Alcohol and Depression: Breaking a Common Cycle

Short answer: alcohol is a depressant. It may numb painful feelings for a few hours, but over time it worsens sleep, mood, anxiety and motivation, and it reduces the effectiveness of antidepressants. Treating depression and drinking together gives the best results.

How the cycle works

A person feels low or stressed and drinks to relax. Sleep becomes lighter and broken, the next day brings fatigue and guilt, and mood drops further, which increases the urge to drink again. Over weeks and months, depression deepens and drinking grows.

Signs drinking is affecting your mood

• Mood is worse on the days after drinking

• Drinking alone or to fall asleep

• Needing more alcohol for the same effect

• Missing work or family commitments

• Loved ones expressing concern

What treatment can look like

• An honest evaluation: your psychiatrist asks about drinking without judgment, to choose safe and effective treatment.

• Depression treatment: therapy and medication chosen with alcohol use in mind.

• Medications for alcohol use: such as naltrexone or acamprosate, which can reduce cravings or support abstinence.

• Support: counseling, peer groups and involving trusted family members.

Safety first

If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Talk to a clinician before quitting. In New Hampshire, The Doorway programs and 211 NH can connect you with substance use support.

Alcohol and medication interactions

Alcohol can intensify drowsiness from many psychiatric medications, interfere with sleep medications and affect how the liver processes drugs. Combining alcohol with benzodiazepines or opioids is especially dangerous because it can slow breathing. Being open with your psychiatrist about how much you drink allows safer prescribing, and many people find that cutting back makes their medication work noticeably better.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stop drinking completely to get treatment?

No. Many people start treatment while working toward a drinking goal with their clinician.

Will mood improve after I cut back?

For many people, sleep and mood improve noticeably within a few weeks of drinking less.

Psych Nashua offers depression treatment and confidential evaluations. Request an appointment. In crisis, call or text 988.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911. Psych Nashua is an outpatient psychiatry practice at 215 South Broadway, Unit 129, Salem, NH (603-600-8330).