Metairie Therapists Explain How Depression and Alcohol Use Feed Each Other

Integrative Recovery Therapies urges Louisiana residents to watch for drinking as a way to cope with low mood this fall

METAIRIE, LA, UNITED STATES, October 13, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As Depression Awareness Month draws attention to mood and mental health, Integrative Recovery Therapies (IRTBH) is encouraging Louisiana residents to recognize how depression and alcohol use can feed each other, especially heading into the holidays. IRT is a Metairie behavioral health practice serving the Greater New Orleans area in person and through telehealth.

When a Drink Becomes a Coping Tool
The stretch between now and the holidays can be a hard one. Daylight saving time ends on November 1, and shorter days can weigh on mood for some people. At the same time, schedules fill up, and family expectations and social events centered on drinking add pressure. For someone already dealing with depression, a drink can start to feel like relief at the end of a hard day.

The link between the two is well documented. A review published in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, a journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, reports that alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders occur together more often than chance alone would predict. The same review identifies major depressive disorder as the most common co-occurring psychiatric condition among people with alcohol use disorder. Because the pattern builds gradually, it can be hard to spot from the inside.

“Alcohol use that has started to cause worry doesn’t always look dramatic. It can look like a reward after a hard day that slowly becomes the only way to get through one,” said Sidney J. Miltz, LPC, LAC, MAC, NCC, Clinical Director of Integrative Recovery Therapies. “People who feel that way are not broken. They deserve care that sees the whole picture.”

Signs Worth Noticing
Warning signs can be subtle. A drink after work that has become the only way to unwind, drinking more than intended, or pulling away from friends and family are all reasons to talk with a professional. So is feeling low, tired, or hopeless more days than not. Both depression and alcohol use are treatable, and reaching out early often makes recovery easier.

Treating the Whole Picture
IRT provides co-occurring disorders treatment, addressing mental health and addiction together rather than as separate problems. Its trauma-informed, whole-person approach draws on evidence-based methods including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Addiction therapy in Metairie includes individual counseling, family and couples counseling, and an evening intensive outpatient program. The program meets Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday so clients can keep up with work and family commitments. Telehealth options are available for individual counseling.

“Seasonal stress is real, and so is the urge to cope however we can. Anyone struggling should find someone who listens first, without judgment,” said Jon Oelke, PsyD, Owner and Executive Director of Integrative Recovery Therapies.

Where to Start
People who are unsure whether drinking has become part of the picture can take IRT’s free, confidential Alcohol Clarity Assessment, a self-reflection tool rather than a diagnosis. To learn more about depression treatment in Metairie or to schedule a visit, call 504-229-2244 or visit irtbh.com. Anyone in crisis should call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to the nearest emergency room.

About Integrative Recovery Therapies
Integrative Recovery Therapies (IRT) is a comprehensive behavioral health practice serving adults and families throughout the Greater New Orleans region and St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, in person and through telehealth. The practice provides individual therapy, group therapy, family counseling, addiction treatment, and co-occurring disorders treatment through a trauma-informed, whole-person approach. IRT’s main office is located at 3801 N Causeway Blvd. #301, Metairie, LA 70002, in Jefferson Parish. For more information, visit irtbh.com or call 504-229-2244.

Jon Oelke, PsyD, Owner and Executive Director
Integrative Recovery Therapies
+1 504-229-2244
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
X

Media gallery