kathy ireland® Recovery Centers

Depression

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “8.1% of American adults aged 20 and over had depression in a given 2-week period.” In addition, they reported that “80% of adults with depression reported at least some difficulty with work, home, and social activities because of their depression.” Substance use disorder can worsen the symptoms of depression and cause them to become debilitating if left untreated. At kathy ireland® Recovery Centers, we treat substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring disorders simultaneously using holistic methods that ensure your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

What Is Depression?

Clinical depression, also called major depression, is a mood disorder characterized by loss of interest and persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Quality of life often suffers for individuals living with depressive symptoms due to chronic mental and physical exhaustion. Seeking treatment for substance use disorder can be difficult for someone struggling with depression, increasing the risk of relapse and overdose. To keep you safe and healthy, we provide psychotherapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as needed to make the recovery process more manageable.

Depression and Substance Use Disorder

The link between depression and substance use disorder is complicated, and both conditions will affect you in different ways, even if they share overlapping symptoms. It is not unusual for depression to accompany other mental health issues like anxiety or trauma-related disorders, which can co-occur with SUD. 

For some, depression leads to self-medicating to cope with the symptoms, while others feel depressed as a side effect of abusing substances. Sometimes the two manifest independently. No matter what the root cause of your condition, it helps to get treatment for SUD and mental health disorders at the same time. 

Depression can make it more difficult to find motivation and build self-confidence during recovery. Using therapy and alternative treatments, our compassionate clinicians can guide you through overcoming challenges related to depression by teaching coping skills and providing medication management when needed. Your mental and emotional well-being will impact your long-term recovery, which is why we prioritize individualized and holistic care.

Depression
Admissions

How to Recognize Depression

Everyone reacts to depression differently, and the symptoms and side effects exist along a spectrum. If you believe that yourself or a loved one may be suffering from depression, you can look for the following signs:

  • Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Decrease in productivity at work or school
  • Neglecting personal care, including hygiene
  • Self-harming or risk-taking behaviors
  • Changes to sleep and eating patterns
  • Mood swings

Depression and substance use disorder share multiple risk factors and symptoms, which means that depression can sometimes remain undiagnosed before you enter a rehabilitation program. During your prescreen and comprehensive assessment, our intake specialist will determine if you meet any of the criteria for depression or other mental health disorders to ensure you receive the treatment you need to fully heal and recover. To learn more about the process, read our Admissions page.

Different Disorders Featuring Depression

Science and Practice Perspectives published research reporting that “mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorders, are the most common psychiatric comorbidities among patients with substance use disorders.” 

Other mental health conditions feature depressive symptoms that may worsen due to the effects of SUD. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cocaine use disorder (CUD) often include depressive symptoms or comorbid disorders. Below are some of the most common types:

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • Psychotic Depression
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Major Depression
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Depression and Withdrawal

Any untreated or lingering depressive symptoms of mental health disorders can affect recovery. Often they worsen during and directly after detox and withdrawal, which can leave you feeling emotionally destabilized. We use trauma-informed care and a holistic approach to treatment at our facilities to ensure that we respect your recovery goals and meet your needs.

Our residential treatment and detox stabilization programs like those offered at our Williamson, WV facility prepare you to transition safely and comfortably to outpatient care.

Coping With Chronic Depression During Recovery

According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, “depressed mood is a frequently cited precipitant of relapse among individuals with substance use disorders.” Often depression and substance use disorder “are independent co-occurring disorders,” which means they must be treated separately during rehabilitation and continuing care.

At our kathy ireland® Recovery Centers facilities, we offer a wide range of medication-assisted and psychotherapy treatments that provide relief from symptoms related to depression to prepare you for continuing recovery. Several essential services we offer include case management and aftercare.

Depression during recovery

Depression can increase the risk of relapse if it remains untreated.

The staff at kathy ireland® Recovery Centers can successfully treat the dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and depression. Learn more by calling us today: (603) 619-1132.

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