Tag Archives: alcohol

Alcohol Dependence, Anxiety Panic Grief Depression, Bipolar Mood Disorders, Relationships, Substance Dependence

Mood disorders and alcohol don’t mix!

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By: James E. DelGenio MS, LCPC
Senior Staff Therapist,
The Family Institute at Northwestern University

When you have a mood disorder, the use of alcohol may be the same as abuse!

Where mood disorders are concerned use may very well be the same as abuse!  Alcohol impairs functioning and it affects thinking, behavior and relationships.  Substances also affect thinking and behavior.  Don’t do anything that would make you relapse to active symptoms.  It is known fact that alcohol and substance abuse make the symptoms of a mood disorder worse and vice versa.  Alcohol is a depressant; one drink at a family gathering may affect one’s mood for days.

Alcohol also “washes out” and therefore may negate the usefulness of the medication.  Remember, it takes four to six weeks to get the medication to a therapeutic level.  When you drink you affect that level. In addition, one should never use alcohol or substances when taking prescription medication. This can be fatal. It goes without saying that if you are an alcoholic you can’t have any alcohol. If you are not an alcoholic, check with your Dr. for approval of one or two drinks on very special occasions.  In the days after, monitor yourself to see if it has affected your mood. If it does, use is the same as abuse!

  • Drugs and alcohol make mood disorders worse and can lead to drug/alcohol dependence.
  • Conflict often related to alcohol use and mood disorders.
  • Two drinks, beer or wine only; never back-to-back days, no more than twice per week with doctor approval.
  • If the doctor approves of one or two drinks, monitor your mood in the days that follow. If your mood is off, you need to consider abstinence from alcohol.

Zoom! Now I can work via zoom with anyone, anywhere in the country and it may still be covered by BCBS Insurance. Check with your BCBS representative for more information.

Call James E. DelGenio MS, LCPC, Senior Staff Therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, 847-733-4300 Ext 638.

http://manageyourmood.net
http://family-institute.org
http://takenotelessons.com   Highly effective online, one on one, SAT, ACT, GRE, standardized test preparation, via face time or skype.

Disclaimer: This material is meant to be used in conjunction with psychiatric treatment, medication, if necessary, and supportive therapy. Always share this material and your questions about this material with your doctor and therapist.

Alcohol Dependence, Bipolar Mood Disorders, Substance Dependence

The use of alcohol can be the same as abuse when you have depression.

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By: James E. DelGenio MS, LCPC
Senior Staff Therapist,
The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Mood disorders and alcohol just don’t go together.

Where mood disorders are concerned use may very well be the same as abuse! Alcohol impairs functioning and it affects thinking, behavior and relationships. Alcohol and substances also affect thinking and behavior. Don’t do anything that would make you relapse to active symptoms.  It is known fact that alcohol and substance abuse make the symptoms of a mood disorder worse and vice versa.  Alcohol is a depressant; one drink at a family gathering may affect one’s mood for days. If you have depression, why would you exacerbate it by using alcohol?!  To me, continued alcohol use at this point would indicate that you are already alcohol dependent and are in need of professional help.

Alcohol also “washes out” and therefore may negate the usefulness of anti-depressant medication. Remember, it takes at least four to six weeks to get the medication to the prescribed therapeutic level in your body.  When you drink you affect that level. In addition, one should never use alcohol or substances when taking any prescription medication. This can be fatal.

It goes without saying that if you are an alcoholic, you can’t have any alcohol. If you are not an alcoholic, but you do have a mood disorder, check with your psychiatrist for approval of one or two drinks on very special occasions. In the days after, monitor yourself to see if it has affected your mood. If it does, use is the same as abuse!

  • Drugs and alcohol make mood disorders worse.
  • If the doctor approves of one or two drinks, monitor your mood in the days that follow.
  • If your mood is off, you need to consider abstinence from alcohol.

Zoom!
Now for the first time, I can work via Zoom with anyone, anywhere in the country and it may be covered by BCBS Insurance. Check with your BCBS carrier for details.  Call 847-733-4300 Ext 638 for more information.

http://jamesdelgenio.com
http://family-institute.or

Disclaimer: This material is meant to be used in conjunction with psychiatric treatment, medication, if necessary, and supportive therapy. Always share this material and your questions about this material with your doctor and therapist.

Alcohol Dependence, Bipolar Mood Disorders

Why depression and alcohol just don’t go together?

1 Comment

By: James E. DelGenio MS, LCPC
Senior Staff Therapist,
The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Why are mood disorders and alcoholism often found in the same individual?
The answers here are not completely understood. Some doctors have told me that the sites in the brain that are affected by mood disorders are the same sites affected by addiction. Regardless of the chemistry, research has shown that just casual use of alcohol by a person with a mood disorder may eventually result in abuse or dependence. If you have a severe mood disorder, you shouldn’t have any!

At least see how drinking affects your mood in the 3 days that follow alcohol use. Track it; give yourself a mood score from one to 10, ten being the best. Maybe you can limit alcohol use to one or two drinks twice per week and see if that helps. If you see in charting your mood that it does effect you negatively, than you shouldn’t have any. The consequences are just not worth it. If you can’t stick to two twice a week, you may need alcohol treatment.

Zoom! Now I can work via zoom with anyone, anywhere in the country and it may still be covered by BCBS Insurance.  Call James E. DelGenio MS, LCPC, Senior Staff Therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, 847-733-4300 Ext 638.

http://jamesdelgenio.com
http://family-institute.org
http://takenotelessons.com  Highly effective online, one on one, SAT, ACT, GRE, standardized test preparation, via face time or skype.

Disclaimer: This material is meant to be used in conjunction with psychiatric treatment, medication, if necessary, and supportive therapy.  Always share this material and your questions about this material with your doctor and therapist.