medical help for depression in the first place. So instead, they self medicate with alcohol which ends up making everything worse in the long run. Men aren't the only depressed alcoholics, women also self medicate with alcohol when they feel depressed. Sometimes people who take antidepressants continue to drink alcohol, even though they shouldn't.

When people drink because they are depressed, they are not dealing with their depression. Instead, they are adding to it, because alcohol is a depressant. And, they are hiding from it. They might say, they need to blow off steam, they want to forget their problems – but getting drunk is never the way to do that. It often results in alcoholism which comes with a very long list of its own negative side effects. The most immediate is that of the hangover. Hangovers can include vomiting, nausea, headache, dizziness – and lost time at work or with family due to drinking alcohol. Late stage alcoholics can suffer from deadly diseases like liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease and even brain damage.

The alcohol depression link is quite clear. If you feel depressed, do not turn to alcohol. Seek counsel with a trusted friend or family member. See your doctor if your depression does not get better in two weeks, and if he or she prescribes medicine take it exactly as directed. If you are drinking heavily and feel you might have a problem, this is another issue to take to your doctor. While both depression and alcohol abuse are harmful on their own, together they are even worse.

 

 

Alcoholism Treatment News:

 

Army Study Indicates Rise in Domestic Violence-Related Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse related to domestic violence is an increasing problem in the U.S. Army, according to a new study that also found the suicide rate among active-duty soldiers reached an all-time high last year...


United bid to tackle alcohol abuse
Alcohol claims the lives of more than 1,300 people each year across the island of Ireland, health chiefs holding a cross-border conference on the problem have revealed...


Sheriff's Office aiming to help inmate addicts - Tampabay.com

MyFox Tampa Bay

Sheriff's Office aiming to help inmate addicts
Tampabay.com
Celebrate Recovery, the program recently launched in the Pasco jail, is a national program much like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Sheriff Chris Nocco said he hopes to have the community collaborate in helping people recover from drug .
Nocco targets prescription abuseTbo.com

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Daily Planner: February 3 - Enterprise-Record

Daily Planner: February 3
Enterprise-Record
(Also Mondays and Tuesdays) Alcoholics Anonymous: Chico Central EUR” 6:30 am, noon, 5:30 pm, 7 pm 1102 Mangrove Ave., Chico; Mom's Alcoholics Anonymous EUR” Noon, 5:30 and 8 pm 2555 Zanella Way, Suite F, Chico. Meet times, locations or to talk to .

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Town camp alcohol bans not working, says Wood
Independent Northern Territory politician Gerry Wood says the Commonwealth is struggling to follow through on its commitment to reducing alcohol abuse in Alice Springs town camps...


Scottish alcohol plan's impact waning, say experts
Fixing minimum price at 45p a unit would have lesser effect now than in 2009 due to rising prices and falling abuse rates A 45p-per-unit minimum price for alcohol, as suggested by Nicola Sturgeon , Scotland's deputy first minister, might not be enough to prevent health and social problems, experts have warned. A study by researchers at Sheffield University found that fixing the minimum price at ...


AA friend's death rocks Demi - Adelaide Now

Fox News

AA friend's death rocks Demi
Adelaide Now
DEMI Moore's despair over the death of the friend who supported her at Alcoholics Anonymous may have led to her collapse this week, it was claimed yesterday. The troubled actress was overcome with grief when she attended the funeral of Patsy Rugg, 70, .
WRECK of the Week: Demi Does Whip-its?Quinnipiac Chronicle

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How Well Does AA Work? - TheFix.com

TheFix.com

How Well Does AA Work?
TheFix.com
Over the years, dozens of studies have tried to analyze the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous. But reports about the group's success rate are contradictory and sometimes surprising. The fellowhsip of AA is crucial to success.

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Community Calendar for Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - Elizabethton Star

Community Calendar for Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Elizabethton Star
By Staff Reports The Roan Mountain 12-Step Group of Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 pm at Magill Presbyterian Church, 296 Highway 143, Roan Mountain. Rick Stumbo & the Dirt Creek Band will perform at the Bristol Country Music Showpalace, .
Community calendarKeokuk Gate City Daily

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Demi Moore: Loss of AA sponsor Patsy Rugg and the breakdown that left her in . - Daily Mail

Zee News

Demi Moore: Loss of AA sponsor Patsy Rugg and the breakdown that left her in .
Daily Mail
Demi Moore's despair over the death of the friend who supported her at Alcoholics Anonymous may have led to her collapse this week, it was claimed yesterday. The troubled actress was overcome with grief when she attended the funeral of Patsy Rugg, 70, .
Did grief spark Demi's downfall?New York Daily News
Moore's meltdown prompted by death of Alcoholics Anonymous sponsorZee News
Demi's Trigger: Death of AA Sponsor?Newser
The Inquisitr -JDJournal.com
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ExComm highlights alcohol abuse
In an effort to increase transparency in how Yale handles disciplinary matters, the Yale College Executive Committee documented a single semesters cases in its inaugural semiannual report released this week. The committee adjudicated 52 cases EUR” including alcohol violations, defiance of authority and trespassing EUR” involving 59 students during the fall of 2011, according to the report. Seven of ...


Sheriff's Dept. gives kids early look at perils of substance abuse
Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis is on a mission to prevent future drug and alcohol abuse among youths in Worcester County...


Friday's Calendar EUR” February 3 - Morning Sentinel

Friday's Calendar EUR” February 3
Morning Sentinel
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 pm, Town Hall, 13 Murray St. All are welcome. Bingo, doors open at 4:30 pm, games start at 6 pm Nightdrifters Snowmobile Club. Embden Community Center, Neighbor to Neighbor Thrift Shop, 10 am-3 pm; 566-7302.

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Calendar for February 2-8 - Anniston Star

Calendar for February 2-8
Anniston Star
AA meeting, noon and 7 pm, 1411 Gurnee Ave., enter through rear of building, 256-237-6196. Free drug treatment for adolescents abusing drugs, meeting times will vary, Family Links, 265 Rucker St., 256-820-5911. Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group .

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Deni Carise: Alcohol Crackdown: Brilliant or Insane?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed cracking down on alcohol sales in an attempt to curb the city's alcohol abuse problem. It's logical that reducing alcohol availability will in turn reduce sales and decrease use and abuse...


Robert Mellen: Alcoholism among seniors a growing concern - Florida Today

Robert Mellen: Alcoholism among seniors a growing concern
Florida Today
Often, it is only after a person retires that alcohol problems are noticed, says Dan, a Palm Bay resident. He and hundreds of other seniors who are recovering from alcoholism regularly gather at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in south Brevard County.

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Myths and facts help teens understand underage alcohol abuse
Throughout the day, teens come across many venues that promote alcohol. There are television shows that make it fun, movies that make it sophisticated and music that endorses it, but at the end of..


Pound of cure
Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis is on a mission to prevent future drug and alcohol abuse among youths in Worcester County...


Island Calendar - Jamestown Press

Island Calendar
Jamestown Press
6 am, open yoga, Hammett Court 8 am, Rosary, St. Mark Church 8:30 am, Mass, St. Mark Church 8:30 am, Pilates, Jamestown Arts Center 10 am, gentle flow yoga, Diana McCallister, 2 Hammett Court 5:30 pm, Alcoholics Anonymous, St. Matthew's Episcopal .

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