Alcohol and Depression: The Loop and How to Break It

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and must not be treated as expert medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, or depressive symptoms, or both, contact a licensed clinician for formal diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8, or call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

You have a few drinks to take the edge off. For an hour or two, it does feel better. But then, you begin feeling low, you have sleep troubles, and you wake up feeling heavier than you did before. You drink again.

If that cycle feels familiar, alcohol and depression are tied together in ways that can feel like a loop. In this article, we will explore how this connection develops, how long alcohol depression can last, what changes after you stop, and what can lead you toward recovery.

Is Alcohol a Depressant?

Alcohol slows activity in the central nervous system, which is why it is classified as a “depressant.”

This, however, does not mean alcohol always makes a person feel depressed in the moment. Many feel lighter and more relaxed after the first drink. The mood tends to take a turn for the worse as the alcohol wears off and as drinking becomes more regular.

Alcohol also impacts serotonin levels in the brain, and serotonin is one of the chemical messengers involved in mood.

Does Alcohol Cause Depression?

Does alcohol cause depression? Studies say it can, and for some, it appears to be the beginning point.

In a New Zealand-based study, participants who met the criteria for alcohol use disorder or dependence were 1.9 times more likely to also meet criteria for major depressive disorder. However, we need to be careful in how we interpret this – some other variables also need to be considered. For instance, alcohol may lead to other problems in a person’s life, such as money, legal, and relationship strain.

In another long-running study, almost 1/3rd of the major depressive episodes seen in men with alcohol problems appeared only while those men were drinking heavily.

The answer to which condition comes first is not there yet, but here are some of the possibilities:

• Similar risk factors lead to both alcoholism and depression.
• Depression can lead to alcohol, to numb the pain and suffering within.
• Alcohol can worsen depressive symptoms.

Safety Note: If depression is leading to suicidal thoughts or ideation, call 9-8-8 right away. This can be a life-saving move.

Does Alcohol Make Depression Worse?

Generally speaking, alcohol can make depression worse. Studies have indicated that 1 in 3 persons with alcohol use disorder reported experiencing intense depression and severe anxiety. Drinking heavily often increases depressive symptoms, and that can lead to more drinking in an attempt to feel better, which keeps the loop going.

Why Does Alcohol Make Me Sad After Drinking?

Many question this after a quiet drink alone or a binge drinking episode with others during a night out. Feeling sad or crying after drinking are common experiences, and they do not by themselves mean a person has a major depressive disorder.

Here is what is known. Alcohol acts first on the part of the brain linked with inhibition. Once your brain has high levels of alcohol in it, negative emotions can take over. Lower inhibition can mean feelings that you were holding in come out more easily, including tears.

It becomes worth paying attention to when it repeats. If you cry or feel hopeless after most drinking sessions, or you notice the feeling of sadness and emptiness lingering for the next day or two, it is not a one-off feeling. It is a pattern.

The Alcohol-Depression Cycle

The alcohol-depression cycle typically looks like this:

• It begins with low mood. Can be stress, burnout, grief, or depression that has already been there for a while.
• For a short time, drinking can make you feel better. This is why drinking when depressed is common.
• Then the temporary relief wears off, for alcohol is just temporary arms around you. Sleep becomes worse, anxiety rises, and mood may become lower than before.
• Life gets difficult. Falling back in your career, strained relationships, health-related worries, etc.
• Drinking feels like the answer to all this. Except it is not. But it keeps the cycle going.

What Is Alcohol-Induced Depression?

Sometimes depression can be the direct outcome of alcohol. Clinicians call this alcohol-induced depression, and the diagnosis is alcohol-induced depressive disorder (also called substance-induced mood disorder).

As per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)’s journal, this diagnosis is provided when depressed mood or loss of pleasure occurs during or shortly after alcohol intoxication or withdrawal, and takes nearly 3-4 weeks to get better without alcohol.

The symptoms can look identical to major depressive disorder. But here, depression develops in the context of heavy drinking. How long does alcohol depression last? Typically, you are likely to feel better within several weeks to a month of stopping and rarely need antidepressants to go away.

A few things may impact this – the frequency and severity of drinking, mental health history, and healthy social support systems.

Depression After Quitting Drinking

Depression after quitting drinking can also be a reality – and an unwanted visitor. When a person becomes sober, they typically expect to feel better, more joyful. But instead, the first few weeks can feel tired and sad.

There are a few reasons this can happen. Withdrawal itself can lead to low mood, anxiety, and sleep troubles. Mood-related symptoms during acute withdrawal are common, and they are most likely to ease after 2 to 4 weeks of quitting drinking.

However, in cases of depression that existed before the drinking and was suppressed by it – it becomes clearer in the absence of alcohol.

Alcohol and Antidepressants

If you are struggling with depression and are prescribed an antidepressant, Mayo Clinic advises not to combine it with alcohol. Here are a few reasons why:

• Alcohol can amplify the side effects of antidepressants.
• The combination impacts judgment, coordination, motor skills, and reaction time more than alcohol alone.
• Some antidepressants lead to sleepiness, and alcohol adds to it.
• Alcohol is a depressant, so it can do the opposite of what antidepressants are trying to do.

How to Break the Alcohol-Depression Loop?

There is no single step that fixes this, but here are some steps you can take:

• Track your patterns for 2-4 weeks. Write down how many drinks you take, your mood patterns, and your sleep patterns every day.
• Begin by trying to go without alcohol for a few days, provided it is safe for you. For instance, four weeks without alcohol makes it clearer how you feel. However, check with your doctor first in case you drink regularly and heavily.
• Focus on your nutrition and sleep. As alcohol can adversely impact nutrition and sleep, ensure you consume a nutritious diet and maintain a consistent schedule of 7-9 hours of good night’s sleep every day.
• Reach out to licensed and trained clinicians. Your doctor or therapist needs to understand the full picture of alcohol and depression before they treat you. Preferably, reach out to someone who can treat both or can coordinate smoothly for integrated treatment.

Safety Note: If you drink frequently and heavily, and are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, do not quit drinking on your own. You may need medically supervised detoxification (detox) before you quit drinking.

Alcohol withdrawal can lead to serious health concerns and even life-threatening symptoms like delirium tremens and seizures. If someone is experiencing severe confusion, psychosis, or seizures, call 9-1-1 right away.

When Outpatient Treatment May Be the Right Next Step

Many reach a point where weekly therapy is not enough for alcohol and depression, but they also do not want to put their lives on hold. A structured outpatient program can be the bridge one may need.

Skyline Recovery Center treats substance use disorders and mental health conditions with dual diagnosis care. Our programs include:

• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): 6 to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for those who need daily structure and clinical oversight for safety and stability.
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): 3 to 5 hours a day, 3 to 5 days a week, with evening and virtual options for those balancing school and work.

Care services typically entail individual and group therapy, trauma-informed care, medication management when needed, and relapse prevention planning. Every treatment plan is developed based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and goals.