Man with head in hand really needs depression treatment when he addresses his addiction.We all have “down” days. While most people get through these down days easily, others stay low for long periods of time. This is clinical depression, a serious mental condition often co-existing with addiction. If you need addiction and depression treatment at the same time, you likely have a dual diagnosis disorder.

Sadly, substance abuse is common for people with depression. Many of these people start abusing drugs or alcohol in attempts to feel better or numb their mental pain. This causes the addiction and depression to feed off of each other and fuel both problems.

Why a Dual Diagnosis Is Dangerous

Dual diagnosis includes addiction and a mental health condition, whether that condition is depression, anxiety or another mental problem. People suffering from depression and substance abuse as their dual diagnosis are among one in three adults with an addiction. So if you have depression and addiction you are not alone.

With clinical depression comes a higher risk of self-harm, accidental injury, and suicide. You also risk more physical ailments and chronic illnesses, as depression suppresses the immune system and weakens your body. Adding alcohol or drugs to these problems greatly increases the risk to your physical and psychological well-being.

If you have a dual diagnosis of depression and addiction, you need rehab that includes depression treatment. Not gaining both types of treatment at once puts you at high risk for a relapse and worsening of your depression symptoms. Treatment of both conditions enables the life you really want.

Do I Really Need Depression Treatment?

Most people experience sadness, irritability, lost motivation, frustration, and grief. But clinical depression is different than “the blues.” Clinical depression is a lingering depression lasting more than two weeks, disrupting your ability to work, socialize and maintain healthy relationships.

Daily symptoms of depression often include:

  • Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and worthlessness
  • Anxiety, sleep problems, appetite changes and weight changes
  • Tearfulness, aches, pains, and feelings of guilt
  • Concentration problems and loss of interest
  • General irritability
  • Suicidal thoughts and actions

Addiction and Depression

Depression often leads to substance abuse. When someone feels depressed, they are more likely to try alcohol or drugs as a means of escaping what they feel. But these substances do not really help. Instead, the drugs and alcohol lead to addiction, a condition that fuels depression just as the depression feeds the addiction.

There are many warning signs of drug addiction. These include tolerance to abused substances, withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing use, remorse after using drugs or alcohol and relapse when trying to quit.

If you suffer both depression and addiction, quitting your substances can make your depression even worse. If you have long used drugs or alcohol, it is very important that you receive depression treatment and addiction treatment at the same time. By receiving dual diagnosis treatment, you can have the healthier, better life you want, with lasting sobriety.

If you only get addiction treatment, your depression will cause relapse. Likewise, if you only get depression treatment and no rehab, you will experience a return of your depression symptoms as well as continuing addiction. In a quality treatment program focusing on dual diagnosis rehabilitation, you receive the therapies, relapse prevention, and coping skills education you need for freedom from your co-occurring conditions. Of course, this freedom lasts as long as you manage your conditions as you should.

Addiction Rehab and Depression Treatment for Your Needs

In Argyle, Texas, Santé Center for Healing provides dual diagnosis treatment with individualized treatment plans. This means your co-occurring conditions are treated through a tailored approach meeting your very unique needs. Treatment at Santé Center includes:

Professionals and adults over the age of 18 from all over the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom get the mental health and rehab treatment they need at Santé Center for Healing. If you suffer addiction and diagnosed or undiagnosed depression, Santé Center for Healing will help you, too. Call us now at 866-238-3154 for a real chance of lasting recovery. You deserve a happier, healthier life and that begins with this call.