Are you battling a substance use disorder? Do you feel as though you have developed depression from using drugs or alcohol? If so, you may not be alone. Many people wonder about the connection between substance use and depression. At Crestview Recovery, we provide comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment to our clients. This also includes providing mental illness support for those who need dual diagnosis treatment. At Crestview, we are focused on providing our patients with holistic drug rehab therapy when they seek treatment for substance use. This also means treating any mental health issues that you have developed so you can start living a healthier life.
Addiction and Depression
Substance use occurs when a person consumes illicit or prescription drugs on a consistent basis or in a significant amount at a time. The brain’s chemistry changes when this happens. Often, drugs change the way the brain’s neurotransmitters communicate. When this happens, your brain does not function the way it is supposed to, but it becomes dependent on the drugs for continued stimulation. How does mental health fit into the picture?
Some drugs are depressants. If you are abusing drugs such as Xanax, Librium, Nembutal, or benzos, you may be at a higher risk for developing depression. Alcohol is also a depressant. When you drink it, it helps to calm the emotions and can hinder rational thought processes. One way substance use causes depression is because of these changes.
Connection to Mental Illness
How does substance use cause depression when you are not using depressant drugs, then? Many men and women are predisposed genetically to mental illness. Your parents, grandparents, or other relatives may have had mental illness in the past. You may not have had any signs of it prior to your substance use, though. You may have been a healthy and even a very positive person.
When you begin to take drugs or alcohol, and you have this type of predisposition, substance use can trigger a chemical imbalance to occur. That means depression can develop as a result of your substance use. You may not see all of the same signs as someone without addiction. Yet, in all cases, you need help and often need depression treatment and anxiety treatment from a center like Crestview Recovery. We provide you with many different options for therapy, such as individual therapy for drug and alcohol addiction, group therapy, and even a family therapy program.
Why You Need Treatment
At Crestview Recovery, we offer a dual diagnosis treatment plan. This plan helps you address both your substance use disorder and your mental illness. For our depression treatment plan, we will work on rebalancing your brain’s chemistry to trigger better control over your mental health. At the same time, we will also work on helping to reduce your dependence on drugs and alcohol.
Our team offers a range of treatment plans to help you with this process, including:
- Partial hospitalization treatment (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Traditional outpatient treatment
- Mental health therapist in Portland OR
- Rehab aftercare support
With a personalized treatment plan to address each one of your needs, you can move forward in recovery and find yourself living not just a sober life, but one of mental health wellbeing.
Contact Crestview Recovery
When you are wondering if substance use causes depression, it may be because you already recognize that a problem is present. That means it is time to reach out for help so you can start living without the symptoms of both substance use and depression. Our team at Crestview Recovery has the resources and solutions to help you on your path towards recovery. To find out how to get started, call 866.262.0531 today.
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.
