Metairie therapists warn depression and alcohol use can reinforce each other

Integrative Recovery Therapies is urging Louisiana residents to watch for drinking as a coping tool as Depression Awareness Month and the holiday season approach. The Metairie practice says early recognition and co-occurring treatment can help people address both depression and alcohol use together.

Why it matters: - Depression and alcohol use can develop into a cycle that makes both problems harder to treat. - The weeks between now and the holidays can intensify stress, lower mood, and increase pressure to drink at social events. - Early help can make recovery easier when people notice both symptoms and drinking patterns sooner.

What happened: - Integrative Recovery Therapies in Metairie is warning Louisiana residents about the overlap between depression and alcohol use during Depression Awareness Month. - The behavioral health practice serves the Greater New Orleans area in person and through telehealth. - The practice is encouraging people to notice when drinking starts to feel like a way to cope with low mood or daily stress.

The details: - A review in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews found that alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders occur together more often than chance would predict. - The same review identified major depressive disorder as the most common co-occurring psychiatric condition among people with alcohol use disorder. - Shorter days after daylight saving time ends on November 1 can affect mood for some people. - Warning signs can include drinking after work becoming the only way to unwind, drinking more than intended, or withdrawing from friends and family. - Feeling low, tired, or hopeless more days than not is also a reason to speak with a professional. - Integrative Recovery Therapies provides co-occurring disorders treatment that addresses mental health and addiction together. - The practice uses a trauma-informed, whole-person approach that includes cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. - Addiction therapy services in Metairie include individual counseling, family counseling, couples counseling, and an evening intensive outpatient program. - The intensive outpatient program meets Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday so clients can keep up with work and family commitments. - Telehealth is available for individual counseling. - The practice offers a free, confidential Alcohol Clarity Assessment as a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis. - People in crisis should call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. - The practice’s main office is at 3801 N Causeway Blvd. #301, Metairie, LA 70002. - People can call 504-229-2244 or visit more information to learn about depression treatment or schedule a visit.

Between the lines: - The message is as much about timing as treatment: seasonal stress, shorter daylight, and holiday drinking norms can make a familiar coping habit more dangerous. - The emphasis on co-occurring care reflects a clinical view that treating depression and alcohol use separately can miss how closely the conditions interact. - The assessment tool is framed as a low-barrier entry point for people who are unsure whether drinking has become a problem.

What's next: - Integrative Recovery Therapies is directing people who are concerned about their drinking or mood to start with an assessment, then move into counseling if needed. - The practice is positioning telehealth, family support, and evening programming as options for people balancing work and home demands. - Anyone in immediate danger or crisis is being urged to use 988 or emergency care right away.