It’s been confirmed time and time again: substance abuse and mental illness are closely related. They’re practically part of the same continuum, in fact. Someone who has schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or high levels of anxiety are the most likely to suffer from substance abuse disorders. One of the most common mental illnesses is depression, which is the reason drug addiction is so common. Many individuals with depression self-medicate to feel better. Most just don’t realize they’re doing it. When they’re feeling down, they get drunk or high. Soon, they’re feeling down all the time and need those drugs all the time.
Dealing with Depression in Recovery
When you self-medicate, you’re not just risking overdose; you’re actually worsening the issue for which you feel the need to medicate. A glass of wine may help you feel better for an hour or so, but it’s an empty, shallow sense of relief. As soon as it’s out of your system, you feel even worse – and you need more wine. Bingeing or abusing drugs robs the addict of their time, their health, their relationships, and their productivity.
Addiction is like a roller coaster that never seems to end: a constant cycle of come-ups and comedowns. It’s no way to live, and nobody really enjoys it – no matter how they appear. An active addict may be energetic and euphoric on the outside, but deep-down, the psyche is suffering. All the fear, shame, and resentments that they’ve tucked away are beginning to implode.
Rehab isn’t a quick fix. It’s certainly not like a boot camp, where you can drop someone off and expect progress lest the staff do something wrong. Rehab provides addicts with the tools to do it themselves. The counselors aren’t there to baby their patients, decipher their root issues, or determine their paths for them. They give assistance where it’s necessary. It’s a matter of education: learning your behaviors, your tendencies, your triggers, and your fears, and then facing them.
If detoxing doesn’t alleviate the depression, which it sometimes can, it at least paves the way for clear analyses as to what is actually causing it and how it can be treated. The vast majority of rehab patients report feeling happier during and after their treatment process. Determining which types of therapy and medication are best for you will be a process. These factors are determined early in the treatment process.
If you’re depressed or feeling suicidal, call the Crisis and Suicide Hotline: 800-448-3000.
Interested in our addiction therapy programs here at ForeFront? Give us a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx
