Does alcohol cause depression?

LegacyUser

I'm 29. I've spent most of the last decade drinking progressively more and more - the point where it seems perfectly resonable to me to buy a bottle of whisky on a Friday night, sit in alone and demolish at least half of it. I know in my head this is an insane amount of alcohol - especially seeing as how I will drink the second half the next night, or in dribs and drabs throughout the week.

I don't think I'm an alcoholic, but I definitely abuse alcohol. What I'm wondering is whether this alcohol abuse is affecting me mentally? Lately I have been finding it immensely difficult to get any work done. For example, today I have to write a very detailed document for work but simply cannot bring myself to be bothered. I have a deadline but my brain seems to be turned off. It's like there's just a bit nothingness inside my head, I have no motivation and I could happily do absolutely bloody nothing for the whole entire day. I don't feel sad necessarily, but is this nothingness what they call 'depression'?

Anyway just wondering if there are links between the alcohol and this brain fog. If I quit cold turkey (which I am doing) how long will it take for me to feel an improvement in my mental function, or even just in general? Not looking for medical advice, just other people's experiences or opinions. I really appreciate any help, trying to do this on my own so as not to worry any friends or family. Thanks.

Colonel Panic

I've been in the same position as you. Not an alcoholic but abusing alcohol. It's so easy to buy beers out of habit and to repeat this several times a week until you're staring at an embarrassing amount of empties for the bottle bank.

To answer your question, I don't think it causes depression, but it puts you in a position where depression can effect you more and you get caught in a loop of drinking because you feel crap and feeling crap because you drink.

I didn't quit cold turkey myself, but I stopped buying drink at home and tried to limit my intake when out to 3 drinks over the night and I rarely go to the pub just because, we're talking the occasional gig or meal here.

I felt much better after a few weeks once I stopped thinking I needed to reward that hard day with a drink and how much more time I had when I wasn't have pissed at home in an evening and hungover in the morning. Days start to feel longer and you end up feeling like there's much more stuff that's interesting when you can actually THINK straight!

Good on ya man, keep it up!

Beruthiel

Alcohol is a depressant OP.
Drink enough of it and it does indeed change the way your brain functions.

However, this is not a medical forum and we cannot tell you how it will affect you as an individual.

I would suggest that you are worried, go talk to your doctor.
I would also suggest that you stay off the drink and take up some form of exercise.
Exercise kick starts your serotonin levels and you will feel better as a result.

dj_

Beruthiel wrote: »

Alcohol is a depressant OP.

Which has nothing at all to do with depression. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressant

Miss Fluff

dj_ wrote: »

Which has nothing at all to do with depression. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressant

:rolleyes: If we're going to get hung up on semantics, I beg to differ.

Depressant

1. (Medicine / Pharmacology) Med able to diminish or reduce nervous or functional activity
2. (Psychology) causing gloom or dejection; depressing

Anyway OP, in any event you need to go and see your GP and discuss this with them. Well done on quitting but oftentimes it is best to do so under medical supervision. Good luck.

Nothingbetter2d

alcohol does make you depressed if abused but its really only a symptom of a more serious underlying problem which is why your drinking more.

if you are worried you drink too much i'd go speak to a professional counsellor to see if you can get to the real cause of your depression before its too late and you've destroyed your health.

Morag

alcohol cause depression?

No.

Is alcohol a substance which can leave a person in a depressed state until they work it out of their system yes, but the question is why are you drinking that much alone in the first place?

Many people who are struggling with life and themselves self medicate with drink.
They use it as a way of coping or opting out or softening the world around them or to not deal with their issues.

It's not the drink, it's the way your using it and you should go see your dr to get help with what ever it is that has you abusing alcohol.

kjl

The problem with alcohol is that you don't realise you have a problem until you have a big problem. I have friend and every time I see he says the same thing, that he is drinking too much and need to quit. He then says he is going to cut down big time and only have a couple every so often and for about 2 weeks he does cut down, but the he blows out again and is even worse then before.

No matter what people say, alcohol is a drug, and just because the whole country does it doesn't mean it's not very easy to develop a problem. In fact it's easier.

OP you are drinking 21 units in 2 nights on a regular basis, it seems clear to me that you are drinking too much.

Lola B

Hi OP,

You have a problem. My experience with alcoholics is that it is completely pointless trying to help them or give them advice. But maybe I am hoping that you have not gone past the point of no return yet.

I going to use shock tactics on you...

Typical life of an alcoholic: you will first lose your job, then you will slowly but surely lose your family, then you possibly will lose your home, once you have completely hit rock bottom you might have a moment of clarity and realize what alcohol has done to you, or you will succumb to your failing health.

(Why I know this) There are three alcoholics in my family:
One is now dead
Another is homeless
The other mentally abused me as a child for years (you actually drink more than this one)

I'm sorry for being so harsh but you sound like you could have a harsh life ahead of you if your are not careful.

Peregrinus

Alcohol abuse is associated with clinical depression. It's not always clear whether someone is drinking because he is depressed, or whether he is depressed becuase he is drinking, and sometimes there can be a vicious circle of both going on.

Give up the gargle, but don't just give up the gargle. Put time and effort into your social relationships, and engage in some structured activity - join a club, or a choir, or have a regular weekly date with mates, or something of the kind. And, Beruthiel suggests, take regular exercise. It doesn't have to be anything dramatic; walking is fine. All of these things are positively correlated with good mental health.

Overheal

Beruthiel wrote: »

Exercise kick starts your serotonin levels and you will feel better as a result.

+1 I used to regularly exhibit one form of depression or another, but since changing to a much more active job, and taking up exercise, I'm pretty sure it's been just over a year at this point before I last identified any major signs of depression. It was a damn good year, too.

Mickey Dazzler

Overdoing it on the sauce definitely causes depression. Especially Gin for some reason.