Many people who drink alcohol are affected by their mental health. For alcohol addiction to be successful, it is important to address mental health issues. Alcoholism is often accompanied by depression, which can sometimes lead to alcoholism. Inpatient alcohol rehab can be combined with addiction treatment to treat depression and alcoholism. This training is for mental health professionals who are skilled in treating alcoholism.
Addiction is a disease that causes people to compulsively use drugs and alcohol. It is a serious problem that requires professional help. Treatment involves detoxification, therapy, and relapse prevention.
Self-Medicating with Alcohol
Alcohol abuse can often be linked to underlying mental health problems. Sometimes depression and alcoholism are often inseparable. Depression is not just sadness. It can also cause a persistent mood disorder, which can cloud your thinking and impact all aspects of your day. While alcohol itself can be depressing, people often use it to self-treat their depression.
The brain’s “feel good” neurotransmitters are initially increased by alcohol. These neurotransmitters increase self-confidence and decrease inhibitions, leading to feelings of euphoria. An initial surge of happiness for someone with depression can seem like a cure. However, this feeling is temporary. The body begins to lose alcohol and depression sets in. The depression can often return after drinking alcohol. Alcohol is often reintroduced to reduce the symptoms of depression. This creates a vicious cycle and eventually, the body requires alcohol to function.
Alcohol is a major cause of depression, especially when it’s used daily as a replacement for therapy and medication. This is why people who suffer from alcoholism have a high chance of dying. If alcohol is used to treat depression, the root cause of the depression must be treated.
Dual Diagnosis of Alcohol Treatment
Mental health conditions, such as depression, are major causes of alcoholism. Individuals must seek help for alcoholism. The chances of relapse will increase if the alcoholism symptoms can be addressed. Depression is a grave mental illness that can only be treated if the individual is in recovery.
Alcohol detox can lead to major depression in people who have suffered from depression. Because the body has become dependent upon alcohol for it to feel normal, this is why major depressive episodes are common. Mental health professionals are needed to help with depression. The effectiveness of medications used to treat depression can take between 2 and 3 weeks. Individuals must get checked immediately. While long-term medications for depression begin to work, medication can also be used to aid in the alcohol detox.
While medication is an important component of depression treatment, it is not enough. Therapy must also be part. Different types of therapy are used in drug rehab facilities to aid those who have recovered from alcoholism as well as to treat underlying mental disorders like depression. Individuals can benefit from group therapy. Group therapy helps people to discuss their feelings and help them cope with the removal of alcohol from their lives with others going through similar experiences. A licensed professional can provide one-on-1 counseling to help you fight alcoholism. When someone has successfully quit drinking, they need to learn other ways to cope with their depression. Depression can also be caused by stressful events such as starting a job or other life changes. Counseling can help clients to find new ways of thinking to fight depression.