Depression is a debilitating mental health condition that affects all aspects of a person’s life. An individual who suffers from depression often declines invitations to social events, family gatherings, and holiday parties with loved ones. Depression makes a person disengage from things that were fun, interesting, and enjoyable. It also interferes with relationships and distorts a person’s worldview. Depression clouds a person’s perspective. Many people with depression use alcohol as a way to cope.

When this happens, individuals can develop what’s called a co-occurring disorder. At Oceanfront Recovery, our dual diagnosis treatment program is one way we help people struggling with alcohol abuse while they endure a mood disorder like depression. By treating both conditions simultaneously, we’re able to heal the whole person.

Alcohol and Depression

Alcohol is a depressant and actually worsens symptoms of depression. Alcohol abuse causes physical and mental health problems such as brain damage, overdose, or early death. People use alcohol to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, but over time, they can develop an addiction to alcohol. Alcohol feeds depression, and depression feeds alcohol consumption. Alcohol abuse disrupts sleep patterns, affects the brain and major organ functions, and takes priority over responsibilities and relationships. Alcohol addiction heightens depression, affects job performance, and can cause job termination due to tardiness, absences, and low productivity.

Alcohol slows down the body’s functions, which is why it is called a depressant. Doing so makes it easier for individuals struggling with a mood disorder like depression to continue pursuing unhealthy habits. For example, alcohol abuse lowers appetite or encourages poor eating habits, and as a depressant, it increases lethargy, decreasing motivation. This contributes to individuals heightening the negative thoughts and feelings about themselves, worsening their depression, and frequently leading them to abuse alcohol more.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

While alcohol abuse and depression are common conditions, they are highly treatable. Treatment teaches a person how to find healthy sober activities, hobbies, or interests to participate in and establish a sense of self-worth, purpose, and mindfulness while sober. Treatment with a holistic approach focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit for recovery. Some of the therapies we offer at Oceanfront Recovery include:

These therapies are available across all our addiction treatment programs. They are used quite often in our dual diagnosis treatment program. People with a dual diagnosis must get treatment for addiction and mental health illnesses, such as depression, for recovery. If a person doesn’t get treatment for both conditions at once, they are at an extremely high risk of relapse. With co-occurring disorders like alcohol abuse and depression, each condition feeds the other. Thus, both must be broken for an individual to heal and recover.

Addiction and depression are treatable. Healthy alternatives to cope with depression, anxiety, stress, or other mental health conditions are offered in treatment. Each person’s treatment is unique. Some people recover from depression in a few weeks or months with the appropriate therapy and medication. For others, depression is a lifelong illness. Recovery from addiction is possible. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression and addiction, get help today.

Oceanfront Recovery

Located in Laguna Beach, California, our pristine property and facility at Oceanfront Recovery offer residents unparalleled comfort, tranquility, and quality care. Through a rigorous clinical program and the inspiration of a world-famous natural environment, Oceanfront Recovery helps you change your story so that you can change your life. Some of our treatment program options are: