Does Long Term Alcohol Use Make You Depressed? Posted: 04-29-05 15:41pm
Hi I was wondering what the long term
effects of alcohol use are?....I have a
friend who drinks all the time...He is not
yet classified as an alcoholic....He
actually owns a few bars and restaurants
and he is almost 30years old but has been
drinking for at least 10
years.....Everyday he has a beer here and
there....Depending who he hangs out with
he can get drunk up to 2-4 times a week.
When he has ppl at his house....He always
serves beer.....When he dines out...He
drinks wine all the time.....I would even
say everyday....He is very rich and I dont
know if he is doing this to live life or
if he is depressed or what....
Can long term alcohol use make you
depressed? Even if you have
everything?.....He literally has the
perfect life....But I dont know why he
drinks so much...I am just so worried
about his health and liver....Soemtimes he
has made comments to a friend that he was
depressed...I dont know why he would
be?...Over a girl? I dont know why...Or
is it just the alcohol?.....After his
hangovers he has to sometimes take vitamin
pills to make him feel better the next
day....I dont understand how ppl can drink
like this.....
Is alcohol really that fun? Even if you
have been doing it for a long time?
|
tiltamatic
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 3 Location: omaha , ne
Long Term Use to Depression Posted: 04-30-05 23:36pm
Anxious ,
I am a recovering addict
/alcoholic with close to four years of
recovery.Although I am not a professional
counselor or anything near that I do have
experience in the lifestyle and know why I
did the things I did. I personally do not
believe that the use of alcohol has caused
his depression but rather that his
depression may be causing him to drink.
In not dealing with the issues he's having
in his life and trying to "drink" them
away he is only letting them compound.
Whether he is rich or poor , has
everything or nothing he remains the same
as everyone else on earth , human. The
only humans I know who have no problems in
the world are six feet under. Not trying
to be morbid but trying to be blunt.
Also , just because he has not
been deemed an alcoholic does not mean
that he isn't , nor does it mean that he
may not have alcoholic tendencies. When
he comes 'round from his last drinking
binge , or is recovering from his last
hangover he still has his unresolved
issues standing there waiting for him.
Though he may be a successfull business
man he may not have the emotional tools to
deal with other aspects of his life. If
you really are concerned about him you
might think about coming right out and
asking him how he's doing. If you get the
pat answer of "ok" tell him no , how are
you really doing and show him how you are
genuinely concerned and want to know if
you can help in any way. At times just
being there to listen is the best help you
can offer.
I hope this helps in some way.
Best of luck.
Jr
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 04-30-05 23:51pm
Just because someone drinks and likes it
doesn't make them an alcoholic. When you
can't stop, or it is all you want to do,
etc. Then you may be an alcoholic.
Also, it doesn't matter how "great" his
life is, depression is an illness, and
just because you think his life is great
because he is rich or whatever doesn't
mean he is going to be happy. You can be
upset "over a girl" or over a death of a
close friend or family member, etc., but
depression in itself isn't always caused
by events in one's life.
Nor, does the fact that he likes to have a
beer here and there throughout the day,
drink wine with dinner, or have beer when
he has guests doesn't mean he is
depressed.
If your friend was drinking all day
everyday, or getting drunk everyday, or
drinking and driving or poisoning himself
then I would definately worry if I were
you. But just because his lifestyle
includes alcohol doesn't mean you should
get upset over it. No, drinking everyday
and getting drunk 2-4 times a week isn't a
healthy way of life, but as long as he
isn't hurting anyone or himself, then
there really isn't a cause for concern.
|
shadowalker164
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 175 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 05-02-05 11:18am
The big book of alcoholics anonymous calls
the kind of depression that brings people
into the program as “incomprehensible
demoralization at depth”
so yea, drinking can cause serious
depression.
As to your other question, is he an
alcoholic? There is a fairly easy way to
determine that.
If when he honestly wants to, can he
stop?
(no booze for a month, see if he can do
it. A real alcoholic will not find that
easy to do)
or when drinking he has little control
over how much he drinks. (let him try one
or two shots of his favorite stuff, then
stop abruptly, no more that day, do it
more than once)
we drink because we have to, not because
we want to.
Alcohol can't do anything to us unless it
does something for us first.
In each generation something like 5% to 7%
of the population have an unnatural
reaction to alcohol. And that reaction is
to turns an otherwise bland existence into
a technicolor world.
It lets us feel like other people look.
Complete.
The vast majority of people who drink
aren't alcoholics, and they aren't going
to become alcoholics in the future. Why?
Because alcohol doesn't do that something
special for them. When they have a few
drinks, they start feeling like they are
losing control and they stop.
Us on the other hand, after a few drinks,
we feel like we’re just starting to gain
control. A completely different reaction.
And after enough time, we come to rely on
alcohol to fix the way we feel. To fix
the way we see the world.
And in time, that reliance became a
dependence, and in turn that dependence
became full blown alcoholism.
Your friend may or may not be an
alcoholic, he may or may not be relying on
alcohol to improve his view of the world,
and no one can tell him if alcohol is
interfering in his life.
Only time can tell.
Given enough time, it will become
abundantly self clear if he is one of us
or not.
Over any appeasable length of time
alcoholism only gets worse, it never gets
better.
He’ll know what he is in time.
I hope he finds himself among the normal
people,
but if not, remember that aa is that last
house on the block for drunks like us.
On the road to the good stuff,
richard s.
|
nancy1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 32
Posted: 06-19-05 05:51am
Well...You friend is not going to survive
for long if he continues with his present
routine. Consuming alcohol for a long
time, has its effects on the body. Apart
from damaginf the liver, alcohol may cause
a lot of physical as well as mental
problems including depression to the
person concerned.
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.
Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
