Self-medication is often a popular choice for men and women suffering from depression and other mental health issues. If you’re feeling despair, hopelessness, anguish, and low self-esteem, turning to drugs may feel like the right answer. Unfortunately, being on drugs can make depression even worse. Many patients feel even more depressed when they use drugs to try and chase the bad feelings away.
Do drug addiction programs help with depression? While everyone is different, the answer is a definite yes. Rehab programs that address mental health issues along with addiction will empower the patient to begin building a clean, sober life while they are in recovery. Read on to learn more about depression and rehab.
Am I Depressed?
Being clinically depressed is different than just having a bad day. Symptoms of depression occur almost every day of the week for someone suffering from this diagnosis. These symptoms can go on for months or years while interfering with your life. A professional can diagnose depression if you believe you are suffering from it.
The following are the most common symptoms of depression:
• Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, self-hatred
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Change in eating habits
• Depressed mood day after day
• Physical and emotional fatigue
• Lower than normal energy levels
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of motivation
• Intrusive thoughts
• Suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
If you are constantly feeling the symptoms of depression, others around you will usually notice that there is a problem. You may lose interest in the things that used to give you pleasure, such as exercising and shopping. Some patients have trouble dragging themselves out of bed every morning due to a complete lack of motivation and energy. Many patients even start talking about hurting themselves and become obsessed with thoughts of dying.
You cannot just “snap out of” a depression, and there is no magic cure that works right away. Clinical depression should be treated by a professional regularly. There are also different types of depression, such as:
• Seasonal depression
• Post-partum depression
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar 1 and 2 disorder
Research has shown that different factors of depression will also play a large role in substance abuse disorders. Known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disease, addiction and depression often involve the following:
• Past trauma
• Family history
• Brain chemistry imbalances
Unfortunately, the effects of addiction often mask the various signs of depression, making the symptoms much worse than normal. Professional help should always be sought for these types of circumstances.
Rehab and Depression
If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction and any form of depression, rehab can help. A depressed drug addict will thrive from the help of a qualified mental health professional in a rehab setting. Let’s take a look at what will happen during rehab.
Detox- Detox will be the first step if you are still using drugs or alcohol when you start the program. The detox team will gather your medical and mental health history as soon as you get to the center to develop a personalized treatment plan. While you are going through the detox process, you’ll start to attend both private and group therapy sessions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy– CBT is a very common form of therapy in rehab centers. CBT focuses on the tools you will need to get through your day without drugs once you are out of the center. Your counselor will teach you how you can make changes in your approach to life. These skills will be useful from now on, especially when you are faced with the choice of using drugs or alcohol on the outside. Understanding what triggers your substance use is the first step to knowing how to rewrite the script.
During your private sessions, your therapist will also talk with you about your depression and how it triggers your substance abuse. If you are not already on medication, one of the doctors may prescribe something that will help the symptoms.
Group therapy- Group therapy is a very important part of rehab. Group therapy allows you to talk to others about your addiction and mental health concerns. Your group therapy sessions will always be led by a qualified therapist who will help direct the conversation and reflect any negativity that sometimes occurs.
Rehab Can Help-Call Us Today
When you’re ready to commit to rehab, our center is here to help you out. Call us today at 833-610-1174 when you want to learn what we can do for you.