Depression is one of the most life-altering mental health challenges of the modern age. The World Health Organization estimates that depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. If feelings of desolation are holding you back from living the life you want, you are not alone in this struggle. Our flexible treatment options at Viewpoint allow us to really accommodate people as individuals. If you have a family member struggling with depression, our resources at Viewpoint allow us to provide exceptional rehabilitative care. Contact Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center to learn about treatment options by calling 855.746.3633.
Breaking Free
Many people suffering from depression try to “tough it out.” This may cause them to downplay their symptoms because they can’t determine a reason for feeling the way they feel. After a period of persistent depression, an individual may turn to drugs or alcohol for relief. This self-medicating habit might work temporarily to alleviate the symptoms of depression. However, it can lead to a vicious cycle of depression and substance abuse that calls for the help of a mental health professional.
At Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center, our treatment center specializes in treating depression by itself and alongside co-occurring disorders and substance abuse. No matter how deep you feel your addictive habits may run, our compassionate therapists and medical practitioners can empower you to break this seemingly impossible cycle. It’s never too late to get help. While it may be tempting to try to diagnose these problems yourself, the safest option is to seek treatment from a certified mental health professional. At Viewpoint Dual Recovery, our staff is committed to helping people struggling with depression and other mental health struggles.
Understanding the Symptoms of Depression
In order to prevent yourself or a loved one from developing a depression-related addiction, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of this chronic illness. If you catch it early, you can get treatment at a depression treatment program before the depression gets worse and potentially leads to a secondary disorder.
Perhaps the most challenging symptom of depression involves persistent feelings of despair. Feeling this way makes it difficult to find the motivation to get out of bed each morning. While everyone has days like this now and again, legitimate mood disorders are not typically the result of a specific event. Even a tragedy or a life-altering event such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a job are not usually the cause of chronic depression. While these events may cause temporary depression, people with lasting, chronic depression might feel hopeless and down every day for weeks, months, or even years. There may not even be an obvious reason for feeling this way, leading to confusion and isolation.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition explains that depression cannot be diagnosed until five or more of the following symptoms have appeared every day. They need to be present for at least two weeks independently of a pre-existing medical condition or substance abuse problem:
- Changes in weight
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of pleasure in hobbies
- Social isolation
- Hopelessness and mood swings
- General sadness and anxiety
- Body aches and pains
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- Irritability
- Suicidal thoughts
The Connection of Depression and Substance Abuse
These debilitating symptoms are highly conducive to addictive habits. American Addiction Center reports that an alarming 33% (or 1 in 3) of people with depression develop a substance abuse disorder. [Ma2] For some, it might seem logical to use drugs or alcohol to temporarily cover up suicidal thoughts and hopelessness. However, over time, this sequence of events becomes destructive to a person’s well-being. As they begin to develop a dependence on drugs or alcohol, this makes their depression symptoms worse than it was before their substance dependence. If your addiction and depression are getting out of hand, getting dual diagnosis treatment can give you back control.
Recognizing Addiction in Yourself and Others
Maybe you’ve already reached the point of using addictive substances to mask your depressive symptoms. Perhaps you’re not sure if it has become a full-fledged addiction yet or not. It might be hard to distinguish the symptoms of addiction from those of depression; they are often similar. Some of the most common distinguishing signs of a substance abuse problem include:
- Hiding your addiction from friends and family
- Worrying that your loved ones won’t accept you anymore
- Displaying uncharacteristic or risky behavior while under the influence
- Underperforming at work or school or not showing up at all
- Experiencing the symptoms of withdrawal when attempting to quit
If any of these describe your situation, you should contact our mental health treatment center as soon as possible.
Simultaneous Treatment for Depression and Addiction
A dual diagnosis like depression and substance abuse requires a specialized approach. Rehabilitation centers that only treat the addiction without addressing the mental health component fail to treat the problem.
A dual diagnosis recovery center like Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center is trained to handle these multi-faceted disorders in their entirety. We have psychiatric training to oversee a fully integrated and customized treatment plan. Additionally, at our depression treatment center, we offer a robust continuing alumni program. This helps keep people connected and protects the progress that has been achieved in primary treatment. These programs aim to achieve the goals outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
- Help patients better understand their depression
- Teach and empower patients to make the changes necessary for healing
- Equip patients with the coping skills needed to change thoughts and behaviors
- Help patients pinpoint their triggers and handle them in a healthy way
A Holistic Approach to Treating Depression and Substance Abuse
In order to best achieve these goals and promote lifelong healing, our depression treatment program in Arizona takes a holistic approach to depression and addiction treatment. We use traditional methods of therapy and medicine alongside holistic practices. This approach ensures that all facets of both disorders are addressed through one all-inclusive form of therapy.
Holistic healing involves spiritual, emotional, environmental, and physical healing. In holistic healing, the entire human is treated in our non-invasive, progress-centered community. This method requires clients to be proactive and make changes to their lifestyle, which reduces their chances of relapse in the future. Instead of relying primarily on prescription drugs as a temporary fix for the side effects of depression and withdrawal, our holistic treatment balances the mind, body, and soul. We also work to modify behaviors through individual and group therapy.
This is not to say that we don’t embrace the benefits of medication; we believe that medication is a critical component of dual diagnosis treatment. As a result, many of our clients have benefited from antidepressants and other non-addictive prescription drugs.
Depression Doesn’t Need to Control Your Life
If you’ve been needlessly suffering from the effects of a dual diagnosis, it’s not too late to break the cycle. Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center is here to help you. In our depression treatment program, you can work through your conditions in a safe and supportive environment. Call us at 855.746.3633 to learn more about our treatment options and find out how you can get your life back on track.