Alcohol is a depressant. It temporarily impedes communication to brain, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. However, in the process, it also reduces the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Reduced levels of these chemicals have been linked to a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression. Unfortunately, when a person who is accustomed to drinking tries to stop, the accompanying depression gets temporarily worse, making it difficult to stay sober. For effective treatment, the drinking and depression should be dealt with simultaneously.
Diagnosis
Depression can be difficult to identify. Depression as a result of drinking can be even trickier as most people who drink heavily expect to wake up feeling terrible. Some of the telltale sings of alcoholic depression include; drinking alone in excess, sudden and drastic change in body weight, chronic fatigue, insomnia, mental confusion, and thoughts of suicide.
Drinking
If you are not checking into a residential treatment facility, begin preparations up to two weeks before the actual quit date. Many self-care treatments take a few weeks to build up therapeutic levels in your bloodstream. With that in mind, set a date and stick to it. Call in your friends and family for help. Schedule vacation time at work and stock up on the following: aspirin, ginger ale, gum, grapes, apples, dates and celery. Don't worry, you can eat whatever you'd like, but these items will be particularly useful. Your head will probably hurt for the first few days -- take the aspirin as directed and be sure to drink a full glass of water with it. Your stomach will be upset as the withdrawal symptoms kick in. The ginger ale will help soothe your digestive tract. The gum is simply to give you something to do as you're bound to be a bit edgy and gum chewing can help counteract nervousness. Grapes can help reduce the craving for alcohol while apples help to remove toxins from your system. Dates are a high-fiber snack that can help to ensure your system runs as smoothly as possible and celery juice contains chemicals to calm the nerves.
Depression
St. John's Wort has proven effective in treating depression in many cases. It is sold in the vitamin section of major department stores, pharmacies, and health food stores. Beginning at least two weeks before your quit date, take the recommended dosage of St. John's Wort. Follow the directions on the bottle, as dosage varies from brand to brand. If you are unhappy with the results or experience negative side effects from using the herb, SAM-e can also produce positive results. In addition to taking the medicinal herbs, begin an exercise program. Something as simple as walking for 30 minutes each day can help elevate the spirit and alleviate the effects of stress on the body. If you're really struggling through a bad day, try listening to cheerful music and singing along or watching a funny movie; the distraction can temporarily improve your mood. Limit your sugar intake as the inevitable crash that hits after a large "sugar rush" only aggravates the condition.
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