We specialize in treatment for the chronic relapser and believe that with the right tools, you can put an end to the cycle of addiction. For more information on how we can help, call us now at The question of which comes first — depression or addiction — therefore is of less importance than one may believe.
Read on to learn how to combat depression in early addiction recovery. Addiction is often referred to as a chronic, progressive disease of the brain, and for good reason. By consuming mind-altering substances — whether they are stimulants or depressants — your body receives false messages and the reward system is completely rewired. Equilibrium is disrupted, and the mind becomes used to an incredibly skewed number of feel-good neurotransmitters.
The longer you misused drugs or alcohol, the more significant the change to your brain. As your body adjusts to a sober life without substance use, there will be a marked period of recalibration. During this time, your brain is attempting to compensate for the new, more realistic amounts of dopamine and other neurotransmitters required for functioning.
This may result in feelings of depression or emptiness as you go through treatment and the weeks following it, but it does not mean that you are failing. Eudaimonia even offers pet-friendly sober living for residents with animals. Maintaining your involvement in community step support groups will give you an outlet to discuss recovery-related issues, including depression. The American Music Therapy Association lists many benefits of music for those suffering from depression.
According to the association, music can reduce muscle tension, increase self-esteem, decrease anxiety, enhance relationships, increase motivation, and provide a safe emotional release. Meditation and yoga provide many benefits for a life in addiction recover y. Not only that, but they also raise GABA levels in the body, reducing the activity of nerve cells in the nerve system.
As a result, meditation or yoga reduces feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, leaving you feeling more calm and relaxed. Doing something new and different can get you out of that mental rut that leaves you feeling hopeless and depressed. Not only that, but having a new experience alters the levels of dopamine in the brain, which is a chemical that is associated with feelings of pleasure, enjoyment, and happiness. Establish and maintain a daily routine.
Set daily goals. But in many cases, a clinical case of depression is in play. Depending on how long the substance use disorder existed, and how heavy the consumption of the substance, it can take time for the brain to stabilize and begin to normalize.
The brain had ceded the role of dopamine production to the drug or alcohol, which provided the synthetic rush of this neurotransmitter. During this period of transition, it is very common to feel a lack of joy or happiness. Depression can also set in as a result of persistent PAWS symptoms. This can be disheartening, as the individual hopes to feel good again in recovery but it seems to elude them. When depression persists in recovery it can set off a cascade of triggers that can make the individual vulnerable to relapsing.
They may grow weary of feeling so down and begin to yearn for the substance that formerly took those negative emotions away. Recovery from depression after addiction rehab is essential, as depression can undo all the hard work of getting sober in the first place.
Someone in early recovery is emotionally vulnerable. They are often struggling to make significant changes in their lives. This can mean moving into sober living housing, leaving old friendships behind, rebuilding a career after job loss due to addiction, and dealing with legal problems caused by the addiction. Early recovery is very difficult for many, and often involves feelings of loneliness.
When depression sets in it can become a serious risk during early recovery, many times leading to relapse that might result in an overdose or overdose death, or possibly result in a suicide. The combination of depression and the challenges faced in early recovery can be lethal.
It is important to also mention the risk of suicide that can be actually caused by antidepressants, which is still the conventional treatment for depression. The risk of suicidal thoughts and actions is particularly elevated in younger patients, those between the ages of In fact, the antidepressants now carry a black box warning for alerting parents and young people to this potential risk. Most people are aware that antidepressant drug therapy, prescribed in tandem with psychotherapy, is the industry standard for treatment of depression.
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