a distressed woman holds her hand to her head thinking about the connection between depression and addiction

How Depression Can Impact Addiction

Mental health conditions like depression and addiction are not two completely separate issues. In fact, depression and addiction often go hand in hand, making them co-occurring disorders or chronic conditions that occur simultaneously. Co-occurring disorders can be more challenging to treat unless you receive dual diagnosis treatment, a specialized type of mental health and addiction treatment that aims to help you heal from both conditions at the same time.

For the most effective treatment, enroll in 5 Palms’ dual diagnosis treatment program in Florida. Our team is well-versed in co-occurring disorders and will provide you with a customized treatment plan to manage depression symptoms and help you overcome addiction. To learn more about how dual diagnosis treatment works at our treatment center, give us a call at 1.844.675.1022 today.

How Depression and Addiction Are Related

Depression and addiction are often intermingled with one another. The question is, which one comes first? In the case of depression and addiction, either one can be the catalyst for the other. Here is how:

Depression Can Lead to Addiction

A person experiencing a depressive disorder may turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. This provides a temporary escape from their emotional pain. Using substances to numb one’s mental health symptoms is known as self-medication and is much more common in people who do not receive proper treatment for their mental health.

Addiction Can Cause Depression

Drugs and alcohol interact with brain neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of happiness, pleasure, and reward. Once your brain becomes dependent on substances to trigger these positive feelings, it will struggle to produce healthy levels of these neurotransmitters on its own. This can eventually lead to depression. If you already have a depressive disorder and misuse substances, it can worsen your symptoms.

How to Know If You Need Help for Depression and Addiction

Having both anxiety and depression is known as having co-occurring disorders or two chronic conditions at the same time. Both of these conditions can intensify the severity and complexity of each other, which can make it more challenging to recover. To make things even more complicated, many people do not realize their daily struggles are related to addiction and depression.

Here are some signs that may indicate that you or a loved one needs help for co-occurring depression and addiction:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness
  • Often feeling hopeless that things can get better
  • Feeling worthless
  • Loss of interest and activities
  • Sleeping much more or much less often than usual
  • Increased or decreased appetite

If you recognize these signs in yourself or someone else alongside substance use, you likely need the help of professionals.

Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders

The most effective treatment approach for co-occurring disorders is known as dual diagnosis treatment. This form of comprehensive treatment may include:

  • Medical detox
  • Individual counseling
  • Group therapy
  • Medication management
  • Mindfulness therapy
  • Support groups

Dual diagnosis treatment allows your care team to address your mental health symptoms so they do not interfere with your addiction recovery. You may receive medication to manage your symptoms as well as minimize the severity of drug or alcohol withdrawal.

Your treatment will also go beyond symptom management and delve into the underlying contributors of addiction and depression so that you can develop healthy coping strategies and a relapse prevention plan.

Reach Out to 5 Palms for Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Many people feel ashamed when they struggle with depression and addiction, but there is no need to deal with these on your own. At 5 Palms, we work hard to dispel the stigma of mental health and addiction. We pride ourselves on providing a non-judgmental, welcoming environment for our clients to experience true healing. If you are interested in trying dual diagnosis treatment for depression and addiction, contact us online or give us a call at 1.844.675.1022 to speak to one of our friendly staff members.

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