Comments on: The Alcohol and Depression Question

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:34:41 +0000

I have been through addiction and I found that the drugs and alcohol caused the depression. I would use drugs and alcohol to deal with the depression. Its that first moment you have to recognize before you are addicted to realize what caused the first use of the substance. I now recognize what is causes the issues and I fix them before I become overwhelmed with depression.

By: Vickie

Vickie — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:25:35 +0000

My brother, who passed away a year ago, was mentally handicapped and I can honestly say that mental illness, depression is genetic considering that my uncle was the same way and my sisters little boy has downs syndrome.

By: Sage

Sage — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:12:33 +0000

@Robin: I think it is, yes.

In my family there is a major history of drug and alcohol addiction, with multiple relatives having been afflicted. I think depression was also a serious problem for many of them, even though most were never diagnosed with a clinical mood disorder (with the exception of one great-aunt, who did have a diagnosis of bipolar illness).

From what I have read, drug and alcohol addiction is closely tied to mental illness of all kinds, not just depression. Most forms of mental illness have an inherited component, although in some disorders the genetic connection is not easy to pin down.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:34:08 +0000

That’s a tough question, Robin. I’m almost betting that depression can be genetic. There’s something inside of us that gives us these emotions and if we inherit these emotions from our parents, then I’m guessing it can be genetic. That’s just a guess tho

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:02:09 +0000

Do you think that the tendency to be depressed is as genetic as alcoholism is said to be?

By: mallory

mallory — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:44:24 +0000

Lynnatia, do you think that that may be a sign of depression coming on when you get emotional? It may only be temporary at the time, but it looks like it could become more if not watched carefully.

By: Lynnatia

Lynnatia — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:19:56 +0000

Amen Austin,, we are some of the lucky ones.. I don’t get depressed when I drink, but if I drink too much, I do become emotional at times, but not all the time.

By: Austin

Austin — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:33:23 +0000

Drinking always makes me a little goofy but never depressed!

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:03:41 +0000

In my experience I think that being depressed can lead to a lot of different behaviors that one may have never seen coming before. It is as if you take on a completely different life trying to figure out what is going on inside and then when it does kind of hit you than there are times that you try to cover it up any way that you can. Often that leads to picking up even more disastrous behaviors such as alcohol and drugs, or maybe as previously mentioned gambling. A lot of times these behaviors are used to try to give you some kind of high that is very different from the low that you are feeling while you are so depressed. But as so many of us already know alcohol is a depressant and will often times make you feel even worse not better about the situations you are facing.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:35:48 +0000

This is news to me. My husband has always been the pessimistic sort he’s drinking for nearly a year now. His losing his job and the drinking have made him attempt suicide twice. I didnt know that it makes u more depressed but now I definitely do see the connection.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:58:43 +0000

Never personally known anyone with this type of situation but my inclination would be that you are depressed first and then comes the other addictions to act as masks for the real underlying issues. Just a thought.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:49:05 +0000

It make me wonder if alcohol causes depression or if people drink because they are depressed… I think we need more studies to determine… I’m no therapist, but i’m sure it can go both ways.

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:47:54 +0000

Thanks for the great read… I honestly believe that alcohol plays a big role in depression… especially when one comes off the “high” then they have to face whatever problems they have once the “high” is gone.

By: Mike D

Mike D — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:05:43 +0000

So do you think this is true with other addictions such as gambling? My father went through a major bout of depression when hen became addicted to gambling so I have always wondered whether the depression caused the gambling or all of the gambling debts and secrecy caused the depression. I would love to hear some input from others aboutt his because we have always received conflicting viewpoints on this. Of course Gamblers Anonymous says that he is at heart a gambler and this caused the other symptoms to emerge while therapists tell me that gambling was just a way to deal with the depression he was feeling.