Do alcoholics get depressed if they dont drink?

Question

like if they miss a day of drinking do they get depressed? or is anxiety the withdrawal - ie minor withdrawal not DTs bad... since alcohol is a depressant?

Answer 1

yes it`s just like smoking the longer you do without the easier it gets

Answer 2

I don't think alcoholics are capable of missing a days drinking.  

Answer 3

According to a question I asked on yahoo answers I am an alcoholic to many because I have drank almost every day in '08.  I'm a pretty happy guy though and only get depressed occasionally like every normal person.  Personally I just like the feeling it gives me and it cures my boredom.  It doesn't interfere with my life or anything but I do feel the need to cut back because it can't be healthy for my liver and kidneys as well as weight gain.  People do use alcohol as a coping method though it's quite common; to be used to wind down from a ruff day or something traumatic I feel is ok b/c its almost the same as using anti-depressants or pills for the same release and some people can't function without prescribed meds.  But if you associate alcohol with how to fix the problems that's were you are going to run into issues and abuse.  I'm going off your question here though Yes if you are a true alcoholic you will become depressed if you can't get your fix.  

Train Hard Live Well said it best he deserves the points...

"If you just stopped and didn't get the above then yes, you'd become very depressed."  So I think its kind of a side effect even if you weren't depressed before or have depression as an illness.  

Answer 4

I couldn't of just stopped. I'd shake from the minute aI awoke. I'd then be up for 2-3 days. I'd then fall asleep until I was awoken with an attack that can only be explained as a heart attack.

I'd then shake and panic until I got some more alcohol in me.

If you just stopped and didn't get the above then yes, you'd become very depressed.  

Answer 5

Yeah my brothers an alki he was down earlier to borrow cash,i told him to sling his hook and come see me when he's sober,when he does i'll give him something to eat.He's my big brother and his wife and family split from him,he says he's got nothing to live for,but he's discovered that drink can make forget about how you feel for a while,it's been two years now and still he gets drunk every day,we've offered him help but he just ignores us.So depression is a major factor in alcoholism.

Answer 6

The thing that drives alcoholics to keep drinking isn't necessarily depression. Usually, the alcoholic drinks to cope with strong emotions. They can't handle their emotions in a constructive way, and getting drunk means that you've effectively shut your emotions away for a while. When the alcoholic starts feeling those emotions again, they are afraid to face them and drink more to push them back down.