take it when you dish it.
Anyone who doesn't correlate depression with drinking is simply burying their own head in the sand.
I have a girl friend who seems like an average woman. She's fairly fit and active, she's fairly social and is generally on good terms with her family. She's concerned about money and looking for a 'real' job, but she's getting by. She has her ups and downs like everyone else, yet she's convinced she's depressed and that she should be seeking mental help or get some anti-depressants at the very least.
She's also a drinker. Not hardcore, yo. She can put it away when she does go out, but it isn't as often as some people she knows. She also smokes a ton when she drinks, and then, after a one or two day hangover, she starts talking about making life changing decisions like quitting smoking, going vegetarian, and instead of sucking back beer, switching to a light white wine, or something. She talks about creating new budgets, and becoming a homebody. And then, two weeks later, she's out again.
This girl, I know her. Yeah, and while I hate realizing this, I can just as easily admit to being her.
I'm pretty much like this, too. And who knows, maybe I need psychological help too, but forget the anti-depressants. I've already ingested enough of those to know that it doesn't work for me.
I'd like to say to this girl that the best thing might be to cut out the drinking altogether. It might help her figure which she's admitted to obsessing about, her pocketbook which is always maxed by the end of the month, and her sense of self-worth. She's usually happy, confident, and in control. But it's the day or two after a fun night out, that I can see how she really feels.
I should take my own advice.