Relation between Depression and Addiction

Recent studies suggest that depression and addiction recurrently go hand in hand. There is a strong correlation between depression and addiction problem. Some conventional psychiatric treatment procedures focus on treating depression of an addict's root cause contributing to the drug or alcohol abuse problem, while some others consider depression as a symptom typically revealed after a person gets addicted into substance abuse.

In most of the cases, addicts are in a worsening or poor state of health. When they experience their high, they are in a euphoric state of mind in which they simply become numb to any sort of pain sensations, both emotional and physical. Long-time drug and alcohol abusers also suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Addiction is a progressive complication. Due to prolonged addiction problem, addicts face variety of emotional, social and physiological problems such as job loss, broken relations, and discontinuation in studies, financial bankruptcy, legal problems and many others, which lead to experience recurrent episodes of depression. So in one way or other, depression and addiction is highly correlated with each other, especially considering the consequences of addiction.

Role of Depression in Relapse

Depression is a critical mental health condition that most frequently coexist with substance abuse disorders. Untreated depression can hinder the addiction recovery process and may lead to relapse. On the other hand, untreated addiction problem may also develop depression and consequently lead to relapse. Hence, this vicious cycle of depression and addiction needs to be understood thoroughly and it requires simultaneous treatment.

Typically, the ideal treatment for addiction must focus on the deepest root of addiction and its consequences incorporating a thorough understanding the relation between addiction, recovery, depression and relapse. The treatment must entail a clear understanding on the bio-psychosocial model of addiction and depression. The fundamental principle of treatment will only be established by treating depression coexisting with addiction. The recovery plans need to address the administration of signs and symptoms of both depression and addiction.

Few Essential Facts

In practice, chronic depression is an integral part of hard reality that addicts face especially during their recovery. They feel depressed seeing the destruction caused in their life by themselves only. Prolonged usages of drug alter the brain programming in such a maladaptive manner that they always search for escapement from hard reality. So, this depression may again lead them to use drugs all over. So some people describe depression and addiction as married couple who can not exist without each other.

Although addicts' brain are programmed for quick relief and instant gratification, but one should not use anti-depressants even when he feels depressed during recovery. Anti-depressants offer nothing more than a temporary solution. It is better to seek family support at the time of depression or ask for help from volunteers who are continuously contributing in the field of addiction.