Depression and Addiction: How Mental Health Can Affect Recovery

Depression and a substance use disorder can occur together, and either one can come first. Sometimes depression begins first. Sometimes substance use, withdrawal, sleep disruption, or life consequences contribute to depressive symptoms. One does not automatically explain the other, and you do not need to resolve depression completely before receiving addiction treatment. NIMH: Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States.

In terms of its relationship with drug use and addiction, depression can make the process of recovery and healing harder.

Some of its effects may go unnoticed because depression and a substance use disorder are so closely intertwined.

If you or your loved one are on the journey to recovery from addiction, here is what you need to know about depression and drug use.

The Relationship Between Depression and Drug Abuse

Substance use disorders and other mental disorders, including depression and anxiety disorders, often occur together. NIMH: Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders

This means that depression and drug use are closely related and are likely to affect a person's recovery from addiction.

When depression and drug dependence affect a person at the same time, it is often called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

Low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and changes in sleep or appetite may occur with depression. Similar symptoms can appear during intoxication, withdrawal, or early recovery.

A clinician asks when symptoms started, whether they occurred during periods without substances, how long they last, and how they affect daily life. Medical conditions and medication effects may also need consideration.

Once someone has an addiction, how do they get out of it? Are there challenges that depression causes that slow the process?

Keep reading to find out how depression affects recovery and why it helps to be mindful of your mental health during the recovery process.

How Depression Affects Drug Addiction Recovery

Poor mental health can raise the risk of using drugs and of developing an addiction. Depression can affect both whether a person comes to depend on a substance and how recovery goes.

Here are some reasons why.

Depression Can Cause Addiction Relapses

While your mind is weighed down by depression, it can be harder to make a firm decision about not using and stick to it. If you have had an addiction before, you may be at more risk of returning to use.

Depression can make it harder to move on from addiction. It can take away your joy and leave you feeling empty. Trying to fill that emptiness can make a return to drug use more likely.

Avoid assuming that persistent distress is simply something everyone must tolerate during recovery. Tell your clinician about it.

Depression May Be the Cause of the Addiction

Depression is sometimes part of the reason why a person develops an addiction or becomes dependent on certain drugs in the first place.

The interdependence between these two conditions means that most of the time they need to be treated together. You may need therapy for the depression and treatment for the addiction at the same time.

This might make recovery take longer, but it does not mean that you cannot recover.

Addiction and Depression are Both Mental Aspects

Depression and addiction have one point in common: they both affect the brain.

You might be dependent on certain substances such as alcohol or opioids, and once you are addicted it takes work in both body and mind to recover. Depression affects the brain as well.

So if you have depression, your mind can feel overwhelmed. This can make addiction recovery longer, because depression makes it a little harder to deal with the addiction on its own.

Depression Accelerates Addiction

Some people going through depression turn to alcohol or other drugs to manage how they feel. The more they use, the more likely they are to develop an addiction.

In that case the two conditions can feed each other, which is why a thorough assessment should consider both.

Avoid using alcohol or extra sedating medication to manage sleep or distress. Discuss these symptoms directly with the prescriber, especially if you take opioid medication.

Depressed People May Resent Intervention and Rehabilitation

Depression brings feelings of:

• Hopelessness
• Resentment
• Feeling unworthy
• The lack of motivation to make oneself better

A person living with both depression and addiction may not feel motivated to fight the addiction. In some cases, the depression may be a result of the effects that the drugs have on the body.

They may already resent themselves and have little motivation to change things. This is where support from other people matters. Choose small, manageable routines and stay connected with people who respect your treatment. Ask someone to help with a concrete task, such as transportation or preparing questions for a visit.

Prevalence of Addiction and Mental Disorders

Addiction and other mental disorders are common, and they often occur together.

Some people with depression use drugs or alcohol to cope with it, which raises their risk of addiction.

Luckily, these two conditions are manageable. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, and practical support. The specific combination depends on the conditions identified and the person's preferences. NIMH describes behavioral therapies and medications as options for co-occurring disorders. NIMH: Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders

If separate professionals treat your mental health and your substance use, ask how they will communicate with your consent. Each needs an accurate medication list and an understanding of the overall plan.

If your loved one is facing one or both of these conditions, encourage them to seek help soon. Getting help early can keep both from getting worse.

You Can Overcome Depression and Drug Addiction

Many Americans face both depression and drug use and do not know where to turn. However, you or your loved one can get treatment for addiction and depression and lead a fulfilling life. This can start with proper medication assisted treatment for your addiction and an honest conversation with a clinician about your mood.

Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are evidence-based options for opioid use disorder. A clinician can help determine which is suitable while also assessing depression. CDC advises against detoxification alone for opioid use disorder because of the risks of returning to use and overdose. CDC: Treating Opioid Use Disorder

When you talk to a healthcare professional, describe your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, recent substance use, and any medications or supplements. Mention prior episodes of unusually elevated or irritable mood, reduced need for sleep, or impulsive behavior, because these details may change the assessment. If treatment has not helped, ask for a review.

If you are thinking about suicide or need immediate emotional support, call or text 988 in the United States. Call 911 for immediate danger, suspected overdose, or a medical emergency.

If you are going through addiction, all is not lost. Recovery Delivered's providers treat opioid use disorder by video visit. Ask about coordination with a separate mental health professional when depression treatment is needed.

Start Suboxone treatment online. Recovery Delivered's online Suboxone doctors see patients by video. The first visit is $89. Follow-up visits are $50 weekly, $75 every two weeks or $89 monthly. Visits are cash pay, and medication is priced separately.