Depression and Alcohol Consumption in Women - Essay Example

Alcohol Consumption and Depression in Women Depression and Alcohol Consumption in Women In United s of America, 5.3 million women consume alcohol in a manner that is harmful to their general well being, safety, and health. Sixty percent have at least more than one drink in a year, and among those who drink, thirteen percent consume more than seven alcoholic drinks in a week (Bravo, Gual, Lligoña, & Colom, 2013). Women who have a serious history of depression are more likely to drink alcohol heavily to relieve life stress (Bravo, Gual, Lligoña, & Colom, 2013). Also, it is possible that drinking alcohol regularly can lead to depression. Lone mothers face the challenges of raising children on their own. In making that effort, some may develop stress, suicide thoughts, guilt feelings, loneliness, and depression. Thus, this leads to them relying on alcohol abuse as a mechanism for coping. Both alcohol abuse and depression can be treated by drugs and psychotherapy. Statistically, single mothers are said to likely to engage in alcohol abuse than married women (Horvath, 2013). The reason behind this is the challenges they face in taking care of their children on their own without anyone helping them out. Such challenges are like financial difficulties to pay for food, rent, electricity, school fees, transport, healthcare, and water bills on their own. Other challenges come as a result of concern of single mothers as to whether they are giving enough care for their children, whether they are adequately dealing with mental, physical, and emotional changes of their kids, and also many single women face discrimination in almost all societies. All these challenges can lead to these group of women developing stress that can also cause depression, hence the tendency to abuse alcohol (Horvath, 2013). A third of people that suffer from major depression also experience a problem with alcohol (Kelly, Stout, Magill, Tonigan, & Pagano, 2010). Most of the time depression is the condition that comes first before alcohol abuse. Research shows that about forty percent of people who consume alcohol heavily have various symptoms that bear a resemblance to an illness of depression. All the same, when these individuals are not engaging in heavy drinking, only ten percent of women and five percent of men have symptoms that meet depression diagnostic criteria (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2013).). Furthermore, around five to ten percent of people suffering from depression have symptoms associated with alcoholism, with the women at a higher risk than men, especially single mums. Researchers suggest that women have a high likelihood to abuse alcohol than men when they feel depressed. Depressed women who drink alcohol make their condition worse. This is because they might suffer from severe and frequent episodes of depression, and are more prone to suicidal thoughts. In addition, when alcohol is consumed heavily, antidepressants might become less effective. Depression in women To understand the link between alcohol abuse and depression, we need to understand the meaning of depression in women. According to Kinney (2012), each year, about fifteen million people in U.S.A experience depression and the majority are women. Sad to say, about two thirds lack help they so need badly. Depression can be defined as a general and serious disorder associated with mood fluctuations. As noted, a person suffering from depression feels helpless, hopeless, worthless, and sad (Mulholland, 2010). Symptoms related to depression can be mild to moderate (Mulholland, 2010). An individual experiences low self esteem, little appetite, low grade fatigue, sleep difficulties, and apathy. Sometimes symptoms can be very severe. Women experiences symptoms that are persistent and untreatable. Remembering, decision making, and concentrating become difficult. Many women attempt suicides or experience suicidal and death thoughts, and reduced energy. Fatigue and a feeling of slowed down. Weight gain or loss, reduced or increased appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, and waking early in the morning are symptoms of depression (Horvath, 2013). Depressive women also engage in excessive crying, irritability, and seem restless all the time. Pleasure in activities they like is reduced and are persistently anxious and sad during particular hours o the day. These symptoms might affect single women more than those who are married because single ladies do not have a partner to encourage and support them during those tough times. The condition is even made worse if the single lady has children and other responsibilities to fulfill. Therefore, she opts to rely on alcohol to relax and forget all her troubles, and also to forget some of these symptoms of depression (Westermeyer, Weiss, & Ziedonis, 2004). This lifestyle can be detrimental and make depression more severe. Connection between alcohol and depression in women Alcohol tends to make women forget their worries for some hours as it gives a relaxing feeling. Thus, it acts as a depressant. However, drinking heavily can have harmful effects on the brain leading to major depression. When taken in small quantities, alcohol lifts the mood of an individual, but when it is used to cope with depression, multiple problems might arise. Furthermore, an individual’s tolerance to the alcohol effects can lead to him, or her needing more and more to achieve the effect. Alcohol misuse, whether to treat symptoms of depression or not, provides a depressant effect on the mood of its consumers (Mulholland, 2010). Daley (2014) suggests that the majority of women who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as `risky sexual behaviors due to bad decision making that is influenced by alcohol. When an individual makes bad decisions, he or she might lose a job, drain all his or her money, or destroy relationships. Consequently, feelings of guilt and depression start to creep in, especially if a person is genetically susceptible to depression. Studies on the genetic links between alcohol and depression show that there is a possibility to inherit high risks of both depression and alcohol (Alber et al., 2014). For example, problems associated with alcohol tend to be more frequent in children whose parents experience alcoholic problems that are severe. There is no clear information on what is inherited, but some researchers believe that it might lack or presence of tolerance to the effects of alcohol (Mulholland, 2010).Others believes that it might be how alcohol affects brain systems. Relatives of people suffering from depression also have both an increased risk of depression and conditions related to alcohol problems. The function of the brain is also linked to depression and alcoholism. Studies show that the systems that bring about such symptoms as anxiety, low mood, reduced appetite, and poor sleep in depression are also influenced by alcohol intake (Daley, 2014) In striving to cope with stress, single mothers seek some relief from alcohol that only offers a temporary solution for their challenges in life. As a result, not only do they become tolerant to alcohol, but also they become addicted to alcohol. During an addiction, what alcohol does is to compound these problems, making them worse than before. Horvath (2013) suggests that alcohol dependence, therefore, damages an individual’s daily activities like work, and mental, social and financial stability. Gender difference in alcohol consumption According to Bravo et al., (2013), women and men has different drinking patterns, particularly on the amount, frequency and beverage type. The body of women reacts in a different way to alcohol, and they are more prone to health realities and risks, thus the tendency to develop depression can be triggered by these risks. Divorced and single women take alcohol a lot and consume it occasionally. Thus, there is a need to create awareness about the health risks associated with alcohol drinking in women. According to Abler et al., (2014), women who have high levels of depression are at a risk of abusing alcohol above hazardous levels. There are various factors that make women to be at a higher risk than men. Various studies suggest that at lower drinking levels, women experience problems that are related to alcohol (Kelly et al., 2010). The reason behind is said to be that women weigh less than men in average, and have less water in their bodies, therefore when they take alcohol the blood concentration become high putting women at a higher risk for health problems. Moreover, biological factors are believed to contribute to the high risk. Such factors are like hormones, genetic, reproductive and body fat. Personality, psychological, and interpersonal characteristics increase the risk. Symptoms of depression can be triggered by raising kids and at the same time working especially for single mums. In addition, factors like use of various medications, sexual or physical abuse as a child, ongoing social and psychological stress such as divorce or separation, relationship stress, or loss of a job, death f a parent before the age of ten, a threat of loss of social support or its loss, history of early reproductive mood disorders, and history of family members with mood disorders. Alcohol health risks in women Kinney (2012) suggest that the health risks associated with alcohol abuse that can lead to stressful life in women are such as liver damage, heart disease, breast cancer, and pregnancy difficulties. When single mothers consume alcohol to relieve their stress, they might develop liver inflammation that can later lead to death. Heavy drinking that is chronic is the leading factor that leads to heart disease (May et al., 2011). Women are more susceptible to this condition than men. Breast cancer is another health risk associated with alcohol consumption in women (May et al., 2011). Drinking alcohol everyday increases the likelihood of a woman to get cancer of the breast. The percentage is higher in women who take alcohol that in those who do not take alcohol at all... For every extra drink taken the percentage risk also increases by ten percent. Pregnant women who take alcohol also are at a higher risk of developing health problems (May et al., 2011). Drinking alcohol heavily for pregnant women might lead to the fetus developing facial features that are abnormal, behavioral, and learning problems (May et al., 2011). Preterm labor also can be experienced by a pregnant woman who abuse alcohol or take alcohol in a moderate manner. Postpartum depression can also lead to a woman abusing alcohol. According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2013), there is a group of women who are not supposed to take alcohol at all. Such women include pregnant women and those who want to conceive, women who are taking medications that negatively interact with alcohol, and also anyone who is under the age of twenty one. Single mothers with alcohol problems have a high tendency of killing or harming themselves. This is as a result of drinking too much that can lead to problems associated with depression, or consuming alcohol heavily to relieve depression or anxiety. Whichever way, alcohol abuse affects the brain chemistry increasing the chance of an individual developing depression. Drinking alcohol leads to hangovers that can affect the daily activities of many women. They create cycles of feeling ill, guilty, jittery, and waking up (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2013). These cycles can also be depressive. Life also becomes depressing because most of the time, these women spend most of their time arguing with their friends, children, family, experience sexual problems, work troubles, and memory problems. Alcohol dependence Various warning signs are associated with depression and alcohol dependence in women. Such warning signs are like consumption of alcohol regularly to cope with depression, anxiety, frustrations, and anger. When a woman relies on alcohol to become confident, these might be a warning sign that all is not well. Regular hangovers and alcohol drinking that affects social relationships are also harmful. Moreover, drinking becomes dangerous if it makes an individual feel angry, disgusted, and suicidal, and also become aggressive. Other dangerous signs are like one drinking more with the aim of feeling good, spending most of the time drinking thus affecting your daily activities, anxious and shaky feelings in the morning, drinking very early in the morning, and uncomfortable and embarrassed people who are around you or with you (Kelly et al., 2010). Treatment Heavy alcohol intake can lead to symptoms that resemble those of depression or lead to depression. Therefore, medical practitioners treat the alcohol condition first to see whether depression will subside. If the alcohol problem is treated and the person shows symptoms of depression, then depression treatment is begun. Various antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor are used not only to improve the alcohol problem, but also to improve the depression problems (Horvath, 2013). Professional involvement and treatment in recovery of these conditions can have a positive influence on the addicted women and their families. This can help them to improve their quality of life and be able to manage these disorders. Alcohol problems can be treated by stopping alcohol intake of a woman. In addition, to avoid withdrawal syndromes like seizures, nausea, sweating, restlessness, hallucinations, delusions anxiety, and tremor, various medications are given to the patient. Some of these medications are such as chlordiazepoxide and diazepam (Daley, 2014). This process is known as detoxification, and it helps an individual to come off alcohol in a safe manner. According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2013), counseling is also an important way of treating depression and alcohol misuse. Counseling offers support and helps the patient to control her drinking within the recommended limits or achieve abstinence. The counselor in the treatment process therefore, uses various psychological therapies. Medication is also used to treat these conditions. Medications that act as an anti-abuse are prescribed, and they react very dangerously and unpleasant to patients who take them and at the same time drink alcohol. Other medicines are used to reduce alcohol cravings. Thus, it is important for family members and the society to motivate and support those individuals who are willing to quit alcohol for these treatments to work. Antidepressants, interpersonal psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, supportive counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy can treat depression (Westermeyer et al., 2004). The treatment should be done in a way that goes beyond reduction of symptoms, and it should aim at helping the patient to engage in the long-term process of recovery (Westermeyer et al., 2004). For an effective outcome, the treatment should be combined together. In summary, women who are depressed tend to consume alcohol to relieve the symptoms associated with depression. Women are also at a higher risk of developing depression if they engage in uncontrolled drinking than men. Due to the life stress experienced by single mothers, they are more likely to consume alcohol heavily thus are at a high risk of developing depression. Also, these stresses can lead to depression that can in turn trigger alcohol abuse. These life stresses include loneliness, caring of children alone, and many others. Depressed women who take alcohol irresponsibly engage in violent and sexual behaviors that are dangerous for their lives. The treatment of these conditions can be done through therapies and medication. References Alber et al., (2014). Longitudinal cohort study of depression, posttraumatic stress, and alcohol use in South African women who attend alcohol serving venues. BMC Psychiatry, 14, 224 doi:10.1186/s12888-014-0224-9 Daley, C. D. (2014). The Double Demons of Depression and Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/resource/depression/ Bravo, F., Gual, A., Lligoña, A., & Colom, J. (2013). Gender differences in the long-term outcome of alcohol dependence treatments: An analysis of twenty-year prospective follow up. Drug & Alcohol Review, 32(4), 381-388. DOI: 10.1111/dar.12023 Horvath, P. (2013). Women and Depression: Antecedents, Consequences, and Interventions. London: Routledge. Kelly, F.J., Stout, L.R., Magill, M., Tonigan, S.J., & Pagano, E. M. (2010) Mechanisms of behavior change in alcoholics anonymous: Does Alcoholics Anonymous lead to better alcohol use outcomes by reducing depression symptoms. Journal compilation on addiction, 105, 626-636. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02820.x Kinney, J. (2012). Loosening the grip: A handbook of alcohol information (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. May, P. A., & Gossage, J. P. (2011). Maternal Risk Factors for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Not As Simple As It Might Seem. Alcohol Research & Health, 34(1), 15-26 Mulholland, C. (2010). Alcohol and Depression. Retrieved from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/depression/alcoholanddepression_000486.htm National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, (2013). Women and Alcohol. Turning Discovery into Health. Retrieved from www.niaaa.nih.gov • 301.443.3860 Westermeyer, J., Weiss, D. R., & Ziedonis, D. M. (2004) Integrated Treatment for Mood and Substance Use Disorders. Baltimore: JHU Press. Read More