•+Depression+Leading+to+Alcoholism


 * Alcohol or Depression: Which Came First? **

**How does depression influence alcohol use?** “Both depression and alcohol dependence carry a significant risk for the development of the other” (Dundon & Pettinati, 2011). Alcohol problems and depression commonly occur together; alcohol use is very common in patients with major depression (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009). "If a patient with symptoms of major depression is drinking, it will either be a case of concurrent alcohol use and major depressive disorders or alcohol-induced mood disorder"(CAMH, 2009). Depression is so prevalent in North America today that many individuals do not receive the proper treatment or get the medications they need to cope properly. Often these individuals turn to maladaptive coping mechanisms and self-medicate with the use of alcohol, often resulting in alcohol abuse disorders.

 "Studies show that there is a strong link between serious alcohol use and depression" (WebMD, 2012). A study done by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism showed that nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem (WebMD, 2012). The desirable effects of alcohol result from the initial euphoric sensations that alcohol produces (Depression-guide.com, 2005). Individuals who suffer from depression will begin to use alcohol in an attempt to gain a greater feeling of control over themselves. This can then result in an alcohol dependence which as a depressive substance actually has the potential to worsen symptoms.In reality, alcohol is a depressant that lowers serotonin and n orepinephrine levels (Russell, 2012). Serotonin levels in the brain affect our mood, and norepinephrine helps to give the body energy during times of stress. This can increase the incidence of depression in individuals who are predisposed or who are struggling with environmental stresses that increase the likelihood of the development of depression.

**Shared Triggers**

When alcohol is consumed, it depresses the effects of stress hormones, leaving people feeling even worse than they did before they started drinking (Drug and Alcohol Addiction:Recovery, 2009). The difficulty of determining whether or not depression or alcohol use came first is due to the fact that these two conditions are often affected and develop under the same circumstances. Research has found a number of connections between depression and substance abuse which lead to co-occurring expression, rather than one disorder as a cause of the other (Dundon, 2011), including:
 * **Shared brain regions** affected by both substance abuse and depression. For example, substance abuse affects the brain areas that handle stress responses, and those same areas are known to be affected by some mental disorders.Alcohol lowers serotonin in the brain which neuroscientists and doctors believe has a negative effect on your mood (Thompson, 2012).
 * **Genetic factors** can make a person more likely to develop a mental disorder or addiction. Genetic factors make it more likely that one condition will occur once the other has appeared — for example, alcoholism sparked by a bout of depression (Thompson).
 * **Environmental factors** such as stress or trauma are known to prompt both depression and substance abuse (Thompson).
 * **Brain developmental issues**that can lead a child to depression or substance abuse later in life. Early drug use is known to harm brain development and make later mental illness more likely. The reverse also is true: Early mental health problems can increase the chances of later drug or alcohol abuse (Thompson).