Depression and Addiction

Perhaps you have found that you have many of the symptoms on this list. Still, you're not sure whether or not you have a depressive disorder. At Northpoint Washington, we know the seriousness of this illness and how it can affect you. It's important for you to get more clarity regarding your condition.

To help, we've put together some questions that you can ask yourself. Be honest when you answer the following:

• Do you ever burst into tears when you know that there's really nothing for you to be sad about?
• Do you ever find yourself obsessing over different thoughts and ideas?
• Are you finding that your sleep patterns have been interrupted lately?
• Have you been sleeping excessively, even through the day?
• Have you recently lost or gained a lot of weight?
• Do you find it difficult to concentrate on your work or when you are at school?
• Do the hobbies you once enjoyed no longer interest you?
• Have you ever had suicidal thoughts?
• Have you ever attempted suicide?
• Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning?
• Do you dread facing the various tasks and challenges of each day?
• Do you ever feel guilty, but you're not really able to pinpoint a reason?
• Do you frequently feel irritable for no real reason?
• Do you have aches in your body that you really can't explain?

It's possible that you answered yes to five or more of the above questions. If so, there is a very good chance that you are suffering from a depressive disorder. Getting an accurate diagnosis is going to be critical for you. It's important to know what type of depression you have so that you can be treated appropriately.

There are several different methods that doctors and therapists can use to treat depression. It is actually a highly treatable disorder. Like other illnesses, the earlier treatment is sought, the better. If you treat it early on, it may even be possible to prevent a recurrence.

The first step in treating depression is to rule out any medical causes for it. There are some medical conditions that can lead to symptoms of depression. Once these are discovered, treating them usually results in the alleviation of symptoms. For example, if you have a thyroid disorder, or a viral infection, it may appear that you're depressed.

If there is no medical cause for the depression, it's time to consider treatment. Some types of depression treatment include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This type of therapy focuses on showing patients new ways of thinking. It also focuses on the individual's behavior and making changes there. CBT is effective because it can reduce negative attitudes that might be contributing to the depression.
• Interpersonal Therapy: IPT is a type of therapy that is also frequently used with those who have depression. It focuses on various relationships in the patient's life that might be contributing to the symptoms. These relationships are thought to be making their depression worse.
• Herbal Therapy: Certain herbs have been shown to improve depression symptoms in many people. Among them, St. John's Wort is one of the most popular. However, the problem with this and other herbs is that they can interfere with other medications.
• Electroconvulsive Therapy: For those whose depression is severe or life-threatening, ECT is one option to consider. It's also used for people who aren't able to take antidepressants. This treatment involves placing electrodes on the head to deliver electrical impulses. It produces a brief seizure, but it's not painful. ECT isn't used today as much as it once was. However, for those who need it, it does remain an option.
• Problem-solving Therapy: Sometimes it can be helpful to talk with someone who wants to help. This type of therapy is very focused on the various problems an individual is facing in life. Together, the patient and the therapist can work on finding viable solutions.
• Medications: Most doctors agree upon the importance of getting their patients on antidepressants. There are many different types that can be used. Of course, not all antidepressants work well for everyone. If one medication doesn't work, additional medicines can be added, or tried instead.

There are a number of different medications that have been approved to help treat depression. These include:

• Celexa
• Lexapro
• Prozac
• Paxil
• Zoloft
• Pristiq
• Cymbalta
• Effexor
• Pamelor
• Norpramin

Research has shown that someone with depression has a different brain appearance than someone without it. When studies have been done using MRI, these differences were quite clear. Still, there is no one universal reason why some people get diagnosed with depression and others don't.

During these MRI studies, it was demonstrated that various parts of the brain were impacted in someone with depression. These were the portions responsible for:

• Behavior
• Mood
• Thinking
• Appetite
• Sleep

Also, it was found that there was a chemical imbalance within the brain in those with depression. This proved to negatively affect the way brain cells communicate with each other.

Certain factors may have an effect on whether someone is more likely to be depressed. These include:

• Genetics
• The experience of a trauma
• The loss of a loved one
• Any stressful situation
• A difficult relationship

Once depression has been experienced once, recurrences can happen without any type of trigger. Women do get depression more often than men. However, that does not mean that men are immune. According to the American Psychological Association:

• 9% of men in the United States have daily feelings of depression.
• Only one out of every three of these men have ever taken medication for depression.
• Only one in four of these men have spoken with a mental health professional.
• The suicide rate among men is as much as four times higher than it is for women.
• Men who are age 85 and older are at the greatest risk of suicide.

The conclusion? Depression is not an illness that only affects women. Men are just as susceptible to it.

Someone who is depressed may turn to any number of substances as a way to self-medicate. They do this because they're looking for relief from their symptoms. Poly-substance abuse is very common among people with depression. They may choose to use different drugs or alcohol based on the effects they're looking for.

For example:

• Alcohol is a depressant in itself, but it also is very socially acceptable. It can temporarily lead to feelings of happiness. This makes it quite attractive to someone with depression.
• Stimulant drugs like cocaine have the ability to provide energy, even if it's only for a short time. Someone who suffers from depression may also turn to prescription stimulants for relief.
• Marijuana has a relaxing quality to it. Some symptoms of anxiety typically accompany depression. For these individuals, marijuana is often their choice.
• Sleep aids are often attractive to depressed individuals as well. This is particularly true for those who suffer from insomnia.
• Prescription drugs like Paxil and Zoloft are frequently recommended for those with depression. While these drugs are not supposed to be addictive, they can have addictive qualities. If someone taking them doesn't get the desired results, he or she can take measures to abuse them. This is what leads to addiction.

Regardless of what substances you have been abusing, dual diagnosis treatment can help you. Co-occurring disorders are much more common than people think they are. This type of alcohol and drug rehab can make such a difference.

It is typical for depression and addiction to be linked to each other. Addiction generally always has a cause. It's difficult to say which condition comes first; the depression or the addiction. It can actually work both ways.

For someone who has depression, whether it's diagnosed or not, using substances can help with symptoms. For someone who is a drug or alcohol addict, continued use can lead to depression.

Either way, the two conditions consistently feed off each other in those who have co-occurring disorders. Eventually, the addict will probably find that using only makes symptoms worse. As you can see, this creates a dangerous cycle. Unless something is done to interrupt it, it will only get worse.

Dual diagnosis treatment, or integrative addiction treatment is vital for those with depression and addiction. At one point in time, these two conditions were always treated separately from each other. For example, if a patient presented with addiction and depression, the addiction would be treated first. This was usually done through drug or alcohol detox. After the detox period was over, he or she would be treated for depression.

The problem with this method was that it was rarely effective. Patients frequently relapsed, and quite often, their treatments contradicted each other. This only led to confusion, and it rarely led to long-term recovery.

Today, most professionals recognize the value of dual diagnosis treatment. It works so well because it treats both conditions at the same time. The issues behind the addiction are adequately addressed. This means that patients have a much smaller chance of relapsing after their treatment is over.

Quite often, people with depression and addiction will make the decision to try and stop using on their own. This is problematic for a number of reasons.

Unless the issues behind the addiction are dealt with, both conditions will continue. Many people don't even realize that they have depression. In these situations, they may be able to stop for a few days, but their efforts are rarely successful.

If you do relapse back into your drug or alcohol use, you are a high risk for an overdose. Overdoses can be fatal unless medical treatment is obtained right away. Sometimes, a drug called Naloxone can be used as long as it's administered quickly enough.

If you don't overdose, there are other issues to be concerned with. It's possible that your depression could progress to the point of suicidal ideation.

Choosing not to get help for your co-occurring disorder is definitely a mistake. Even if you think you might be able to stop using on your own, it's best to have help. Professional support through a drug and alcohol rehab can make such a difference.