Withdrawal Leading To Depression
When substance use is cut off, withdrawal symptoms set in. One of the more common withdrawal symptoms is depression. This is due to a mental and physical dependence formed for the substance. Withdrawal symptoms are rough on the body and the mind, so proper addiction treatment is necessary when going through a detox process.
Depression Or Just The Blues
Even though you might feel depressed, angry, annoyed, annoyed or even irritated, it is very natural to go through times when you are weak in the face of severe depression. Although clinical depression is separate from what people might call a temporary case of the blues, it is comparable to being in a low mood for a long time.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, severe depression is defined as the last two weeks or longer and impacts daily functioning 4th Edition.
Several Symptoms Can Be Present in People with Depression, Including:
- The sense of being hopeless
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- A suicidal attempt or thoughts
Feelings of sadness, depression and hopelessness are common characteristics of a mental illness known as depression. The top socio-economic status men, especially those who misinterpret depression as anger, imitativeness, or hostility, can sometimes interpret it as severe depression. The individual suffering depression needs to realize that they are not in their typical emotional state when they are experiencing this illness. Grief and experiencing a family loss can be seen as quite distinct from clinically depressed individuals battling severe depression.
Not only does mild depression typically have a limited impact on ones daily activities, but it probably also doesnt interfere with ones abilities to achieve success in one chosen field.
Treating Depression For Those In Recovery
It can be important to wait to treat depression with medication until after detoxification. The reason for this delay is to avoid exposing the patient to the expense and risk of medications when his or her symptoms may resolve of themselves in days or weeks, and removes the possibility of confounding symptoms of withdrawal with side effects of the antidepressant medication. When the depression is severe enough, there can be justification for medication treatment. Medications commonly used to treat depression for those in recovery may include:
- Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Before any treatment, be sure to consult a medical professional, whether your primary doctor or a mental health professional you are already seeing. There are also several ways to treat depression aside from common methods like medication or psychotherapy. Practicing mindfulness, journaling, physical activity, group therapy, and artistic expression are just a few ways people may attempt to cope with depression while in recovery.
Read Also: How To Overcome An Addictive Personality
Adhd In College Students
Success in college requires organization and time management. These skills are difficult for students who have ADHD. Maintaining a full class load and completing assignments on time can feel overwhelming. Research suggests that students with ADHD experience greater emotional distress and psychological difficulties than other students.
To cope with their stress, students may turn to substance use. Research shows that college students with ADHD typically report greater alcohol and drug use than do their peers.
The Link Between Substance Abuse And Mental Health
When you have both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is never easy, and its even more difficult when youre also struggling with mental health problems.
In co-occurring disorders, both the mental health issue and the drug or alcohol addiction have their own unique symptoms that may get in the way of your ability to function at work or school, maintain a stable home life, handle lifes difficulties, and relate to others. To make the situation more complicated, the co-occurring disorders also affect each other. When a mental health problem goes untreated, the substance abuse problem usually gets worse. And when alcohol or drug abuse increases, mental health problems usually increase too.
Co-occurring substance abuse problems and mental health issues are more common than many people realize. According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:
- Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse.
- 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
- Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse alcohol or drugs.
Affordable Online Therapy
Need urgent help? .
Read Also: How To Tell If Someone Is Addicted
They Feel Professionals Cant Help
A major barrier to treatment for many is the belief that it is ineffective. Talk therapy and dream analysis is often the presumed treatment method during therapy. Though these methods can certainly be used to treat mood disorders, they are only a tiny part of holistic treatment.
Proper treatment will help the individual develop healthy coping mechanisms in order to better handle life stressors. It will also teach the individual ways to effectively manage depressive symptoms so that they dont spiral out of control. Therapy can definitely heal old wounds, but it can also help the individual manage daily struggles, too.
Whenever both depression and addiction are discussed together, the question of which comes first always arises. The basic disease model of addiction says that substance abuse changes the brain so drastically that it cannot regulate itself. For many, heavy substance abuse can certainly lead to depression. For others, depression paves the way to addiction. In order not to fall victim to both, it is important to realize how the two might be connected.
If you or someone you know is showing signs of co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, it is important to seek help from a qualified professional. Our Resource Specialist can help you find expert mental health resources to recover in your community. Contact us now for more information on this free service to our users.
You Dont Seem Like An Addict
Remember that whole I language thing? Kicking off a sentence with You is simply an invitation for your friend to stop listening. And, reminder: We want to avoid prescriptive, blaming and shaming tones at all costs. The truth is, we cant define another humans experience, no matter how beloved. And when it comes to addiction, were even less entitled to that kind of prescription. According to Murchison, even recovery coaches and interventionists avoid this kind of language when addressing SUD. Instead, the goal is that, via 12-step programs and community support, your friend will define thisor notfor herself.
You May Like: How To Stop Pron Addiction
Tip : Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
Exercise regularly.Exercise is a natural way to bust stress, relieve anxiety, and improve your mood and outlook. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most days.
Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly, relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being.
Adopt healthy eating habits. Start the day right with breakfast, and continue with frequent small meals throughout the day. Going too long without eating leads to low blood sugar, which can make you feel more stressed or anxious. Getting enough healthy fats in your diet can help to boost your mood.
Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression, so try to get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep a night.
Recovery From Both Conditions Is Easier When We Recognize The Warning Signs
Addiction is termed a cunning, baffling, and powerful disease, but when symptoms of depression co-exist with addiction, the diagnosis and treatment is sometimes even more baffling and certainly more complex.
Depression is one of the most common co-occurring disorders and can make recovering from a substance use disordera significant undertaking on its ownespecially challenging. Much like the question of the chicken and the egg, determining whether the addiction came first or whether the depression came first is often impossible to answer. Each condition can contribute to the onset, or worsening, of the other. But in an integrated treatment approach, it is important to assess, address, and treat both of these conditions in order to relieve a persons suffering.
How Depression Can Fuel Addiction
Mental health conditions, including depression, increase the risk that people will self-medicate by using alcohol or other substances as a temporary fix or escape from sadness, depression, stress, or other difficult feelings. A person may experience negative life events, such as job loss or the death of a loved one, and then subsequently cope with negative emotions by drinking alcohol or using drugs. And certainly, with the social isolation, economic struggles, and general frustration people are feeling with the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of substances to cope with depression.
How Addiction Causes Depression
Don’t Miss: How To Know Your Addicted To Nicotine
Treating Addiction And Co
Finding an addiction treatment program that addresses both the substance use disorder and the mental health disorder simultaneously is crucial for true, long-lasting recovery. If only one disorder is treated, the other will encourage relapse to occur. Treatment plans from mental health professionals who understand how addiction and mental illness are intertwined are a vital part of receiving the right help.
Alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs that are equipped to handle psychiatric problems can provide the proper counseling to help a person:
- Understand the causes behind a mental illness and addiction and how they interact
- Identify and address triggers
What Do You Do Next
After completing our Depression Quiz, you will be given the opportunity to move onto an Addiction quiz, and then directed towards the program that best suits your needs. If you decide you would like to enroll in one of our IOPs, please complete intake forms and payment arrangements. Soon afterwards, we will reach out with additional details and arrange a date to begin your treatment program.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Overcome Addiction
Risks Involved With Severe Mental Illness
According to a January 2014 report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse , people affected by severe mental conditions, such as bipolar and schizophrenia disorders have an exceptionally high risk of developing drug addiction problems.
Brain regions most affected by mental illness are the same regions most affected by chronic drug use. Researchers at NIDA found people suffering from severe mental conditions are four times more likely to engage in drug abuse behaviors on a regular basis.
Clinical Course And Treatment
Studies indicate that individuals with SUD and a mood disorder have a more severe clinical course and worse outcomes than individuals who have only one or the other. Alcohol and drug abuse are associated with mood destabilization in individuals with affective disorders . Keller and colleagues found that among a group of bipolar patients, those with alcohol dependence recovered more slowly than those without. In comparing the histories of individuals with bipolar disorder, Sonne and colleagues found that those who also were substance abusers had an earlier age of onset of bipolar episodes, more frequent hospitalizations, and more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Hasin and colleagues studied the timing of depressive episodes relative to remission and relapse to substance abuse. They found that current substance-induced major depressive disorder , a history of MDD prior to the onset of substance dependence, or a depressive episode experienced during a 4-week initial abstinence reduced the odds that the patient would achieve 6 months of continuous abstinence.
In sum, substance abuse appears to have an adverse impact on the course and prognosis of mood disorders, leading to more frequent hospitalizations and treatment-resistant symptoms. On the other hand, some data indicate that alleviation of mood symptoms can improve substance-abuse-related outcomes.
You May Like: What Percentage Of Addicts Recover
How Depression Can Be Linked To Addiction
A lot of people who struggle with substance use disorders are also diagnosed with mental disorders. A national survey has reported that half of the people who struggle with a mental illness at some point in their lifetime will also have a substance use disorder.
Either disorder can develop before the other, or they can develop together.
For example, the use of some illegal drugs can cause some people to experience one or more symptoms of a mental health problem like depression. Alternatively, depression can lead to alcoholism or drug use. This can in turn lead to a substance use disorder.
Studies have also found that people with mental health, personality, and substance use disorders may be at an increased risk for opioid abuse.
In fact, 43 percent of people in an addiction treatment program for abusing painkillers have a diagnosis or symptoms of mental health disorders. For the most part, these symptoms point toward depression or anxiety.
Unfortunately, one condition can worsen the symptoms of another. This is especially true for depression and addiction.
Therapies For Addiction & Depression
Therapies for addiction and depression often include the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that will involve both group and individual sessions. CBT can increase mindfulness by helping a person to understand how thoughts and feelings are contributing to actions. These feelings and thoughts can be analyzed for increased self-awareness.
CBT can work to point out potential triggers and build healthy coping mechanisms to positively change behaviors and actions in the future. Once a person knows what stressors they have and how to best manage them, both depressive symptoms and the need for drugs and alcohol can be reduced. CBT can help with self-regulation and control as well.
You May Like: Drug Counseling For Families Of The Addicted
Addiction Depression And Conquering Both
As many of you may already know, many co-occurring disorders can accompany addiction and substance use disorders . In some cases, struggles with addiction and SUD can lead to mental illnesses, and in others, mental illnesses can sometimes lead to addiction and SUD. Some mental disorders people experience include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and several mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. Interestingly, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by individuals who do and do not suffer from addiction and SUD.
According to Lets Get Healthy California, 11.7% of California adults were diagnosed with depressive disorder. That number increased to 17.8% in 2018. Many organizations are striving to lower that number by 2022, a goal that recovery centers should certainly work to get behind. Our staff of mental health professionals at the Lakehouse Recovery Center will help any clients coming through our doors with any depressive disorders they may be experiencing. While our main focus may be treating addiction, we know that in order to have a successful recovery, you must also take care of your mental health and overall well-being.
I Believe You Can Do This
Without question, empowerment will be the most effective tactic in your conversations . Seeking a sober life takes courage, perseverance, and hope. Again, Murchison suggests citing specific examples: When have you witnessed bravery in your friend? When have you witnessed grit? Empower her with these memories and remind her she can return to that true version of herself. And dont forget where we startedthat youll walk alongside her, all the way.
Also Check: How To Cure An Addictive Personality
What To Expect When A Loved One Receives Treatment
Once your loved one has decided to begin treatment, it can be helpful to know what to expect. The answer depends on a variety of factors including:
- The severity of your loved one’s condition
- The duration and frequency of their substance or alcohol use
- Past attempts at recovery
- Motivation and commitment to recovery
- Support and assistance available
Long-term treatment and recovery will last for months or even years. Overall progress and setbacks during recovery can extend the duration of treatment.
During this time, there are things that you can do to offer support. Learning more about the treatment process and offering help with immediate needssuch as driving them to appointments or attending support group meetings with themare all ways that you can support recovery.
Find An Approach That Works
There are a number of different treatment options that can be effective, so it is important to consider the options. Think about which approach might be best suited to you and your loved one’s needs and goals.
Depending on the nature of the addiction, treatment might involve psychotherapy, medication, support groups, or a combination of all of these. A few options include:
You May Like: What Are The Signs Of Opiate Addiction
Quest 2 Recovery Treats Co
Quest 2 Recovery is an integrated dual diagnosis addiction recovery program serving greater Los Angeles, California. Being well aware of the difficulties associated with co-occurring disorders, Quest 2 Recovery has strived to create a soothing, tranquil setting where our clients can heal and reclaim their lives. By offering an intimate home setting with a family-like therapeutic approach, clients struggling with addiction and depression will feel comfortable and cared for. At Quest 2 Recovery, we combine important evidence-based therapies with complimentary holistic and experiential activities to help clients explore the underlying causes of their emotional pain, and process it. Only then can recovery from addiction and depression take place. For more information about the program, please contact Quest 2 Recovery today at 453-9396.
How To Help Someone With Drug Addiction And Depression
When a loved one is struggling with any problem, it can be very difficult to simply sit back and watch them suffer. Caregivers especially want to feel useful and find a way to ease the pain. This response is completely normal and is even more intensified when a loved one is suffering from a mental illness or substance abuse problem. Since the two are often co-occurring, the suffering is that much more intense.
Clinical depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and is also frequently diagnosed in people who have experienced or are at risk of developing a substance abuse problem. Depression comes in many different forms and can range from very mild to very severe, often resulting in suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
Early detection of drug addiction and depression is important. If you suspect that someone you love is struggling with depression and substance abuse, talk to them about getting drug addiction help.
Also Check: Am I An Addict Test
