Aggie - No problem, everyone on here has the best of intentions - we all just want to help.
Joelr - If someone is using alcohol as an anti-depressant, chances are they are probably an alcoholic. Normal drinkers probably do enjoy the effects of alcohol - Having a couple of drinks or beers on occasion probably lightens their mood and is enjoyable, but they don't drink to get rid of their depression.
For an alcoholic, an anti-depressant is exactly what alcohol is. In fact, alcoholics must have a drink to not feel depressed. Often times, when an alcoholic goes to a therapist trying to figure out what is wrong, the therapist will mistakenly diagnose the alcoholic with depression, when in fact, they actually have alcoholism. Therapists will commonly give alcoholics anti-depressants, and most of the time the alcoholic will simply drink on top of taking the newly prescribed anti-depressants. I know, this sounds crazy, but I have seen this happen many times with alcoholics I know and work with.
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