Does Depression lead to drinking Alcohol or Is it the Other Way Around?

Over the year, there have been many debates  as to whether alcohol causes depression or people who suffer from depression begin drinking simply because they’re depressed.  This “was it the chicken or the egg that came first” is still unclear but one can be stated and that is: alcohol can lead to depression.  It is classified as a depressant that on a biological level lowers serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.  These chemicals act as mood balancers, allowing you to feel joy, content, and an overall sense of well being. When you throw alcohol into the mix, it suppresses neurotransmitters with the end result being depression. People who are depressed also tend to drink more.  It’s estimated that 30-50% of those suffering with major depression are also abusing alcohol.

Depression and Alcohol Equals Higher risk of Committing Suicide

When a person struggling from major depression abuses alcohol, she has a much higher risk of attempting and succeeding at suicide. Other noteworthy facts:

• Alcohol abuse often exaggerates depression and increase impulsiveness.
• Alcohol is often the key culprit in driving and crashing a moving vehicle or overdosing.
• Alcohol impairs judgment and numbs pain, which explains why it is correlated with often painful suicide attempts.