See related articles in the AgeVenture archives. Think When women are blue, sad or mad, they are more likely than men to think about their problems in a repetitive, unhelpful way. When men are down or depressed, they're more likely than women to hit the bottle. Participants were also asked about any problems they had experienced as a result of alcohol dependence or abuse, including losing a job or an important relationship. In addition, they were asked about the extent to which they drank to cope with negative feelings, to help themselves feel better, and to deal with stress.
Women think and men drink.
For both men and women, she notes, the tendency to ruminate is not only linked to depression, but also to alcohol use. Therefore, both might benefit from therapeutic conversations that focus on more adaptive ways of quelling ruminations, such as working with a friend or a therapist to find effective solutions to problems. See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.