There’s a huge stigma surrounding addiction. This is because many people think it’s a choice. With that said, there are genetic components that make certain people more likely to develop the disease. While substance abuse is a choice, underlying mental illnesses often motivate use. For example, when you’re struggling with depression, you’ll take desperate measures to stop feeling sad. Therefore, learning how to deal with depression is crucial to a successful recovery.
Not Knowing How to Deal with Depression Leads to Addiction
Untreated mental illnesses are one of the leading causes of addiction. Unfortunately, many people aren’t even aware they have them. Depression develops slowly, and depending on severity, can be completely debilitating. For example, some people experience days, weeks, or months of depression, whereas others struggle with it every day. Without proper coping tools, a lot of people turn to drugs or alcohol.
The most common symptoms of depression include:
- Lack of motivation
- Excessive weight loss or weight gain
- Feelings of emotional numbness
- Consistent negative thoughts
People with depression experience a multitude of these symptoms. When you have depression, there’s an imbalance of specific neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin. When people use alcohol or drugs, they receive an excess flow of dopamine. This is what the euphoric “high” is. Eventually, drug and alcohol use becomes the primary source of depression.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
If you’re struggling with addiction and depression simultaneously, undergoing progressive treatment is important. Addiction is a powerful disease, and depression requires separate treatment. When only treating one co-occurring disorder, the chances of relapse are much higher. For example, staying sober is extremely difficult if you still have depression.
With dual diagnosis treatment, you’ll receive the necessary tools for staying sober and overcoming depression. Additionally, with progressive methods, you’ll begin to see small changes. Eventually, your whole perspective changes and you’ll begin experiencing happy, healthy sobriety.
How Hawaii Island Recovery Can Help
Hawaii Island Recovery in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii teaches you how to overcome addiction and cope with depression simultaneously. Our recovery program makes it possible to begin living the sober life you deserve. Overall, 75 percent of our clients stay sober their first year. By using diverse programs to help people recover, we’re able to treat a multitude of addictions. These comprehensive programs include:
Conquer your addiction with our help. Don’t let depression continue the cycle of substance abuse. Find out more about how you can start living again by calling us at 866-390-5070.
