Addiction, Depression, and Conquering Both

As many of you may already know, many co-occurring disorders can accompany addiction and substance use disorders (SUD). In some cases, struggles with addiction and SUD can lead to mental illnesses, and in others, mental illnesses can sometimes lead to addiction and SUD. Some mental disorders people experience include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and several mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. Interestingly, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by individuals who do and do not suffer from addiction and SUD. 

According to Let’s Get Healthy California, 11.7% of California adults were diagnosed with depressive disorder. That number increased to 17.8% in 2018. Many organizations are striving to lower that number by 2022, a goal that recovery centers should certainly work to get behind. Our staff of mental health professionals at the Lakehouse Recovery Center will help any clients coming through our doors with any depressive disorders they may be experiencing. While our main focus may be treating addiction, we know that in order to have a successful recovery, you must also take care of your mental health and overall well-being. 

Substance Use and Mood Disorders

Depression is just one of the many mood disorders that individuals often experience. According to Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, depression and bipolar disorders “are the most common psychiatric comorbidities among patients with substance use disorders.” Additionally, their article on mood disorders and substance use disorder claims that treating a co-occurring disorder has the potential to reduce substance use cravings. Those treatment methods can vary from psychotherapy to medication, even in terms of patients in addiction recovery. 

Not all rehabilitation centers and treatment facilities will have integrated a depression treatment program into their addiction and substance use disorder treatment programs. With co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis being more and more common, these facilities are emphasizing the importance of these integrated programs within their curriculums. At the Lakehouse Recovery Center, individualized treatment is tailored to each client, with a treatment plan that will be able to account for a client’s struggles. Some things you might expect from our curriculum include yoga, meditation, the importance of nutrition, and relapse prevention education. However, our staff has the professional capability to treat many other struggles that come through our door. 

Treating Depression for Those in Recovery 

It can be important to wait to treat depression with medication until after detoxification. The reason for this delay is to avoid “exposing the patient to the expense and risk of medications when his or her symptoms may resolve of themselves in days or weeks,” and “removes the possibility of confounding symptoms of withdrawal with side effects of the antidepressant medication.” When the depression is severe enough, there can be justification for medication treatment. Medications commonly used to treat depression for those in recovery may include: 

• Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Other medications such as Venlafaxine (Effexor) and Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

Before any treatment, be sure to consult a medical professional, whether your primary doctor or a mental health professional you are already seeing. There are also several ways to treat depression aside from common methods like medication or psychotherapy. Practicing mindfulness, journaling, physical activity, group therapy, and artistic expression are just a few ways people may attempt to cope with depression while in recovery. 

Depression in California 

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) offers a number of mental health programs for all groups of people ranging from youths to elderly adults. To view a list of the resources of the DHCS, visit the link provided. There are many programs for individuals who are suffering from addiction and depression. Located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the Lakehouse Recovery Center sits in Ventura County, helping to provide treatment for many individuals throughout these regions. If you or someone you love is looking for help, feel free to not only reach out to us but any number of treatment centers throughout these and your local areas. 

Referenced in a past article on co-occurring disorders in LA County, the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (LAC-DMH) is another organization striving to provide treatment to individuals throughout Los Angeles. If the Lakehouse or other resources are geographically out of reach for you, visit one of our websites to learn about our virtual rehab outpatient program. There is truly no day like today to begin the path to your recovery.

While it is common for individuals suffering from addiction and substance use disorder to also struggle with many other co-occurring disorders, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by hundreds of Americans every year. Whether someone is struggling with addiction or not, depression has been known to wreak havoc on the lives of many. Different treatment paths can be taken when coping with depression. Some of these methods may include medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes such as practicing mindfulness, getting regular physical activity, and even attending group therapy. While the numbers of those suffering from depression have continued to rise over the years, there are organizations motivated to stop that rise in the future. We encourage you to reach out if you or someone you love is struggling to find help and resources for untreated addiction and depression. Please call us today at (877) 762-3707, or visit our website today.