The number of people who have a substance use disorder (SUD) in America is astounding. In a previous 2024 report by the United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 48 million Americans aged 12 and above had SUD.

The same NSDUH report found that over 10% of the US population (28.9 million people) battled with alcohol use disorder (AUD). It revealed that more than 16 million of the American male population had a drinking problem, while the number of affected women reached 12 million.

Like any other form of addiction, AUD is a dangerous condition, killing 178,000 Americans every year from excessive alcohol consumption. It’s the fourth leading preventable cause of death in America and deadlier than all other addictive substances combined.

Alcohol Withdrawal Depression

AUD symptoms can range between mild, moderate, and severe. And unfortunately, the effects of alcohol may continue to haunt you even after you decide to go sober.

If you drink heavy amounts of alcohol over long periods and suddenly decide to reduce your alcohol intake or stop altogether, you may experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This can involve a range of physical and mental symptoms, including depression.

Below, we’ll share everything you should know about alcohol withdrawal depression, and other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. We’ll walk you through the relationship between mental health and alcoholism, and share the best treatment options for substance-induced depression.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

Although considered the deadliest, alcohol is a legal substance in both the US and Britain. It’s three times as harmful as heroin or cocaine yet, because of its availability, treated as the most socially acceptable drug in most parts of the world.

Alcohol addiction can be defined as the chronic unhealthy pattern of alcohol use. People suffering from AUD can’t stop drinking and are preoccupied with consuming alcohol, despite knowing its consequences to themselves and the people around them.

The American Medical Association recommends a daily alcohol intake of two drinks for men and one drink for women. Those who consume four or more drinks regularly are considered heavy drinkers and are at risk of developing alcohol dependence.

Why is Alcohol Addictive?

Like any other drug, alcohol primarily affects the central nervous system. It creates pleasurable feelings and numbs uncomfortable emotions for the intoxicated individual. This euphoric aspect can motivate someone to consume alcohol repeatedly despite the involved health risks.

Alcohol is ultimately a depressant. That means it affects the balance of your brain’s neurotransmitters, directly impacting your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. It primarily targets the brain region that controls inhibition, inducing a relaxed and less anxious sensation.

These effects are usually short-lived though. After a while, the imbalances in the brain will cause more negative feelings, including depressive disorders. The number of neurotransmitters also decreases, slowing your brain’s decision-making capacity.

Causes and Risk Factors of Alcohol Use Disorders

Like many forms of addiction, chronic alcohol consumption is a complicated problem with complex causes. But while there’s no singular cause of alcohol use disorder, there are a few risk factors that can increase the likelihood of its development.

  • Genetic Factor: Children with alcoholic parents are found to be substantially more likely to develop AUD as adults. This occurs regardless of whether they grew up with their alcoholic parents or not.
  • Familial Factor: Apart from genetics, families where heavy drinking is regularly practiced or encouraged contribute to some people developing alcohol dependence. Such families often normalize (even glorify) heavy drinking.
  • Personality Factor: Some personality traits could help reinforce alcohol use disorders. Social people who desire acceptance may drink heavily if they believe they’re more “likable” when drunk, while shy people may do so to alleviate social discomfort.
  • Career Factor: Certain professions are found to have more people with SUDs than others. This often involves careers dominated by young adults and stressful or high-risk professions, such as in the military.

Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Depression

Drinking alcohol and mental health conditions are closely correlated. Someone who suffers from mental disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, is highly likely to turn to alcohol use to cope with their illness.

Conversely, regular drinking of alcohol can lead to depression and other psychological issues. Over time, alcoholism results in a wide range of problems in the person’s relationships, career, school, and family, exacerbating the mental health issue.

Depression is the most prevalent illness that co-occurs with AUD. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, people with chronic drinking problems are twice as vulnerable to developing depressive disorders.

Addiction Center also discovered similar findings, reporting over 60% of people with AUD to be suffering from a co-occurring major depressive condition.

Depression and Other Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Heavy drinkers who suddenly decrease or stop consuming alcohol can experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It’s the body’s reaction after getting used to functioning with the substance in its system.

Withdrawal can start as quickly as eight to 24 hours after your last drink. Besides depression, symptoms can range from mild to severe both physical and psychological, which can include the following:

  • Abnormally high heart rate
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Body tremors
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Excessive sweating
  • Upset stomach
  • Cravings
  • Muscle fatigue
  • Difficulty walking
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion and mood swings
  • Trouble sleeping or staying asleep

Some severe alcohol withdrawal cases can also include potentially life-threatening symptoms like alcohol withdrawal seizures, hallucinations, or delirium tremens.

Delirium tremens or DTs (also called alcohol withdrawal delirium) are rare but especially dangerous. It changes your brain activity and exhibits a range of psychological and physical signs like:

  • Trouble thinking
  • Inability to focus
  • Disorientation (lost sense of time and direction)
  • Difficulty speaking and hearing
  • Unusually sluggish movements
  • Abnormal apathy toward others
  • Unnaturally high body temperature (hyperthermia)
  • Deep sleep lasting one day or more

DTs can linger for several days to several months, depending on the severity of AUD. It’s treatable, but your chances of recovering considerably improve the faster you receive medical attention.

Alcohol Withdrawal Depression: Signs and Timeline

While everyone reacts differently to withdrawal, many recovering AUD patients exhibit several depressive symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and restlessness. They can start appearing several hours to a couple of days after abstinence and can last for weeks or months.

Many people overcome depression immediately after quitting alcohol and going through substance abuse treatment programs. Such interventions typically involve detoxification, which eliminates the substance from the victim’s system, often assisted by medication (naltrexone, benzodiazepine, etc.)

However, depression may remain or re-appear during post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). Others also experience the peak of their depressive symptoms three to six months after quitting, as their system readjusts to working without alcohol.

Alcohol Withdrawal Depression vs. Clinical Depression

Withdrawal depression and clinical depression are similar in many ways. Both are severe symptoms of an underlying medical condition and are substantial enough to interfere with a person’s daily function.

People suffering from alcohol withdrawal can go through mild, temporary bouts of sadness, to chronically persistent depression. To diagnose the illness, psychiatrists typically follow the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Treatment Options For Co-Occurring Alcohol Withdrawal and Depression

Any kind of addiction is a complex issue that requires an individualized approach. To address a co-occurring substance withdrawal and mental illness like depression, healthcare providers typically integrate two or more of the following treatment options:

  • Detoxification: Typically the first intervention treatment centers provide for SUD and AUD patients. It helps those who struggle with substance misuse safely and comfortably transition from withdrawal to sobriety.
  • Antidepressant Medications: In cases of chronic depressive episodes, physicians may offer antidepressant medications to curb its symptoms. Naltrexone and acamprosate, medications to reduce cravings, are also often provided.
  • Behavioral Therapies: Talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy are hugely helpful in managing withdrawal. They help patients identify and eliminate unhelpful habits and develop strategies to cope with symptoms.
  • Mutual Support Groups: Support groups offer numerous benefits for recuperating AUD patients going through withdrawal depression. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, creating meaningful connections among struggling peers.

Final Thoughts: Resolving the Root Problem

Many who struggle with alcohol withdrawal and a co-occurring mental illness often feel alone, profoundly lonely, and isolated. Fortunately, these conditions are treatable.

If you or any of your loved ones suffer from AUD and are trying to get your life back, Long Island Interventions provides a full range of resources and expert care for those struggling with alcohol withdrawal and depression.

Speak with us and start your recovery journey today!

References

Published on: 2025-04-01
Updated on: 2025-04-01

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