The rate for depression in the United States is 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men.  It’s no wonder depression is called the “common cold” of the mental health world.  By no means is depression a casual ailment like a cold.  However, it’s frequency makes it a steadfast problem in our society.  Alcohol often enters the picture, which unfortunately creates another set of problems for women.  Effective dual diagnosis treatment is often the only answer.  Take a minute to learn about important facts about women, alcoholism, and depression.

Problems With Depression and Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant to the nervous system and the brain because of its dulling effects.  The body is already slowed and stressed during depression.  Drinking alcohol only worsens this condition, causing you to feel even more miserable than before the person started drinking.  It may seem to take away the sharpness of the emotional pain for a while, but it really creates an even bigger problem in the end. 

Alcoholism Develops in Women Differently Than in Men

Current research suggests that alcohol problems can more commonly show up later in life for women than for men.  The stigma against being alcoholic may prevent many women from seeking treatment, especially after they may have already lived many years with a certain reputation. 

Depression and heavy drinking are strongly connected with women, with isolation being a major factor.  Depression tends to become established for women before they develop alcoholism.  This pattern has big implications for alcohol addiction prevention for women.  Treat depression more effectively across the female population, and there may also be a reduction in alcohol addiction.

Women Have a Greater Risk Than Men for Depression In Their Lifetime

Many factors make women more vulnerable to depression than men.  These aren’t intended to show sexism or negative stereotyping, simply research-based information that has been collected about women with depression.  Reproductive hormones can play a big part in the emotional stability across a woman’s lifespan.  As compared to men, women’s brains are “wired” in such as way that emotions take a larger role in their perspective of the world.   

Women tend to be more focused on doing for others and neglecting themselves, seeking approval, and covering up inadequacies in order to stay “in control”.  Women are also more likely to run problems over and over in their minds, perpetuating circles of negativity.  All of these vulnerabilities make it clear how women are at a higher risk for depression over their lifespan than men. 

Alcohol Affects Women Differently

Research has shown several ways that alcohol affects women differently than men.  Medications such as birth control slow down the process of eliminating alcohol from the body.  Also, it is widely known among researchers that it takes smaller amounts of alcohol to affect women in the same way as men. 

This means that a woman could do more damage to her body, get more intoxicated, increase her tolerance, and possibly develop an addiction in less time than a man drinking the same amounts.  This effect is from larger amounts of fat in women’s bodies, women’s relatively smaller body size, and women having smaller amounts of an important enzyme that breaks down alcohol. 

Effective Dual Diagnosis Rehab for Women

Dual diagnosis treatment gives a woman with depression and alcoholism the best chance at recovery.  The holistic alcohol rehab approach at The Canyon provides an ideal environment for healing.  The experts at the Canyon provide alcohol detox, a high level of specialized dual diagnosis treatment, and sober living options in California.