Alcohol, Anxiety and Depression
Why is it important to seek help?
Anxiety, depression and alcohol problems have a complex relationship where each can make the other worse. These problems are common, and can occur together for many people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Anxiety, depression and alcohol problems can vary widely in form and severity. In many cases, they can be resolved with a combination of professional help and support from family and friends. Self-help groups are also highly effective.
Sometimes people use alcohol to make themselves feel better. At first, alcohol may seem to help with feelings of sadness, anxiety or stress. However, long term drinking soon makes these feelings worse. This is because long-term alcohol misuse actually causes depression, and makes it harder for your brain to cope with problems.
Long-term alcohol misuse can also lead to relationship breakdown, social isolation, job loss and money problems. These effects can lead people to drinking more in the hope that it will help them deal with problems, causing a cycle of increasing feelings of anxiety and/or depression and heavy drinking to cope.
Alcohol, anxiety, and depression problems can also affect your physical health. Long term physical health consequences from regularly drinking too much include:
Alcohol can also reduce the effectiveness of medications and impair your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Why see a GP?
GPs are best placed to first identify and help people with alcohol, anxiety and depression problems.
About 85% of people in Australia see a GP each year. Over 10 million consultations are for mental health related problems, and up to 1/3 of adults seen by GPs are drinking at “at risk” levels.
You and your GP can identify how these problems go together and work out straightforward things to do.
The first step is to find a GP you feel comfortable with.
You can also discuss with your GP options for involving family, partners or other people with your care. The best approach is to work with your GP to develop a list of things you can do to improve your health and prevent setbacks.
It might take several consultations for you and your GP to sort out your problems. Be prepared to make further appointments. If cost is a problem discuss this with your GP.
Where extra professional help is needed, you can ask your GP to help you fi nd it. Your GP can work with others to coordinate your overall care.
What help can your GP provide?
In recent years, many GPs have done extra training in mental health care to improve their skills in this area.
Your GP will work with you to try to understand:
- when you started drinking;
- what it is that makes you feel like drinking;
- whether other people in your family have had similar problems; and
- whether your alcohol consumption is causing your depression and/or anxiety, or vice versa.
Once your GP has assessed the situation, he or she will discuss with you a number of options for treatment, including:
1. Ways of cutting down your drinking, this can include techniques such as:
- keeping a drinking diary where you record how much you drink; and
- setting goals to reduce your alcohol consumption.
2. Medications are available for the treatment of anxiety and depression. It is best to ask your GP about the benefits and risks of these options, as well as ways of managing any possible side effects. Your GP should be aware of the latest information about medications.
3. Your GP may be trained in psychological/ counselling therapies or may prefer to refer you to a specialist who is an expert in these therapies.
4. Your GP can provide you with information to help you understand your health problems and how to deal with them. This involves teaching you about your health problems, how to treat them, and how to recognise signs of relapse so that you can do something before your health gets worse.
5. Self-help strategies can involve a number of approaches to improve your health and prevent further problems occurring, including:
- tips for controlled moderate drinking;
- strategies for managing stress, anxiety and negative feelings; and ways of staying well, such as:
- regular exercise;
- looking after your diet;
- reading; and>meditation.
6.Self-help groups can provide a safe environment for support, guidance, information and understanding. Self help groups can also be a valuable opportunity to meet people who have recovered from their problems, and to learn from people who have had similar experiences.
Talk to your GP for more information about these treatments. You can also read more about them at www.mhca.com.au
Expect Trial and Error
Some people with anxiety, depression and alcohol problems have previously received treatment that has not solved their problems. This does not prevent you seeking treatment again. Talk with your GP about these treatments and why they did not work for you.
Setbacks can occur, and it often takes more than one attempt to get your medication or other treatments right. There are also things you can do to prevent
setbacks. Ask your GP for more information about the self-help techniques described in this document.
If you feel you aren’t getting better, tell your GP. Don’t feel you need to please your GP by saying you’re okay when you’re not!
When will a GP provide a referral to another specialist?
There may be some situations in which your GP prefers to refer you to an alternative GP or specialist with specific interest and training in anxiety, depression and alcohol problems.
If your GP wants to refer you to a specialist, some useful questions you might want to ask include:
• What is the location and cost for the service?
• How long is the waiting period for this service?
• Will you continue to see me?
• How long will my appointment be?
• How long will my treatment program be?
• What are the benefits of referral to a specialist?
• What treatment approaches are available? (eg, individual, group, family, couples)
• What are the likely benefits of different treatment approaches?
You may not be ready to immediately accept a referral and may need more time to think about it before making a commitment. This is fine. In this situation your GP could schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss the issue at a later time. You could also use this time to learn more about anxiety, depression and alcohol problems, as well as the treatment options available.
The Role of Family and Friends
Often, family and friends can play a valuable role in supporting somebody experiencing alcohol, anxiety, and depression problems. You can discuss with your
GP options for involving those people who are closest to you.
Your family may be worried about what’s happening. Sharing information about your condition and treatment can help lessen these concerns and improve your family’s ability to help you. However, it is also important for your family to respect any limits you might set.
There are support services that can provide information and advice for your family in each State and Territory.
Contact the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636 for more information.
There are also State/Territory-based Carers Association and the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI) branches your family and friends can contact.
There are Mental Health Services and Alcohol and Drug
Services, as well as crisis assistance teams, located in most areas.
Alcohol and Drug Information Services toll free numbers:
ACT 1800 422 599
NSW 1800 422 599
NT (Amity Community Services) 1800 629 683
QLD 1800 177 833
SA 1300 131 340
TAS 1800 811 994
VIC (Alcohol and Drug Direct Line) 1800 888 236
WA 1800 198 024
You can also access a large list of alcohol and drug services at Australian Drug
Information Network website at www.adin.com.au
You can find telephone numbers for your local Mental Health Services and Alcohol and Drugs Services in the front of the White Pages. These numbers will be listed under ‘Health and Help’.
If you don’t have a copy of the White Pages handy, you can call 12 455 for assistance from the operator (although charges do apply).
You can also call Lifeline’s Just Ask information line on 1300 131 114 or visit the website at www.justask.org.au to find out about services available in your local area.
Other Useful Websites
Please follow the link to view a list of useful websites for further information on Alcohol, Anxiety and Depression.