Month: November 2019

Behaviors necessitate therapy or counseling, especially those that ruin relationships.

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It is imperative that a treatment plan must start once depression has something to do with the person’s behaviors. Let’s learn more about depression and addiction.

Depression symptoms can differ from person to person. However, common symptoms may include : hopelessness feelings of guilt, lack of interest in activities, changes in appetite and sleep, lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, physical aches and pain, feeling agitated, less physical activity.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression associated with variations of light. People with this type of depression may experience anxiety, mood changes, overeating and sleep problems.

 

Addiction And Depression

Statistics reveal that 20% of Americans are suffering from several mental health conditions simultaneously. “Depression is exhausting to the person suffering from it. Just accomplishing the bare minimum can seem like too much work.” As Kurt Smith, Psy.D., LMFT, LPCC, AFC explains.

There are numerous valid treatment plans available and utilized to treat and overcome it.

There has been some debate about whether treating severe depression solves depression and addiction, or vice versa.

In this article, the author presents treatments available today. These modalities are grounded on theories that can assist in the recovery of a person with depressive states.

Methods and techniques in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders are used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. A synergistic effect of holistic control of the state has a favorable prognosis.

Depression treatment may take time while depression is treatable , treatments like medication and therapy may take time to work.

Addiction And Depression

Cognitive Therapy for Addiction and Depression

Hannah Goodman, LMHC explains that

“Cognitive behavioral therapy, often shortened to CBT, focuses on recognizing negative thought patterns, changing thoughts, behaviors, and feelings through concrete skills.”

Cognitive treatment will aid in changing negative emotions into neutral or positive thoughts. Beliefs associated are unrealistic standards and expectations for themselves or projected to the world, hopelessness, self-criticism, and pessimism. Cognitive therapy also helps in prioritizing essential issues.

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Counseling is linked to interpersonal relationships especially social interaction and family dynamics.

Depression therapy focuses on understanding people’s reactions to social situations and if the cause of mental illness points out interpersonal behaviors.

Addiction And Depression

The interpersonal theory identifies four underlying issues of co occurring depression and co occurring addiction in social cases. Read And Understand these issues.

• Role disputes. The discrepancy in expectations involving personal relationships can be one of the causes.
• Role transitions. It can surface during the depressing transition and role changes especially if the person is not responding well to the change.
• Interpersonal deficits. The Inability to maintain quality relationships and become depressed due to poor social support, poor relationships, etc.
• Unresolved grief. Delayed or inability to grieve for the bereaved, negative feelings will appear later.

According to Dr. Chantal Gagnon PhD LMHC

“Good psychotherapy is an amazing tool because a skilled therapist can help you discover and learn things that will help you lead a happier, healthier life.”

What Do Mental Health Professionals Say?

It is commonly used in the treatment of mental illnesses like depression and substance abuse. The addiction treatment and substance use disorder therapist aims to reach the core reason for substance abuse or drug abuse. All the aspects of an individual’s life are disclosed and discussed with a counselor when treating depression, drug or alcohol abuse disorder, and other mental disorders related to substance use disorder. Sharing your depression and substance abuse treatment story will forge your trust and comfort in dealing with and understanding depression with your substance use disorder therapists.

Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have found a strong correlation between severe alcohol abuse and depression. Treatment for co-occurring depression and substance abuse people with untreated mental health disorders often turn to substance abuse to self-medicate against negative symptoms. However, drugs and alcohol often worsen symptoms of depression and create additional health problems.

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Addiction And Depression Therapy

This technique emphasizes altering the individual’s common symptoms of depression. “In cognitive behavioral therapy, we pay attention to how thoughts and behaviors impact emotions. This means our emotions do not just appear in response to a situation. Rather, emotions are the result of how we think and how we act.” Sarah Rumpf, MA, LPCC said. The clinical depression theory focuses on the idea that a person has a depressed mood and is addicted due to his/her alcohol abuse, self-medication, emotional pain, etc. The mental health services administration therapist will aid the individual in making necessary changes in behavior; equipping both depression and addiction treatment with ways to control and change feelings of sadness.

This method works for some people, but it doesn’t fix the root cause. Examples of behavioral therapy are:

• Role-playing for developing depression-fighting skills.
• Reward system to encourage positive change in people suffering from suicidal intentions.
• Develop other activities to alter seasonal affective disorder
• Self-monitoring
• Outpatient or inpatient treatment

Depression And Addictions

Commitment to major depression and co-occurring substance use disorders recovery is still the key factor to reaching the recovery stage in mental health issues. Especially in persons with a dual diagnosis of depressive addiction, self-commitment to change and take steps to behavior modification allows for a faster and more comfortable recovery. If one causes the other, take time to examine your emotions thoroughly and consult a professional online therapy treatment provider or health care providers to help and guide you through addiction and depression, and substance abuse disorder.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the connection between addiction and depression?
2. Why are some people inclined to be depressed or addicted?
3. Do drugs and alcohol abuse usually lead to depressive behaviors?
4. What are some risk factors of drug addiction?
5. Is depression genetic?
6. How does substance abuse impact family dynamics?
7. What comes first depression or substance abuse?
8. What drugs can cause depression?
9. Do drugs help with depression?
10. What is the first stage of the addiction cycle?

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