Alcohol and depression would usually not be associated together. The effects of alcohol and the symptoms of depression are virtually at polar opposites. Depression destroys your confidence, makes you feel apathetic, consumes you with negativity and sadness and may even make you suicidal. On the other hand, alcohol boosts confidence, makes you feel positive and upbeat, and makes you more energetic. While exact effects of alcohol and symptoms of the disorder may vary depending on the individual and circumstance, there is no doubt that depression and alcohol aren’t usually associated.
The link however exists as alcohol is used as an ailment for depression. Depressed individuals tend to turn to this intoxicant to get rid of their mental state. Depressed people who have the symptom of insomnia (which is a common effect of the disorder) use alcohol to get some sleep. Over time, as alcohol is frequently consumed, tolerance would increase requiring larger amounts at a time to achieve the same mental relief state. This could lead to dependence. This would now make the person an alcoholic as they now literally require alcohol in order to function normally. This in itself Is a serious condition that requires therapy and treatment.
There is also evidence to suggest that alcohol causes depression. Depressed people turning to alcohol as a solution are one side of the coin but the flip side is does alcohol cause depression? Based on analysis of brain when under the influence of the drug, there seems to be a correlation with the reactions in the brain when consuming alcohol as well as when a person is depressed, this could be an indicator that the drug can cause the disorder. There is also a connection between triggers for alcoholism and depression. High stress, loneliness and a lack of achievement or love in one’s life can result in both alcoholism as well as the disorder. This suggests that there is in fact a close relation between these two seemingly different aspects.
Another link between alcohol and depression is genetics. Both alcohol and depression can occur in individuals who have parents with the same problem. Therefore despite being rather distinctive from each other, the alcohol depression link does in fact exist. Another aspect to consider is effects of excess drinking with depression. Both conditions result in similar symptoms such as irregularity in sleep, fatigue and other symptoms.
Alcohol can assuredly cause depression, similarly the opposite is true.