Do Rehab Centers Treat Both Depression And Addiction?

Last Updated on January 18, 2018

Since you have acknowledged the struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, you have noticed that there is more to the problem than meets the eye. Dependency on drugs can often be associated with a greater mental and emotional struggle. Some people who face the challenges of addiction find themselves feeling lost, hopeless, sad, angry, or confused. This presence of negative emotion can go hand-in-hand with depression. A depressed person seeking rehabilitation for addiction might wonder if there are rehab facilities that treat both addiction and depression.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mentally and emotionally debilitating illness that causes a person to feel down for an extended period of time. Symptoms of depression can include:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Emotional Outbursts
• Hopelessness
• Withdrawal from social situations
• Suicidal thoughts or tendencies

The Depression-Addiction Equation

Many people assume that a person is:

• Depressed, therefore becomes an addict
• An addict, then becomes depressed

The truth is that addiction is often paired with depression that ranges from mild to severe. Sometimes a person is instigated by an emotionally traumatic or uncomfortable event that causes them to fall into an unshakable sadness. In order to cope with the depression, a person might try a drug or revert back to addictive habits in order to cope with a situation. Other times a person is already addicted to a drug, which makes them feel depressed. Both of these scenarios can cause a destructive cycle to begin, leaving a person dependent on alcohol or another drug, and feeling utterly hopeless because of it.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Once a person enters rehab and this cycle is identified by experts, the individual’s treatment might be labeled as what is called dual-diagnosis. The treatment plan for an individual with a dual-diagnosis tends to be more complex. Facilities that offer psychiatric care in addition to rehab options are essential. Although a rehab might not treat depression with traditional medication(s), a professional should be available for proper diagnosis and to convey multiple treatment choices that fit a patient’s needs.

How Is Depression Treated?

There are a variety of different options for the treatment of depression, which depend on the extent of depression and the needs of the individual. Options may include:

• Medication
• Individual Therapy
• Group or Family Therapy
• Counseling
• Peer Support

Other therapeutic treatment options involve a range of activities such as exercise, equine (or other animals) therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc. Since every person is different, custom treatment options are available to meet the needs of each patient.

Depression And Addiction: A Real Struggle

Sometimes people who have never struggled with an addiction disregard habits as unreasonable or irrational. Individuals who find themselves trapped in feeling a need for a drug or alcohol are often made to feel as if they are looked down upon. This negativity can inspire a sense of loneliness or shame that is completely undeserved. Unfortunately, imposing thoughts that categorize oneself as a “loser” or as helpless can get in the way of seeking treatment. However, it is important to understand that you are not alone. Breaking through these unfair labels that society has placed on persons dealing with addiction can help you or a friend begin to feel worthy and empowered enough to seek treatment. The truth is that you deserve to get better and to be healthy. You deserve to break free from the downward spiral of depression and addiction.

Rehab Can Help

Imagine getting clean and achieving you dreams. There is a place of stability that can be reached when motivation is paired with the right treatment option. It is easy for a person struggling with both depression and addiction to feel as if he or she is in the recovery process alone, but that is not the case. There are professionals available who can help remove unnecessary doubts by implementing rehabilitation and recovery plans that are tailored to individual needs.

Help Now

When exploring addiction treatment options, a person might feel overwhelmed. After all, there are so many factors to consider—especially when facing mental illness and addiction. This is why it is important to take the first step and contact an expert immediately. Talking to someone now can help you get the treatment that you need. Do not wait any longer to break through the cycle of depression and addiction; contact RehabCenter.net today.