It’s no secret that depression and drug abuse are closely linked. People who struggle with polysubstance addiction often experience depression and anxiety. Additionally, people who are suffering from depression or anxiety tend to self-medicate by using substances such as alcohol and drugs. This temporarily relieves the pain and increases happiness. These substances can be highly addictive and have severe health effects. You are more likely to become dependent on a substance if you consume more. Addiction can lead to long-term diseases and depression.
What is depression?
Depression is a mental disorder that can wreck havoc in the life of its sufferer. It is usually accompanied by feelings of loneliness, numbness and sadness. Depression can make people feel numb or like they don’t feel anything. It leads to substance abuse. Depressed people are able to feel better when they use alcohol or drugs. Depressed people feel relief, even though the substance is directly responsible for these new feelings.
Addictions are often the result of people trying to self-medicate depression or anxiety. Although drugs and alcohol can provide temporary relief, once the euphoria has worn off, feelings of sadness and numbness return.
This article sheds light on depression as a risk factor for drug abuse. Let’s see, quickly, how depression can lead substance addiction.
How Depression Can Lead to Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Keep in mind that depression does not cause substance abuse. There are many things that can cause a person’s depression, and ultimately make them more susceptible for addiction. One of the main causes of depression is an inability to cope with stressful emotions. The same cause also leads to addiction.
Addiction and mental illness are often linked. Watch out for signs that someone you know is addicted. Here are some warning signs a person suffering from depression may end up becoming addicted to substances.
The Depression They Don’t Recognize
Depression can creep up on a person slowly, so that they may not even realize it. They may seek stimulants for help to get through their day because the exhaustion is too much. A few whisky drinks or an opioid can help to reverse the feeling of numbness and disinterest that is often associated with depression.
Failing to recognize the symptoms of depression can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, most people only realize the symptoms of depression and substance abuse after experiencing a major life change. It is therefore important to raise awareness of mental illness and its symptoms.
Feeling Unworthy Of Recovery
Unworthiness is one of the worst things that depression can bring. Self-loathing is common in depressed people due to low neurotransmitter levels and ruminating thought patterns. It is an unconscious behavior that affects a person’s self-esteem.
It becomes harder to stop substance abuse when a person has lost hope. Depressive thoughts can make a person less inclined to become addicted to certain substances. They try to treat it early and get over it as quickly as possible. Developing self-esteem during recovery from addiction is important.
When they hesitate to ask for help
Many people who are depressed fear to ask for help. They are overwhelmed by their low self-esteem, and lack of desire to do anything.
They use substances as a self-medication and become addicted over time.
It is difficult to recognize mood disorders, but it can be even more difficult for people who are depressed to describe the nature of their depression.
They don’t think a professional can help them
Many patients are unaware of the effectiveness of professional treatment for their symptoms. Most often, talk therapy and dream analysis are used to treat depression. Many people do not realize that holistic treatments are not just dream analysis and talk therapy.
Comprehensive treatments help patients develop healthy coping strategies to cope with stress. They are also taught new ways to prevent dangerous consequences such as addiction by managing their symptoms.
Final Thoughts
When depression and addiction are discussed, an age-old debate always arises: Which comes first? Is it addiction or depression?
According to the preliminary study on addiction, it is believed that it causes brain dysfunction and a failure to regulate. Depression can lead to addiction in many cases. Addiction can also cause depression in some people. Understanding the connection between these two diseases is essential to avoiding both.
