Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that is devastating to one’s mental and physical health. Alcohol addiction can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and even psychosis.
Some users drink alcohol to cope with unresolved mental health disorders, while others develop mental health problems after long-term alcohol abuse. This creates a vicious cycle that is hard to break without professional intervention. The most successful treatment addresses both the addiction and underlying mental health problems.
How Alcohol Abuse Triggers or Worsens Mental Illness
Alcohol affects several parts of the brain, particularly the pre-frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala. These three brain regions play a key role in mental health—controlling functions such as mood, cognition, stress responses, motivation, and reward processing.
- Pre-frontal cortex (PFC): The PFC regulates emotions and is responsible for organizing, planning, and problem-solving tasks. When this region is affected by long-term alcohol use, it can lead to impaired judgment, reduced cognitive flexibility, and problems with emotional regulation.
- Basal Ganglia (BG): The basal ganglia is a small group of subcortical nuclei located deep in the brain and plays an essential role in reward processing, motivation, pleasure, and habit formation. Chronic alcohol abuse overstimulates the circuits in the BG, interpreting alcohol as pleasure-induced motivation and leading to habitual use.
- Amygdala: This structure is a “primal brain region”, meaning it plays an essential role in evolution and survival. The amygdala controls fear-based stress responses, designed to protect us during danger. Alcohol abuse increases emotional reactivity in the amygdala, increasing feelings like anxiety and discomfort during withdrawal.
Alcohol and Depression
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, depression is the most common co-occurring mental health problem. Reports find that 63% of individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder also struggle with Major Depressive Disorder [2].
Alcohol slows down brain activity and communication between neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which plays an essential role in mood regulation. In the short term, alcohol can decrease feelings of isolation and hopelessness in those with depression. However, in the long term, the condition worsens.
Alcohol and Anxiety
Alcohol increases the neurochemical GABA in the brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for slowing down activity in the central nervous system and promoting feelings of calmness. Anti-anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines also increase GABA, providing similar feelings of euphoria and relaxation as alcohol.
Although alcohol can lower feelings of stress and anxiety in the beginning, the effects quickly wear off. The quick drop of GABA in the brain can lead to increased anxiety and other negative feelings such as irritability, anger, or depression. For individuals struggling with long-term alcohol abuse, this drop can lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms such as increased heart rate, nausea, muscle weakness, and, in severe cases, seizures [3].
Psychosis and Alcohol: When Drinking Causes Paranoia
Alcohol-induced psychosis is a severe mental health problem caused by chronic alcohol abuse. Studies show excessive drinking can alter neuronal membranes, influence genetic expression, and cause thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.
Low levels of vitamin B1 have been linked to symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia, confusion, memory loss, and distortion of reality [4].
Why Standard Rehab Often Fails
Rehab is the number one recommended treatment for those struggling with alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental health problems. However, standard rehab does not always guarantee sobriety, especially when individuals are struggling with an underlying mental health problem.
Standard addiction treatment programs help patients stop drinking by enforcing rules or expectations to stay accountable. They also provide addiction counseling and recreational activities to help build skills that help people resist the urge to drink.
These rehab programs often focus on detox and follow a 12-step approach to treat symptoms of substance abuse without also treating the underlying mental health problem. As the understanding between mental health and addiction grows, more rehab centers are realizing the importance of integrating mental healthcare into their addiction treatment programs.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment: The Way to Truly Heal
The most effective type of rehab for alcohol addiction and mental health problems is dual diagnosis treatment. These rehab programs focus on treating both symptoms of substance abuse disorder and the underlying mental health challenges simultaneously.
A few treatments that individuals in dual diagnosis treatment can expect include detox, therapy, psychiatric care, and holistic therapies and services.
Medical Detox
Supervised medical detox is an integral part of recovering from alcohol addiction. Withdrawing from alcohol can cause uncomfortable and even life-threatening side effects.
Detox ensures patients are in a safe and secure setting, with 24/7 care from medical practitioners who monitor their vitals and can prescribe medication to alleviate withdrawal pain or cravings.
Evidence-Based Mental Health Therapies
Individual and group therapy are a core part of recovery from substance abuse and mental health problems. Although therapy is a component of standard rehabs as well, in dual diagnosis, these therapies are focused on treating the underlying mental health disorder rather than just the symptoms of addiction.
These help patients reframe negative thoughts that influence substance abuse, process trauma or emotional distress, set treatment goals, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Common mental health therapies individuals in dual diagnosis treatment may participate in include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
- Art and Music Therapy
- Experiential Therapy
Psychiatric Care
Dual diagnosis helps patients get on the right mental health medication through routine appointments with a licensed psychiatrist.
Patients meet weekly or daily during a residential dual diagnosis program to ensure their treatment is working. Providers can change prescriptions or adjust dosages as necessary. Medication is most effective when combined with behavioral therapy and positive social support.
Holistic Healing
Holistic treatment focuses on improving patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual health. These services can be effective supplemental therapies to conventional mental health treatment. They help relieve stress, decrease tension, improve emotional well-being, and can aid in recovery from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Some of these include:
- Meditation
- Massage Therapy
- Yoga
- Deep breathwork
- Reiki
Detox and Residential Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Michigan
Rushton Recovery understands how mental health challenges can be a barrier to recovering from alcohol addiction. Our licensed therapists prioritize your well-being, safety, and comfort throughout treatment. Our detox and residential treatment center in Michigan offers a healing space to embark on your journey toward sobriety.
We offer evidence-based therapies designed to evolve with your individual needs and address the root of your substance abuse. Let our team help you heal, repair relationships, and equip you with the skills to achieve long-term recovery. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
Sources
[1] Drugs, Brain, and Behavior. 2020. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
[2] The Association between Alcohol Dependence and Depression before and after Treatment for Alcohol Dependence. 2012. National Library of Medicine.
[3] The role of GABA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system. National Library of Medicine.
[4] Alcohol-Related Psychosis. 2023. National Library of Medicine.
