Addiction treatment facilities are equipped with the resources to help clients dealing with depression. Many individuals with depression try to self-medicate their symptoms with alcohol or drug use. In the medical community, clients experiencing both a mental health disorder and substance use disorder are classified as having a dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder.
Depression is quite common among individuals dealing with substance use disorders. Substance use can intensify or trigger feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and loneliness that are associated with depression. Thankfully, treatment facilities that specialize in co-occurring disorders are properly equipped with staff that knows how to effectively treat depression.
Can Addiction Treatment Help with Depression?
Clients that are clinically diagnosed with depression can find the treatment they need in an addiction treatment facility. With clinical depression, emotional lows rarely go away easily. When working to recover from substance abuse and depression, individuals need to find a treatment program specifically designed to treat the complexity of a dual diagnosis.
While typical treatment programs do offer sufficient assistance for clients facing substance use disorders, anyone in need of treatment for depression should be sure to find a treatment facility that focuses on treating both depression and substance use disorders. These types of programs are those that have the proper medical and psychological professionals on staff to assist with detox, counseling, and proper aftercare planning.
Treating a Dual Diagnosis
When seeking treatment for a dual diagnosis, be sure to do your research on the facility to ensure they have the proper facilities and resources to help you overcome addiction and depression. These types of facilities are appropriately accredited and licensed, and utilize treatment methods guaranteed to promote recovery and treat depression.
There are various approaches that treatment programs can take to treat co-occurring disorders. However, most dual diagnosis programs take the following approaches:
- Treatment programs should address your mental health and substance abuse problems.
- Clients are able to participate in goal-setting and decision-making processes during the recovery process.
- Clients receive basic education about mental health disorders and substance abuse.
- Treatment programs include teaching clients proper coping mechanisms to help minimize substance abuse, cope with anxiety and stress, strengthen relationships, and acclimate to life outside of treatment.
Understanding Various Types of Depression
When considering your options to treat depression, it’s important to identify the various types of depression to better understand the support you need from a treatment program.
Consider the following types of depression:
- Major Depression Major depression is one of the more common forms of depression. This type of depression affects 7% of Americans on a daily basis. Symptoms for major depression include a lack of energy, extreme sadness, changes in sleeping habits, irritability, and more. Without treatment, major depression will often recur in someone’s life.
- Dysthymia As a milder type of depression, dysthymia is characterized by a “gloomy mood” that tends to last for one or more years. Substance abuse often masks these emotions, but it will drastically disrupt one’s personal relationships, daily activities, and work to the point that they can’t function properly. Dysthymia is considered a chronic condition that eventually leads to major depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a certain kind of depression that is associated with the change in seasons. People with this kind of depression often experience overeating, sleep problems, mood changes, and anxiety. To be diagnosed with SAD, an individual must exhibit these depressive symptoms for three consecutive winters.
- Atypical Depression Atypical depression has many symptoms that are similar to major depression. However, an individual with atypical depression will often feel better after a positive event or good news. The “low” periods of atypical depression are often characterized by suicidal thoughts. When paired with addictive substances, atypical depression, like other forms of depression, can be incredibly dangerous.
The best treatment facility for you should address both your depression and substance use disorder when designing a treatment program for you. If you have questions regarding treating depression at a treatment facility, please call us at 800-411-8019. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to take your call.