Dealing with Depression and Addiction
Depression and addiction can go hand-in-hand too many times. Often times when a person is suffering from severe depression, an addiction doesn’t follow too far behind. It’s not too hard to understand why someone who is very depressed would succumb to substance abuse, drug addition or alcoholism. The desperation of the depression gets so bad that this person believes he can hide from the depression or solve the problem that is depressing him by escaping with drugs or alcohol. When the escaping becomes too frequent, an addiction will set in. Unfortunately, many people who are trying to recover in a rehabilitation program have started these addictions by being depressed. Thank goodness there are recovery programs available to help these people overcome their addictions and even their depression. Both problems need to be solved for that person to reach a complete recovery.
photo credit: MrsMinifig
Even though it’s true that depression can and sometimes does lead to addiction, it’s also possible to have it the other way around. Addiction can lead to depression. Certain drugs can bring on feelings of depression. Cocaine is one of the drugs that causes major psychiatric disorders. The abuse of cocaine can cause hallucinations, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction, anxiety and mood disorders that would include depression. Heroin, amphetamines and inhalants can also cause the same problems as the cocaine. However, when a person goes through recovery and stops using and depending on these drugs, the depression problem will also disappear. This isn’t usually the case when depression leads to addiction. Even if their addiction problems are eliminated, they can still fall back into the same depression that started them. This is a more difficult rehabilitation to handle. Doctors call this a dual diagnosis when depression leads to the addiction. Both problems need to be addressed and solved.
No matter what came first, the addiction needs to be eliminated first. Any drugs, substances and alcohol that is depended on and used in excess is dangerous to the person’s health. Eliminating the addiction first can save a person’s life. The longer he depends on and uses these substances, the more problems he is likely to encounter with his health. There could be heart, liver, kidney or many other parts of the body that are deteriorating because of the addiction.
To achieve a complete recovery from an addiction, it does help when the person wants to get help. Sometimes he doesn’t even think he has an addiction problem, or if he does, he can’t imagine ever stopping the addiction. It’s a difficult process to go through. Withdrawal symptom are very hard to withstand, and the person can become very ill. The most important part of a recovery program is having a support system. The rehab facility needs to have professional people who will honestly care about and be compassionate to the addict. This is something that the addict probably didn’t have in his everyday life. There should also be group sessions with the other addicts so that they can share their stories together. The addict needs to know that he is not alone in his fight. Counseling is also a big part of recovery. One on one counseling is very effective because the addict may unleash his most inner thoughts and fears, and may also give more information about how he became an addict. A treatment center should also have activities and games to help the addict find other interests instead of thinking about his next fix.
If depression is the cause of the addiction, the addict will probably be prescribed an anti-depressant after he has recovered from his substance abuse. This will keep him from going back to the same abusive habits that he had relied on before his treatment.
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