At Recovery Ways, we recognize that depression and substance abuse often go hand in hand. Research shows that one in three people with depression also suffer from substance abuse or dependence. So each patient is thoroughly assessed to ensure that both the chemical dependence and mood disorder is being treated. All treatment programs at Recovery Ways include individualized care and personalized treatment plans, multiple weekly group and individual therapy based on the 12 steps, and a family program.
Recovery Ways knows that Depression can be a major factor in relapse, so we make it a priority to give patient all the resources they need to continue treatment for depression and substance dependency after they leave our program.
Depression is not just having the blues. It is a mood disorder that 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.
Symptoms Of Depression
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable including sex
- Gaining or losing a noticeable amount of weight
- Change in appetite, including overeating and appetite loss
- Having trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Feeling tired nearly every day
- Feeling worthless or guilty without a good reason
- Moving or speaking more slowly than normal
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Fatigue and decreased energy
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness and/or pessimism
- Irritability and restlessness
- Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that don’t go away with treatment
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
- Having thoughts of suicide or death
Dual Diagnosis of Addiction and Depression
When a person has an addiction plus a mental health condition such as depression, doctors call this a “dual diagnosis”. Among people who are diagnosed as having a mental health condition, about 29% are alcohol or drug abusers. As many as 37% of people who abuse alcohol and 53% of people who abuse drugs have at least one mental health condition. Depression is very common among alcoholics and drug abusers.
Depression Often Leads To Addiction and Relapse
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 the patient and creates a cycle of relapse. This vicious cycle of depression and addiction must be addressed and treated along with the addiction treatment.
The addiction treatment for someone suffering form depression must focus on the roots of the addiction and its consequences. The process must include a clear understanding of the relationship between addiction, recovery, depression and relapse. An effective treatment plan will only be established by treating depression coexisting with the addictions.
Facts
Chronic depression is an integral part of what addicts face during their recovery from chemical dependency. Depression often accompanies recovery because the addict can see the destruction they have caused in their life and the lives of those they love. Prolonged usage of drugs alters the brain programming in such a manner that they inevitably search for an escape from the hard reality of their life. This depression may again entice them to use drugs all over again repeating a cycle of relapse.
Recovery Ways specializes in treating a wide variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders, for more information on how to get you or your loved one help, call us toll- free: 888-986-7848.
