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Are depressed people more likely attracted to alcohol?

nuttynutskin

nuttynutskin

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May 15, 2011
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When I was a teenager in high school I was pretty much a pot and acid head. I drank also, but it wasn't my drug of choice or I at least didn't prefer it over the others. But sometime after high school weed no longer appealed to me that much. I would get paranoid or just generally feel weird after smoking. As far as psychedelics, that phase was definitely over because I got so burned out on acid in high school, and was afraid of getting caught with it being legal age (call me a pussy but I didn't want a potential felony). So somewhere in my twenties I had pretty much given up drugs and binge drinking like I did in high school but would drink socially basically and I had no problem with it. I liked drinking but I also had other things in my life going for me.

Somewhere in between that time things sort of started going downhill. College didn't work out, I wasn't good at trying to maintain jobs, my social life sucked, etc. My drinking still was pretty much under control tho because, well, I was broke most of the time. Fast forward to maybe 4 years ago my drinking had picked up but mostly to maybe 2 cans of malt liquor whenever I could afford it, or a bottle of wine 3 days a week or so. I was depressed about a lot of stuff but again I just didn't have the money to drink a whole lot. A little time after that some circumstances changed for me in a good way (sort of) and I had money. All of the sudden all I had to do was pay rent basically and I could party and afford the good stuff. At the time I'm sure I lied to myself and said I would just have some fun for a month or so and then settle down on the drinking, but that didn't exactly happen.

Soon I was drinking more as my tolerance went up and what started out as something that helped my depression and anxiety was now actually contributing to it. Doing and saying stupid things that I regret and whatnot. After a while it was taking a toll but being in that state I guess you don't really see it. So to try to not turn this into a full blown novel, basically for the last 3 years I've been battling with alcoholism. Not drinking all of that time but probably a good part of it.

So I guess my question is, do people that suffer from depression or bipolar disorder have a predisposition for alcohol and maybe not other drugs? I guess alcohol pretty much hits the frontal cortex of the brain but I haven't really done any research about other drugs. I wish weed had become my drug of choice honestly, but for whatever reason as my bipolar depression increased my desire for other drugs went out the window.

TLDR:

Binge drank and did drugs in high school.

After high school quit doing drugs but drank socially. Had other things going in life and was in control.

Life shit happened, eventually depression worsened, but still didn't drink all that heavily because of being poor.

Circumstances changed and I had money and could afford to drink more.

Began drinking more and fairly quickly became an alcoholic facing the problems associated with it.
 
I know a large number of people with mental illness of various forms including depression and very few of them drink alcohol.

The ones that do either drank before their mental illness occurred or started drinking along with other drugs which they found during their low points.

I think that alcohol is more common as it is a legal drug with easy access and that people with mental illness tend to find ways of coping and people who are familiar with alcohol tend to hit it hard creating further problems for their self.
 
Something I was thinking... I wonder if people who suffer from bipolar depression are more likely to turn to alcohol because of the paranoia that can come with psychedelics or weed (which is actually a psychedelic)? Now that I think about it that's definitely one of the reasons other drugs don't appeal to me personally anymore. I think if I did psychedelics now I would end up in the loony bin. I don't need drugs to feel crazy. HA!
 
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I think depressed people´s instinct make them go after anything that would make their condition better. It´s so sad being depressed. The lack of hope, the endless feeling you are insignificant. I would do anything to avoid that.
 
Erikmen said:
I think depressed people´s instinct make them go after anything that would make their condition better.
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I totally agree with this. When you're depressed you constantly search for a "cure" for your depression, even if it is only a temporary one. I think people suffering with depression tend to have addictive personalities too, a few members of my family including me have mental health issues combined with substance abuse issues.
 
Yeah... I'm a firm believer that a lot, dare I say most addicts also have underlying mental problems. I'm sure I would've still experimented as a teenager because I'm a curious type person, but I seriously doubt I would've gone down the same road I did if it weren't for depression and the like. I've drank only once in the last 12 days and while I know it's good for me physically I don't like how I feel. Not that I like how I feel after a 5 day bender, but sober I'm even more introverted and antisocial than normal. My problem seems to be just being able to moderate. Sometimes I can, other times I can't.
 
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You will find people with anxiety drink more then those with depression. For me I drink to calm down my anxiety as it gets unbearable and meds like valium don't do much. At the same time the booze agrevates the anxiety the following days when I don't drink, so all in all it's a vicious cycle.
 
noonoo said:
You will find people with anxiety drink more then those with depression.
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Yeah... That's sort of what I was trying to get at since bipolar is pretty much depression AND anxiety along with other symptoms. And of course paranoia is sort of a form of anxiety in a way. I think if I suffered merely from depression other drugs might still be something I would desire. Anyways that's just my 2 cents.
 
Drinking for anxiety and depression (mine run together big time) invariably will ultimately make the problem worse. I have way less of both now at 9 months clean.... however, it wasn't easy at first. My GF relapsed about a month ago and is going through this right now and its not fun.

But people with mental issues of any type are more prone to substance use, abuse and dependence.
 
when i was depressed my drugs of choice were buprenorphine and adderall
when i was on Medication and NOT depressed my DOC were cannabis and salvia

Never was attracted to alcohol
 
i suffer from depression and when i'm depressed i'm inclined to use anything, but obviously i have preferences of certain substances.
alcohol would be low on the list.
 
Well maybe I just had the assumption that people with bipolar depression would have a greater likelihood for booze being their drug of choice. It certainly turned out that way in my case, but everyone's different I guess.
 
Alcohol is economical because it is 9 times out of 10, cheaper of a habit than pretty much any illegal drug.
Even if you can get cheap weed, 80 proof vodka is still like 10 bucks for 1.5 fifth bottle which is ridiculously cheap
maybe thats why it's common with depressed people, they can afford to be intoxicated for more time
 
Nutti you know my feelings, it is my drug of choice mainly because of its accessibility, hop skip and a jump from my house. As far as depression being my reason I'm not so sure. Having been a painter all my life a lot of us drank and the fastest painters were drinkers especially when it came to brush work, cutting lines you where more relaxed and could whip through it. When I was a contractor I hired fewer painters who didn't drink. Of course there where exceptions. Mushrooms for me is what brings me out of depressed conditions especially when I run short of Roxi's. The alcohol may help but I can drink and still remain depressed. It's a hard question for me to come to a conclusion. But when your down PM me and I'll do my best to put a smile on you. Side note my dog seems to be healing.
 
I'm 38 and have battled depression and anxiety since I was like 10. It really started to manifest itself when I was in my late teens. I;ve been diagnosed with MDD,GAD and also a recovering alcoholic. It's hard not to drink if im really down and out of opies. I've been on Cymbalta and Xanax and Hydros for a while now. So imo antidepressants suck and people with depression tend to ALWAYS self medicate. Drinking Made it worse for me tho. Opiates make me feel ALOT more able to cope.
 
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