Although many people know someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction, a lot of individuals have a difficult time understanding why these addictions occur. Although there are many different reasons why people take to drugs and alcohol, one primary cause of addiction is depression. By understanding how drug addiction and depression go hand-in-hand, you can work toward helping yourself or the people that you love who might struggle with these issues. Addicts who struggle with depression can benefit greatly from skills learned in a drug rehab.
Addiction and Depression: Is There a Link?
Countless studies have shown that substance abuse and depression are very closely related in many individuals. The two are considered to be highly comorbid, which means that the two go along with one another in a large percentage of affected individuals. Those who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and who suffer from high levels of anxiety also frequently suffer from addiction issues as well.
How Addiction and Depression Go Hand-in-Hand
There are many ways that addiction and depression go hand-in-hand. Many people attempt to self-medicate so that they can feel better; for example, a lot of depressed individuals have realized at some point that getting high or drinking alcohol makes them feel better temporarily when they are feeling down and out. Once they feel this feeling of relief, they often go back to the same substances over and over again until they become a very serious problem.
There are a few underlying causes that seem to cause the two to go together so often. First of all, environmental factors, such as where a person lives or the type of people that he or she surrounds himself or herself with, can have a major impact on whether or not a person is depressed and whether or not an addiction issue ever comes into play. Chemical imbalances in the brain and even genetics are also underlying factors for many people.
Learn for about the factors that cause addiction. Where does addiction come from?
In many cases, drug and alcohol problems and depression begin to worsen one another as time goes on. Although a person might initially feel better about his or her depression after drinking a few glasses of wine or partaking in other activities, the initial amount might not be enough the next time around and can result in binge use. A lot of people also feel even more depressed shortly after using drugs or alcohol; they can either suffer from the “come-down” symptoms, or they might feel guilty for using. This can cause a back-and-forth routine of drug or alcohol use and depression.
Drug Rehab and Depression: Can Rehab Really Help With Both Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders?
Drug rehab and depression might not seem to have much in common, but the truth is that the benefits of a good treatment center can help patients who suffer from the two simultaneously. Many rehabilitation facilities focus on diagnosing patients for both their addiction issues and their mental disorders; they do so in order to get down to the source of the problem.
Once the professionals at a rehabilitation facility have determined the major source of the problem, they will then help the affected individual to get the help that he or she needs. In many cases, this involves a combination of counseling and mild, non-narcotic medication, but different treatments are offered for each patient depending on his or her individual issues and circumstances.
Treatments are generally set up so that individuals can learn more about how to handle depression and other mental disorders without using drugs or alcohol as self-medication. Counselors will stress the importance of seeing a doctor, seeking counseling and taking the right medication instead of using drugs and alcohol.
Drug rehab and depression treatment also helps addicted individuals learn about how to put down the drugs and alcohol for good. Although it is a long and hard road, treatment facilities help affected individuals understand the importance of abstaining from drugs and alcohol and give tips and advice for staying away from it. These facilities are also good for helping addicted individuals to detox in a safe, friendly and comfortable setting while away from the people and other things that can trigger them to use.
If you suffer from a depression issue and have taken to drugs and alcohol to medicate yourself, now is the time to do something about it. It is also important to help any affected loved ones get the help that they need. Depression and mental disorders aren’t the addict’s fault, but seeking treatment for both the mental issues and the addiction problem is essential in order for addicts to move on with their lives in a positive manner.
This post is spot on! Depression is a debilitating force that affects all aspects of an individual’s life. Depression and addiction certainly go hand in hand; I’ve had several friends who have been battling this cycle for years until they found a great rehab facility that assisted them in addressing their core problems of depression first before their addiction issues. While they’re both mental disorders, I think that the core issues need to be addressed before anyone can successfully recover from depression and addiction.