Alcohol and Mental Health

Alcohol use can have a significant impact on your mental health. It can worsen or cause mental health issues, and it can also interact with certain medications. Additionally, alcohol use can lead to new mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. And if you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, alcohol use can make it harder to manage your condition.

If you’re struggling with alcohol use and mental health issues, getting help as soon as possible is important. You may have co-occurring disorders. At Alter Health Group, we offer various mental health treatment programs that you or a loved one could find suitable for your lifestyle and needs. Learn more about how improving your mental health could improve your overall well-being. Call us for more information and resources.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders are when someone has both a mental health illness and substance use issues. Having co-occurring disorders means that the symptoms of each condition can worsen the other. For example, someone with depression may drink alcohol to improve their mood. Or someone with anxiety may use drugs to try to calm down. But drug use can increase anxiety and make it more harmful.

Many other types of mental health conditions can co-occur with alcohol use disorder, including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia

If you think you may have co-occurring disorders, talk to our team at Alter Health Group, and we can set you up with an appointment with one of our medical professionals. We focus on an individualized approach to ensure that each client gets the proper care for their needs.

Causes of Co-Occurring Disorders

There’s no single cause of co-occurring disorders. Instead, various risk factors can contribute to developing them. These factors include:

• Family history – A patient is more likely to develop co-occurring disorders if they have a family member who has one.
• Trauma – Traumatic events like abuse can increase the risk of developing co-occurring disorders.
• Stressful life circumstances – Situations like job loss or relationship problems can trigger or worsen mental health issues. Stress can lead to alcohol or drug use as a way to cope.
• Availability of alcohol and drugs – If alcohol and drugs are readily available, you may be more likely to develop a substance use problem.

Our team at Alter Health Group will work with you to better understand some of the causes and risk factors that may have contributed to you developing co-occurring disorders. We can also provide you with resources and support to help you recover.

Combining Alcohol and Mental Health Issues Could Be Harmful

If you have a mental health issue, alcohol use can make it worse. Not to mention, alcohol use can lead to the development of new mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. And if you already have a mental health issue, alcohol use can make it harder to manage your condition.

As mentioned earlier, alcohol use can cause your behavioral health concerns to worsen. Alcohol has many effects on individuals with or without any mental health conditions. Some of those mental effects are:

• Decreased inhibitions
• Lowered anxiety levels
• Elevated mood
• Poor judgment
• Increased risk-taking behaviors
• Paranoia
• Agitation
• Delirium tremens (DTs)

If you’re struggling with alcohol use and mental health issues, it’s important to seek help from medical professionals. At Alter Health Group, we offer various mental health treatment programs that you or a loved one could find suitable for your lifestyle and needs.