Depression is a mental health concern that can spread without warning and cause real suffering in a person’s life. Overcoming these issues takes a lot of personal concentration. To do this, you must understand the signs of depression. The following guide will help you understand whether you are suffering from depression, whether this disease has affected your potential addiction, and how to cope with and treat this disease with rehab to become happy and healthy. Read on to learn more about the most common signs of depression and what you can do through depression treatment if you are suffering from this illness.
Common Signs of Depression
People often misunderstand depression and think that it is a temporary problem. Others may feel that they can “snap out” of this state of mind. Sadly, this misconception causes many people great pain by making it very hard for them to recover. A few signs of depression to be aware of include the following:
- Sadness that doesn’t get alleviated by happiness
- Irritability that comes and goes
- Extreme pessimism that can become hopelessness
- Thoughts of intense guilt and worthlessness
- Lower levels of energy and decreased talking speeds
- Difficulty remembering most things
- Problems with sleep, such as oversleeping
- Physical pains that have no apparent cause
These common signs of depression are all complicated to live through and may trigger a myriad of other symptoms. For example, a growing number of people with depression seek out drugs in order to help them cope. Substances like meth may temporarily improve a person’s mood, while alcohol makes it hard for them to remember their depression. Sadly, these issues often get worse if they go untreated. You will need specialized help to manage these issues. If you are struggling with depression, it is important to get help from the right channels, such as a rehab center or therapy. Our professionals at Crestview Recovery can help you learn more about healthy ways to cope with this illness without using drugs or alcohol.
Treating Depression
Now that you understand the signs of depression, it is crucial to understand your possible treatments. This step is vital because it can help you better understand the coping mechanisms needed to manage your depression. Just as importantly, it can help you walk away from addiction by breaking the hold of these co-occurring disorders. These treatments include:
Medications
Medications may be a good approach to help people with chemical imbalances.
Behavior Adjustments
Behavior adjustments help us manage depressive and addictive behaviors.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment treats both addiction and depression at the same time.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy helps people manage the symptoms of depression and develop new thinking patterns.
Brain Stimulation Therapy
Brain stimulation therapy may help to improve cognitive responses.
Managing Depression
It is essential to understand that depression is not something that you should attempt to treat or handle on your own. That is how so many people end up addicted to alcohol and other substances. Therefore, self-medication is not a good step. Instead, you need to talk with a high-quality rehab facility that you can trust to manage this problem properly for you and your overall health.
Building Healthy Relationships
When you start to recover from addiction, you may discover that some of your past relationships were toxic and unhealthy. Examine each relationship in your life; sometimes it’s not just connections with drug dealers or drinking buddies that get you into trouble. Those who are very close to you can contribute to an unintended relapse. For example, you may have a co-dependent relationship with a family member or an employer that has been enabling you. If you maintain these relationships, your chances of relapsing become higher. It’s essential to develop healthy relationships and maintain a supportive network of family and friends. If you’re finding it difficult to make new and sober friends, try going to support group meetings.
Developing Schedule With Structure
It’s essential to have a structured daily and weekly schedule. That’s why most detox and addiction treatment programs have them. Having a disorganized lifestyle can hinder your recovery. A structured daily schedule will help you achieve your goals in life, whether it’s lifelong sobriety or other positive objectives like changing careers or going back to school. While staying sober and continuing to heal should be your top priorities, developing and chasing other goals can also help keep you on track.
Crestview Recovery Is a Place of Healing and Renewal
If you have noticed the signs of depression in your life and feel that they are impacting your drug use, please call 866.262.0531 today. At Crestview Recovery, we have years of experience with outpatient care, partial hospitalization, dual diagnosis therapy, trauma treatment, and individual psychotherapy. Our experts can help you get started on the path to recovery. Verify your insurance to get started.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
