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It is gradually becoming more understood by the medical community as well as the general populace that alcoholism is an actual disease, much like depression. What isn’t understood nearly as well is why the two diseases are so often connected. Does depression cause alcoholism, or the other way around? Is there a way to control and recover from both of these potentially fatal diseases? Is it possible to recover from one but still suffer from the other? These questions are ones that researchers and mental health professionals have been trying to answer for many years.

There are several obvious things that are known about the connection however. The first and most detrimental fact is that a person suffering from depression is extremely likely to turn to alcohol as a method of self-medicating the depression. The depressed person wants to find a way to feel better, so they mistakenly believe that a few drinks will provide a relief from the sadness.

What actually happens is that while the first few drinks will indeed give a feeling of relaxation and cheer, if the person continues to consume more, the alcohol begins to increase the depressive feelings. The depressed drinker will keep drinking in order to bring the good feelings back, but in fact are only making them worse until finally the only thing they want or are able to do is sleep. This is caused by the effect that alcohol has on the already unbalanced serotonin level which is caused by the depression.

The second well-known fact about the connection between the two diseases is that most suicides are committed when the victim has been drinking, and have suffered long-term or severe depressive disorders.

The third and most often overlooked fact is that the longer that both diseases are suffered without treatment, the worse that both are likely to become and the harder they will be to recover from.

Tags: Alcoholism //