Alcohol addiction affects more than 14 million adults worldwide. We know that addiction is a medical condition that often requires both medical and psychological intervention. We also know that it can be the result of attempting to cope with a mental health condition like depression, bipolar, anxiety, or schizoaffective disorder. Many people who are dealing with alcoholism and mental health obstacles are struggling in isolation. Although alcoholism can be an effect of loneliness and depression, it can also be a contributing factor.
Although all of this may sound quite bleak, medical and mental health professionals today are more prepared than ever before to accommodate and facilitate recovery and healing. At Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center, we have a team of professionals who are well-versed in co-occurring disorders such as alcoholism and mental health concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our depression treatment program today by calling us at (928) 968-6330 910-8853).
Isolation and Loneliness Can Hide in Plain Sight
Because drinking is often associated with social settings such as dates, parties, and family gatherings, alcohol addiction can creep in and go unnoticed. It may be that you or your loved one enjoys the time spent so much when they’re drinking with friends or family that the time spent alone feels dull and uninspiring in contrast. It then becomes easier and easier to feel comfortable with drinking alone and drinking in social settings. While depression is often misunderstood along with alcohol addiction, we can look for certain behaviors that point to depression more often than not:
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities that used to bring pleasure
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Changes in appetite and eating habits
- Difficulty regulating emotions and thought patterns, dealing with repetitive, intrusive thoughts
Benefits of a Dual Recovery Program
Because symptoms of alcohol addiction and symptoms of depression may look or feel the same, it can be difficult for some to tell when a person is struggling with a dual diagnosis rather than just one condition. It may be that you or a loved one has already been diagnosed with depression, but addiction to alcohol is a condition that hasn’t been as easily detected or verbalized. It’s important to understand that while both depression and alcoholism can have similar effects, they may also present in ways that differ from each other, depending on the individual.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, but no one else knows about it yet, it’s essential to look out for key signs that it is a problem and to take note of them:
- Lapses in memory after drinking, or temporary blackouts
- Difficulty in controlling mood swings and irritability
- Choosing to drink at times when there are other obligations or responsibilities
- Feeling symptoms of a hangover even when not drinking
With a dual recovery program for alcohol addiction, you can work on skills and practice habits that can provide recovery for both disorders simultaneously, allowing the body and mind to work together how we know they can.
At Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center clients have access to a wide variety of programs and treatment options, including partial hospitalization programs, long-term outpatient care, medically-assisted treatment, mindfulness, psychotherapy, yoga, equine therapy, talk therapy, and more. Our empathetic and professional staff members care for clients who are struggling not just with addiction, but mental health diagnoses as well, including anxiety, depression, schizoaffective disorders, PTSD, bipolar, and schizophrenia.
