At Memphis Recovery Centers, our team provides resources and support for symptoms of depression after quitting drinking. If you are experiencing this kind of depression, the key point to remember is that you can feel better with the right level of care at a depression treatment center. Our Memphis Recovery Centers team ensures that you are equipped with skills and strategies to get you through the toughest times of recovery.
What Is “Dry Drunk” Syndrome?
The term “dry drunk” is not a legitimate diagnosis. However, when you suffer depression and other negative emotions after newly-achieved sobriety, you hear people using this term. So what does this mean to be “dry drunk?”
“Dry drunk” refers to the mixed emotions you may experience in the early days and stages of treatment. Examples of these emotions include:
- Emotional outbursts
- Anger
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Self-pity
- Inability to cope
You may still experience denial about your treatable symptoms and a negative attitude in your daily life. Some people cover this insecurity of early recovery by trying to act self-assured or even flaunting their sobriety in grandiosity.
Therapists dislike the term “dry drunk” because it discounts your hard work in treatment. To get past this negativity, seek additional support or help through your treatment program.
Talk to your medical care provider about your depression and recent negative feelings. Never look down on yourself for needing additional treatment, as you worked so hard to get where you are. You are a human with very human needs. You can get through your depression after quitting drinking. Asking your rehab center for a depression treatment program is an excellent way to start.
What Is Depression?
Depression (or major depressive disorder) is defined in psychiatry as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It is a mood disorder that causes a chronic feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things you once loved or enjoyed. Depression in severe cases can even lead to suicidal thoughts or ideation. Some causes of depression include:
- Experiencing a form of abuse or conflict
- Age (elderly people are often at a higher risk for depression)
- Taking certain medications
- Death or loss (grief can often enhance symptoms of depression)
- Gender and genes
- Major life events and/or other personal issues
- Serious illness
- Substance abuse
Can Depression Be Managed?
Depression can be severe, but it can also be managed. It is important to remember that recovery from any illness, be it emotional or physical, is not linear. However, there are many ways to manage your depression and sobriety successfully. Some methods include:
- Dual diagnoses treatment will address both your addiction and depression in a clinical setting and often includes treatment options and therapies
- Antidepressant medications may be prescribed by a psychiatrist to lessen your emotional symptoms
- Therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, or even group therapy can be beneficial, and lots of virtual options are available as well these days
There is no cure for depression, but there are plenty of treatment options that can improve your mental health and quality of life. If you are struggling with depression after quitting drinking, you are not alone. Please reach out for help.
Ways to Seek Help after Rehab Treatment Ends
After your rehab treatment program ends, you will need additional support. You may not need it for a while. However, when you do, you must maintain the strength and insight to ask for help. Places to look for additional help and support include:
- AA or other community support groups
- Treatment alumni or aftercare programs
- New hobbies or recreational activities
- Therapy in your community
- Trusted friends and family
- Sober peers
Preparing for Your New Life After Quitting Drinking
The best means of preventing problems like depression after quitting drinking and knowing how to handle these issues when they arise comes through rehab treatment. Your treatment program provides the therapies and other services you need to learn how to stay on top of your sobriety. When in rehab, concentrate on building quality coping skills for relapse prevention. These therapies and services include:
- Multiple levels of care
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Art and music therapy
- Holistic methods
- Trauma therapy
Receive Support for Depression After Quitting Drinking at Memphis Recovery Centers
Depression is common for many people after they quit drinking. It is important for people who are battling depression after giving up drinking to remember that this depression is temporary. Also, with learning and proper treatment, symptoms of depression can be eased or even eliminated.
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression after quitting drinking, we can help. Memphis Recovery Centers provides the highest quality care for people both during and after addiction treatment. Contact our friendly and knowledgeable team today by calling 901-272-7751. You don’t have to fight this battle by yourself. Let our Memphis Recovery Centers team become part of your team today.
