If you read multiple national surveys, there are plenty of significant numbers of individuals with substance use problems who will also encounter a mental illness if they are suffering from addiction, and vice versa.
When an individual has both disorders, such as a substance use disorder and a mental health illness, at the same time. This kind of mental health issue with drug use problems or alcohol addiction is referred to as a dual diagnosis. So it is crucial to have an idea of how depression and addiction are linked to each other.
Here We’ll look at the cycle of depression and addiction in this section.
What is the meaning of depression?
A person suffering from depression has a severe mental illness that significantly impairs their ability to go about their everyday lives. A depressed, angry, or empty feeling is the hallmark of depression. This common mental health condition affects your emotions, ideas, and actions.
What are the common symptoms of depression?
While each person experiences sadness differently, there are some common indications and symptoms of the illness. It’s important to remember that these symptoms could coexist with recurrent depressive episodes throughout life. But the more symptoms you experience, the more severe they are, and the longer they have lasted, the more likely it is that you are depressed.
- Individuals can have feelings of helplessness.
- Appetite or weight changes.
- Sleep problems
- Anger or irritability
- Reckless behavior.
- Problems with concentration
- Unknown aches and pains.
What Is the Impact of Co-Occurring Disorders on Treatment?
Both disorders might make treatment more difficult for patients as well as for doctors. Sadly, patients with mental disorders and addictions may require significant therapy as well as a regular practice of mindfulness, exercise, etc.
When we compare individuals who have depression as well as drug use disorders with those who only have one issue—maybe it’s depression or addiction—they typically have more severe signs of depression and reduced performance. They also have an increased chance of having suicidal ideas.
Research has shown that treating depression and substance use disorders together, or integrated treatment, produces superior outcomes than treating either condition independently. Several scientifically proven treatment modalities, such as counseling and medication, are included in integrated treatment.
The relationship between mental health disorders and substance disorders includes the following:
Both illnesses have common risk factors.
Stress, trauma, genetics, and the environment all have an impact on how the brain functions, which can result in the emergence of mental health and drug use issues. Genetics are thought to be responsible for 40–60% of an individual’s susceptibility to substance use disorders.
Substance use problems may arise as a result of mental health issues.
As a kind of “self-medication,” some people with mental health illnesses may abuse drugs and alcohol in an attempt to dull or get rid of their depressive symptoms. Substances can aggravate depression and cause the emergence of a drug use disorder, even though they may momentarily ease the unpleasant symptoms of depression.
Addiction and substance abuse are risk factors for the emergence of mental health
Drug and alcohol abuse can cause brain abnormalities that impact mood regulation, impulse control, and an underlying susceptibility to mental health disorders. For instance, it has been discovered that alcohol use disorder raises the chance of major depressive disorder.
Negative effects can arise from co-occurring depression and substance use disorders, regardless of which condition came on first. In these critical situations, it is good if you get professional help, like going to rehab or going through fentanyl withdrawal, which gives you the best advice and treatment according to your needs.
Conclusion
Even once treatment is complete and you’re in addiction recovery, you still need to manage your mental health problem diligently. In actuality, recovery from addiction and mental health issues frequently go hand in hand. It will work better if you treat them both at the same time, as depression and addiction have a nice connection with each other. However, both of these conditions are curable; keep in mind that you may overcome depression and addiction if you put in the necessary effort. You just have to find the right treatment plan or rehab that will help you in your recovery.
