Today is a special day for me. It marks 23 years of sobriety. I haven’t had a drink since May 2002. It hasn’t been easy. At times it has been very hard to remain sober. For me drinking wasn’t a social thing. Drinking was a way of self-medicating. It is how I learned to cope with depression early on. I started drinking in high school to numb the pain depression caused. If I drank enough, I wouldn’t feel the depression. Most of the time I just passed out. When I started drinking my depression was still undiagnosed. I wasn’t seeing a therapist. I was a lost high school kid. Drinking followed me in varying degrees until I was 29 years old. At that point I couldn’t hide it anymore. It was making my depression worse. I needed help. I found that help in the psychologist I started seeing In May of 2002. Dr. K helped me quit drinking. Through the years he has been there when depression has brought the urge to drink back. Even today, 23 years later, there are times when that urge creeps back. Luckily, I now have coping skills and support to get me through those times.
I would like to explore how depression and alcohol lead to serious issues. Alcohol is a depressant. So, while its initial effects might be to reduce anxiety or emotional pain, that effect does not last. When this effect wears off, the mood is usually worse. In my case this led to increased drinking to relieve my mood. It is not uncommon for people with depression or anxiety to try to self-medicate with alcohol. Increased drinking worsens mood. It leads to increased feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and fatigue. Alcohol disrupts the brain’s chemical balance, which is already impaired in individuals with depression. Alcohol use and depression can reinforce each other creating a vicious cycle. Even though depression can provide a temporary easing of depressive symptoms, it almost always worsens things in the bigger picture. If drinking is involved with depression, a mental health professional needs to address both issues.
Alcohol can also lead to suicidal ideation. This can be a result of a lowering of inhibitions while under the influence of alcohol. There is evidence that a number of suicide attempts involve alcohol use. Looking back, I recognize that several of my suicidal behaviors occurred while I was drinking to ease the pain of my depression. I am lucky that I managed to get through those times. I am also lucky that I have learned how alcohol negatively impacted me.
How can someone address struggles with alcohol and depression. The first thing is to recognize there is an issue. This is not easy. Our minds try to deny it. We need to reach out for help. That help will look different for everyone. For me working with a psychologist was the answer I needed. If you do not have a psychologist or therapist, make an appointment with your primary care provider. Share your concerns and what you are dealing with your provider. This provider can refer you to a mental health professional who can help. Another option is to go to an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting. A simple internet search can help you locate a meeting or click on the link. You can find a sponsor at one of these meetings who can help you with the alcohol issues. If depression or other mood issues are involved, you should still seek out the assistance of therapist or psychologist.
Reaching out for help is difficult. I drank for years before I reached out for help. It took me hitting really low before I reached out. To this day I am grateful I reached out. I needed a push to get me to reach out. For some reason at this point in my life I decided to listen. The coping skills I have developed as a result have saved my life. I know reaching out is difficult. It is hard to admit when we are struggling. Often, we do not want to admit when we have a problem, but we need to. Depression and alcoholism are not going to go away on their own. Professional help is necessary and effective.
If you feel that you are in crisis, please reach out to the 988 helpline or go to the nearest emergency room. If you have been drinking, take an Uber/Lyft or ask someone to take you. Don’t drive.
Depression and alcohol are a terrible mix. On their own they can destroy a life. Combined they can have devasting effects. I am one of the lucky ones. I was given the help to stop drinking, While I continue to deal with depression, I am in a much better place. I have the mental health support from an amazing team to get me through the touch times. I am proud of my 23 years of sobriety. Even though it hasn’t always been easy, I have made it this far. Again, please reach out for help if you are struggling. There is help and there is hope.