For those self-medicating with drug and alcohol use, dual diagnosis rehab may help you overcome both depression and addiction. Our team at Casco Bay Recovery is ready to help you heal.
In our Portland, Maine depression treatment center, we’ll help you or your loved one heal. With healthy coping skills and strategies, you’ll be able to break free from the cycle of substance abuse. Depression and addiction can end up leading to negative consequences, in all aspects of your or a loved one’s life.
What is Depression?
While it is normal for people to have highs and lows in their life, clinical depression is defined by weeks, months, and sometimes, years of depression. This level of depression can impact a person’s personal and professional life.
Depression affects millions of people every year. Depression can be seen as an uphill battle, every day. This can heavily impact a person’s mood and tasks throughout the day. It is these symptoms that last for a large period of time.
What tends to happen is some people turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their depression. However, this just ends up making the situation worse in the long run. A person can end up developing an addiction. In turn, the connection between addiction and depression becomes a dangerous and toxic one.
Feeling sad is a common and natural emotion when something disappointing happens. However, depression is more than being sad. You may feel withdrawn from life, unable to find happiness, and even lacking in your ability to enjoy anything.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Some of the most common signs that you may need professional treatment for addiction include:
- Isolating yourself and no longer engaging with family and friends like you used to
- Using drugs or alcohol to just get through the day
- Feeling depressed without understanding why
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness even when not appropriate for what you’re facing
- Not finding pleasure in anything
- Withdrawing from responsibilities at home, work, or school
When this occurs, it’s not just about being sad. You may have a chemical or hormonal imbalance or a mental health disorder that needs treatment. Treat this just as you would any other physical illness. That means getting into treatment.
What Causes Depression?
- Abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional)
- Death or grief
- Genetics, some are more vulnerable to depression due to genetics
- Serious illness
- Age and complications such as
- Gender
- Specific medications
- Substance abuse and addiction
These are just some of the reasons why a person may develop depression. There are several factors that can affect the symptoms of addiction and make it worse. During treatment, some of these external factors are taken into account to better help the person cope.
Oftentimes, turning to drugs, alcohol, or other negative habits, ends up making the situation much worse. At Casco Bay Recovery, we’re committed to making sure all our clients are treated as individuals and with care.
Types of Depression
Some of the main types of depression include:
- Major depression – This can include extreme sadness, lack of energy, irritability, and other symptoms for more than 2 weeks
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – This form of depression is associated with patterns of light
- Atypical depression -While certain symptoms of depression may be alleviated with positive news, those who suffer from this type of depression tend to hit very low points when they are feeling the symptoms of depression
- Dysthymia – A continuous gloomy mood for more than 1 or 2 years
Addiction and Depression as Co-occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders or dual diagnoses are defined as cases where a person is dealing with both drug addiction and a mental illness. Depression and addiction together are considered co-occurring disorders.
Depression can have crippling effects on certain people, so much so that they may turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Unfortunately, this ends up creating a co-occurring disorder that can be dangerous and problematic in the long run. Symptoms of co-occurring disorders may include:
- Appetite changes
- Isolation from friends and family
- Inability to concentrate
- Insomnia or other sleep pattern changes
- Feelings of despair and hopelessness (for long periods of time)
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Constantly using drugs or alcohol when stressed/depressed
Co-occurring disorders and addiction, in general, may look different from case to case but these are just some of the most common signs when it comes to addiction and mental health. Co-occurring disorders require multifaceted support from a professional staff, like ours at Casco Bay Recovery.
Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders
Treating co-occurring disorders requires multi-layered support and high-quality treatment. Depression treatment centers and addiction rehabs use a mix of therapy and other treatment to aid in co-occurring disorders.
What tends to happen is both depression and addiction are treated at the same time but separately. This is to ensure that a person is getting treated for both conditions.
Therapy is used throughout treatment to figure out coping strategies, techniques, and other tools to help avoid relapse and overcome depressive symptoms. Addiction and mental health treatment are more than just tackling the physical symptoms.
Both conditions are treated separately, to figure out the origin of why a person may have begun drinking/using drugs and how to cope with these struggles without turning to substance abuse.
The Risks of Addiction and How a Depression Treatment Program Helps
Some people develop depression after using drugs and alcohol. Others use substances to try to control their negative thoughts and feelings. The use of stimulants, for example, may give you a boost of energy to get through the day.
In the short-term, you may see some benefits, but over the long term, that’s simply not likely to continue. You may develop addiction and dependence as well. This can lead to complications in relationships, health, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. The sooner you take action to fix this, the better.
Depression rehab centers can provide a safe haven to get help and treatment for you and your loved ones. As mentioned, co-occurring disorders, like depression and addiction, require a high level of treatment and guidance.
At Casco Bay Recovery, we want to help you get to a better place, free of addiction and hurt. Our addiction and depression rehab center provide you with all the necessary tools to succeed and overcome your addiction.
How Can a Depression Treatment Center in Portland, Maine Help You Today?
If you’re looking for a depression treatment program that includes addiction treatment, make a call to Casco Bay Recovery. Our team will work closely with you to develop an individualized treatment plan to address what’s happening to you. This may include a dual diagnosis treatment plan if you are using substances to cope with your depression.
Our outpatient treatment programs are designed to provide numerous types of therapy to help encourage healing. We may encourage you to embrace medications that can help to minimize the symptoms you feel.
This can help to create a stronger path forward for you. In all cases, you’ll have access to compassionate counselors who can provide you with one-on-one counseling and support for what you’re facing. You just need to reach out to us for help. Some of the therapies we offer include:
- Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- 12-step meetings
- Holistic therapy programs
- Experiential therapy programs
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Other drug addiction resources
You Can Find Compassionate Care at Casco Bay Recovery
Many people don’t recognize the need for depression help until the situation is difficult and feels impossible to overcome. Yet, at our depression treatment center, we want you to come in as soon as you think you may be suffering from depression.
This is especially important if you are using alcohol or drugs to self-medicate. Our team at Casco Bay Recovery is trusted, experienced, and ready to support you. Don’t wait, connect with us now online or give us a call today!