Key takeaway
The mood will not lift, and drinking or drug use is how you have been getting through the day. You do not have to decide which problem came first tonight. Tell a clinician about both. If you might act on thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. Do not stop heavy drinking on your own.
Last updated: Mon Oct 05 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
You have been low for longer than a bad day, and the alcohol or the drug is the thing that still works, until it doesn't. Or you stopped, and the flatness is worse than the using was.
If you might act on thoughts of suicide, call 911. If you are struggling, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You do not have to sort out which problem came first tonight. You do have to be safe, and you do have to tell someone who can look at both.
Call and say both things
Call a primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, or a program that treats mood and substance use. Say how long you have been low, and say what you have been drinking or using. NIMH's depression brochure puts a diagnosis at symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. One of them has to be a depressed mood or a loss of interest in things you used to care about. Increased use of alcohol or drugs can be one of the signs. Thyroid disease and some medicines can look the same, which is why you want an exam instead of a label from a list.
Do not stop a prescribed antidepressant because the first week felt flat. They usually take four to eight weeks, and sleep, appetite, and concentration often improve before the mood does. If you are under 25, or the dose just changed, watch for a rise in suicidal thoughts and call the prescriber. People of any age should be watched in those first weeks.
Keep both problems in the plan
The drinking may be part of the depression, and it may also be what is making the mood worse. You do not have to settle which one tonight. Ask for one plan that holds both, instead of finishing one before anyone looks at the other. NIMH calls that integrated care. Give the plan time before you decide it failed. The dual-diagnosis guide is how to ask. If trauma is the history underneath the mood, the trauma guide is the page for that.
Medicines can treat opioid addiction and alcohol problems, and they can ease depression. Which ones are safe together is the prescriber's call. The medication FAQ covers opioid medicines. Do not take someone else's antidepressant.
If you have been drinking heavily, do not treat "just stop" as the mood plan. NIAAA says a sudden stop after prolonged heavy drinking can be life-threatening. The withdrawal guide is why you get a medical look first.
A program that asks only about the substance, or only about the mood, is missing what you walked in with. Say both in the first conversation.
FindTreatment.gov lists substance use and mental health programs. SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), can point you toward care. Call or text (800) 653-9376 if you want help finding a program that will look at the low mood and the using in the same plan.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- NIMH: Depression
- NIMH: Finding help for co-occurring substance use and mental disorders
- NIAAA: Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- SmarterRecovery about page (referral disclosure)
Common Questions
Can I tell from a list of feelings whether I have depression?
No. A depression diagnosis takes symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and one of them must be a depressed mood or a loss of interest. A clinician makes that call and can rule out thyroid disease and some medicines that mimic it. People with only a few symptoms may still benefit from treatment. Bring notes about when it started.
Should I get the drinking handled and leave the mood for later?
Ask for both in one plan. The symptoms overlap, so a program that looks at only one of them can miss the other. Give the plan time to work before you decide it failed. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly can be dangerous on its own. That part is a medical question.
Do antidepressants treat addiction?
They are a treatment for depression. Medicines can also treat opioid and alcohol addiction, and some may help more than one condition. Which ones are safe together is a prescriber's decision. Antidepressants usually take four to eight weeks, and sleep, appetite, and concentration often improve before mood does.
What if I feel worse after an antidepressant starts?
Some people under 25 have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior on antidepressants, especially in the first weeks or when the dose changes. Patients of all ages should be watched closely in that window. Call the prescriber. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger. Call or text 988 if you are struggling. Do not change the dose on your own.
What if the low mood showed up only after I stopped?
Tell the clinician that timing. A low mood can be withdrawal, depression, or both, and thyroid disease can look the same. Do not decide from the calendar that you should stop a prescribed medicine. If the feeling includes thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 the same day.