| Depression and Addiction: How Are They Related? | | | | may also develop depression in the patient and |
| The old question of the chicken and the egg and which | | | | consequently lead to relapse. Hence, this vicious cycle |
| came first applies to this conundrum. Recent studies | | | | of depression and addiction needs to be recognized |
| suggest that depression and addiction recurrently go | | | | and requires simultaneous treatment. |
| hand in hand. | | | | The ideal treatment must focus on the deepest root |
| There is a strong correlation between depression and | | | | of the addiction and its consequences incorporating a |
| addiction and the problem is often approached in 2 | | | | thorough understanding of the relation between |
| different ways. | | | | addiction, recovery, depression and relapse. The |
| 1. Some conventional psychiatric treatment procedures | | | | treatment must be based on a clear understanding of |
| focus on treating depression as the root cause | | | | the bio-psychosocial model of addiction and |
| contributing to the drug or alcohol abuse problem, | | | | depression. The fundamental principle of treatment will |
| 2. Others consider depression as a symptom typically | | | | only be established by treating depression coexisting |
| revealed after a person gets addicted into substance | | | | with addiction. The recovery plans need to address |
| abuse. | | | | the administration of signs and symptoms of both |
| As an addict travels along the ever descending road, | | | | depression and addiction. |
| whilst experiencing their high, they are in a euphoric | | | | Few Essential Facts |
| state of mind in which they simply become numb to | | | | In practice, chronic depression is an integral part of the |
| any sort of pain sensations, both emotional and | | | | hard reality that addicts face especially during their |
| physical. In most cases, addicts are in a worsening or | | | | recovery. When they feel depressed seeing the |
| poor state of health. Long-time drug and alcohol | | | | destruction they have caused in their life. Prolonged |
| abusers also suffer from nutritional deficiencies. | | | | usage of drugs alters the brain programming in such a |
| Therefore addiction is a progressive complication. | | | | manner that they inevitably search for an escape from |
| Due to prolonged addiction problems, addicts face | | | | the hard reality they face. This depression may again |
| variety of emotional, social and physiological problems | | | | entice them to use drugs all over again. Some people |
| such as job loss, broken relations, and discontinuation in | | | | describe the syndromes of depression and addiction |
| studies, financial bankruptcy, legal problems and many | | | | as a married couple who can not exist without each |
| others, which lead to recurrent episodes of depression. | | | | other. |
| So in one way or other, depression and addiction is | | | | Although the addicts’ brain is programmed for quick |
| highly correlated with each other, especially considering | | | | relief and instant gratification, therefore one should not |
| the consequences of addiction. | | | | use anti-depressants even when he feels depressed |
| Depression Often Leads To Relapse | | | | during recovery. Anti-depressants offer nothing more |
| Depression is a critical mental health condition that | | | | than a temporary solution. It is better to seek family |
| most frequently coexist with substance abuse | | | | support at the time of depression or ask for help from |
| disorders. If left untreated depression can hinder the | | | | volunteers who are continuously contributing in the field |
| addiction recovery process and may lead to relapse. | | | | of addiction. |
| On the other hand, an untreated addiction problem | | | | |