Alcohol depression and alcohol dependence

Alcohol depression, also called alcohol melancholy, is a serious problem of modern society.

Depression and alcohol are a dangerous combination and often create a vicious cycle, from which it is sometimes very difficult to get out. According to medical statistics, up to 70% of depressed patients have suicidal thoughts, and 60% of suicides have taken alcohol during their lifetime.

Moreover, 30% of all suicides and 25% of failed suicide attempts are committed by people with alcohol dependence. Due to this, early detection and timely treatment of alcoholic depression play a crucial role in reducing the number of suicides.

However, early diagnosis of the disease is not always possible, since alcoholic depression often occurs in a hidden, or sluggish manner, when a person seems to be complaining nothing, behaves in public cheerfully and at ease, and alone falls into despair, experiencing wild longing, anxiety and dissatisfaction with life.

A hidden form of alcoholic melancholy is a very dangerous condition, concealing a high suicidal risk, so the task of relatives is to recognize the symptoms of an onset disease in time and seek advice from specialists in a timely manner.

Alcohol depression: symptoms and anxious signs ^

The main symptoms of alcoholic depression that should alert the relatives and encourage them to seek immediate medical attention are:

• daily consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• the use of alcohol at the slightest troubles and problems;
• drinking alcohol alone;
• need to drink before going to bed to fall asleep and in the morning to cheer up;
• sharp rejection of criticism and talk about drunkenness;
• depressive patient, as a rule, languid, apathetic, indifferent to others and to his own destiny. However, after trying to drown the melancholy with the help of alcohol, becomes angry, rude, irritable and aggressive;
• also, it has lost the instinct of self-preservation, which greatly increases the risk of an accident.

Modern methods of treatment of alcoholic depression ^

Treatment of alcoholic depression must necessarily be comprehensive and include:

• detoxification therapy;
• taking antidepressants;
• psychocorrectional exercises.

Detoxification therapy for alcoholism is aimed at eliminating the withdrawal syndrome caused by the abuse of alcoholic beverages. With long drinking-bouts, under the influence of ever larger doses of alcohol, the body ceases to cope with harmful substances that poison organs and tissues, until the onset of alcoholic dementia-destruction by acetaldehyde and ethanol of the brain, which leads to memory and intellect breakdown.

In addition, detoxification with alcoholism helps to quickly relieve the condition of a patient with withdrawal syndrome. The patient is given droppers with antioxidants to neutralize harmful compounds, stimulate the brain and hepatotropic substances for liver regeneration.

Modern antidepressants of the new generation( SSRIs, SSRIs and H) are widely used in the treatment of alcoholic depression, since they help to significantly improve the condition. They have a number of advantages over previous-generation drugs that are addictive and withdrawal symptoms:

• is better tolerated,
• is less toxic,
• has fewer side effects,
• is more safe with possible overdose.

Because depressive disorders with alcohol dependence are usually of a protracted nature, the appointment of antidepressants is mandatory.

The sessions of medical psychologists with the patient and relatives are conducted individually or in groups and are aimed at forming motivation in patients to continue treatment until a stable remission is achieved. Physicians conduct psychodiagnostic diagnosis of patients using the Beck depression scale, explain what depression is, its types, symptoms, negative consequences and teach how to get out of alcoholic depression.

A very important role in the treatment of alcohol melancholy belongs to the family. Psychologists warn - do not leave the sick person alone with their problems, do not mock his fears and do not reproach in anything. No one is to blame for being ill. Show your sympathy, understanding, express confidence in the success of treatment and help him to develop persistent positive thinking.
We also recommend you to watch a video of the famous psychotherapist Elman Osmanov about symptoms and modern methods of depression treatment: