Addiction & Depression

Depression is a major complicating factor in the recovery from substance abuse. Don't let depression cause you to relapse. Learn to manage your depression, stay sober and come out with improved recovery skills. Addiction and depression often go hand in hand. Depression may be the reason an addict starts using drugs or alcohol. Or it may develop as the addiction progresses. Also, if depression continues into adstinence, a relapse back into chemical dependency is greatly increased.

 

Dual Diagnosis

When a person has an addiction, plus a psychiatric illness such as depression, doctors say they have a "dual diagnosis." The term is a reminder that this person has extra challenges on the road to recovery. Depression and other psychiatric illnesses increase the risk of addiction. Depression Can Lead to Addiction. Some people use alcohol and illegal drugs, to deal with the symptoms of depression. Doctors call this "self-medicating."

Many doctors think that whatever makes people vulnerable to depression also makes them more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs. Someone without depression may be able to try an illicit drug, or drink alcohol regularly, without any long-term problems. For a depressed person, these same activities may be more likely to lead to addiction.

When a person has both addiction and depression, it's necessary to help the person quit drinking, or doing drugs first, and then to evaluate for depression.

If it's clear that the depression is a consequence of the addiction, treating the addiction is usually all that's needed. When the person stops using alcohol and drugs, the depression will improve.

If the depression is a separate issue, it must be addressed as well. It will not go away by merely removing the drugs and alcohol. Although removing these substances should precede seeking treatment, that may include special counseling and anti-depressant medicines.

Disclaimer

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