There has long been the question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? And we all are aware that there is no set answer to that question. It is often the same when it comes to alcoholism. Which came first, the drinking or the depression?

The answer to that isn’t crystal clear. However, the comorbidity between alcohol abuse and depression is. There has been a long standing history between the two.

Sometimes it seems like a person falls to depression and then decides to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Alcohol does indeed have properties that can help calm anxiety and make real life seem more sedated. They use the substance to forget about the unpleasant happenings in day to day life. With more than one-third of people who have major depressive episodes also suffering from alcohol abuse, the correlation is strong.

However, on the other side of things, sometimes it may seem that a person who drinks steadily is then prone to depression due to the depressive nature of alcohol itself. Numerous studies have shown that the neurotoxins from alcohol increase the risk for depression. Also, drinking could cause marital strain or stress at work, both of which could end up causing depression. Thus, both physiological and mental happenings can cause drinking to lead to depression.

The point is that sometimes you can tell which came first and others you can’t. It all depends on the individual situation. The important thing, however, is to make sure that when you do reach out for help, you receive treatment for both the abuse and depression. Fixing one without fixing the other will more likely than not lead to relapse, as the depression is a trigger for drinking and drinking is a trigger for depression.

There are many rehab clinics that specialize in dual-diagnosis. These places are prepared to help addicts not only with their alcohol problem, but to also aid them on their path towards conquering depression. With dual-diagnosis, most treatment plans are specific to the patient in order to fully understand and combat both issues.

Here at DrugRehab.org, we are ready to find the program that is right for you. Contact us today if you or a loved one is suffering from both depression and alcohol abuse; we will help you get to happier days.