Addiction & Depression
There is a “definite connection between mental illness and the use of addictive substances,” according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. They say that mental health disorders patients are accountable for the consumption of 38% of alcohol and 44% of cocaine. A big cause of this is patients trying to self medicate and treat their illness. They try to numb the pain, feel more confident, calm their symptoms, or increase their energy. Using these substances is a slippery slope and often lead to addiction, but never truly fix the underlying mental health issues. Since the mental disorder is never addressed, treated properly, or understood, it remains throughout the addiction and can even be worsened by the abused substances. Treating both addiction and a mental health issue is called dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common and serious mood disorder that often coexists with drug addiction; sometimes as one of the root causes, while other times as a result of substance abuse. It affects how you think, feel, and handle daily activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an estimated ten percent of U.S. citizens suffer from depression. Regardless, clinical depression must be treated along with substance abuse issues in order to reduce the likelihood of relapse. Chronic depression is very frequently related to the withdrawal from addictive drugs and is experienced more frequently among addicts than most people realize. There is not just one kind of depression. There are a few different kinds but ultimately they all affect the patient’s life in a negative way. It can have a severe impact on the person’s relationships, emotional and physical well-being, finances, and occupational status. It is not something that the person can just “snap out of,” but with the right treatment they can find help and happiness.
The terms “depression” or “being depressed” tend to be thrown about lightly and used to describe a person who is upset or feeling down about something in his life. From a clinical standpoint, however, true depression is more than mere feelings of sadness or discontent. It is a mood disorder with specific symptoms that can lead to physical maladies or other more serious mental issues. Often times, those suffering from chemical dependency are also simultaneously suffering from clinical depression. Depression is not just having the blues. It often seriously impacts a person’s ability to function in their daily life. Many people with depression feel that life is no longer worth living. They may feel hopeless, like there’s “no way out.” Some symptoms of depression include feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, or pessimistic. People with depression often have behavior changes, such as new eating and sleeping patterns. Depression is a mental health condition that often coexists with substance abuse because many addicts use alcohol and drugs to mask their symptoms. Doctors call this “self-medicating.” When the effect of the drugs wears off, the depression returns and the cycle continues many times leading to addiction. During addiction treatment, untreated depression can interfere with the addiction recovery process and may lead to relapse. Also, an untreated addiction problem often leads to depression in individuals and creates a cycle of relapse.
It has been proven that the neural networks that are affected by drug use overlap with the ones affected by mental health issues. Which is why those who have mental health issues can become dependent on substances and those abusing substances can develop mental health issues. While one can influence the other they can also worsen each other. While dual diagnosis can be difficult to identify it is possible and with more and more research into this area, there is more understanding and more key identifying factors. Just because there is a link between mental health and addiction, it does not mean that you have to live your whole life with addiction. Treatment can give you the tools you need to be healthy and sober. The tools and understanding to manage your mental health illness and deal with it in a healthy way without returning to the damaging substance abuse. You can live long, successful, and healthy lives with mental illness, it all depends on how you handle it. Addiction treatment centers recognize the dangers of chronic depression and its potential to cause a recurring cycle of drug use and recovery. Treatment programs include dealing with the addict’s sense of self-worth which is often compromised as they begin to understand the destruction their addiction has caused others. Addiction treatment for someone suffering from depression focuses on the roots of the addiction and its consequences. The process includes a clear understanding of the relationship between addiction, recovery, depression and relapse. They establish an effective individual treatment plan for our patients suffering from depression by treating both the depression and the addiction. As part of an integrated approach to recovery from chemical dependency, treatment provides social bonding and learning opportunities that help reinforce the idea of self-worth in the mind of the addict. In addition, certified medical staff can incorporate any medical assistance necessary in order to stabilize an individual and help him or her overcome any depression experienced during withdrawal. Finally, aftercare programs and local support groups give the recovering addict a means of continuing their treatment in the long term so that they can remain drug free.
