Depressed? It Could Be The Alcohol (Or The Drugs)

There are many reasons why depression and substance use disorder might occur together. And, when they do, the effects can be even more serious, as each disorder can make the other one worse and harder to recover from. 

But resources are available to help you break this cycle, stop the self-medication, and live a life full of hope and joy. 

Anhedonia: The Emptiness Of Addiction

When you drink alcohol heavily or abuse prescription medications or illicit drugs, the effects of that substance will push your brain into an unnatural state: a high. 

Different substances do this in different ways, as central nervous system depressants (like alcohol and benzodiazepines) calm activity in the brain and body, while stimulants (like amphetamines and cocaine) accelerate it. But, in every case, the release of dopamine that these drugs trigger will, quite literally, train your brain to crave those substances more and more in the future. As one writer put it, your “response to a drug [will change] from simply ‘liking’ it to ‘wanting’ it to ‘needing’ it.” And the physical effects will gradually change your body’s internal chemistry as you become more and more dependent. 

Everyday life and its pleasures simply can’t compete with the thrill of a chemical high. At the same time, the more you rely on substance use to create these feelings and sensations, the less of an effect they will have. This is why so many people move to “harder” (more potent and more dangerous) substances over time, or begin mixing substances to increase their effects, or begin drinking more and more often even in unsafe situations. 

This journey is toxic and, ultimately, empty. The pleasure that substance use produces is temporary and fleeting, while the damage that it gradually or sometimes suddenly inflicts on your body, mind, relationships, finances, self-image, and passion for life is long-lasting. Given enough time, your brain’s ability to feel pleasure at all (its ability to respond to dopamine and other pleasure chemicals) will be downregulated, producing a condition known as anhedonia (Latin for “no pleasure”) that steals the joy associated with the everyday pleasures of life, like spending time with loved ones or simply eating a meal.

Other Substance Abuse-Depression Links

Developing anhedonia and depression from substance abuse is more common than you might think, and even moderate alcohol abuse can be enough to trigger lasting depressive symptoms in many people. But there are certain other factors connecting these twin conditions, including the following.

Common Risk Factors

Depression, as well as other forms of mental illness, and substance use disorder are thought to share certain underlying risk factors, some of which involve biology while others stem from a person’s upbringing and environment. 

These risk factors include:

• predisposing genetic factors (as substance abuse and mental health problems often run in the same family lines)
• elements of brain structure and personality
• a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs, e.g., childhood neglect, physical violence, sexual abuse, or loss of a parent)
• not receiving treatment for childhood mental health concerns like ADHD, anxiety, or attachment disorder
• living in an unsafe or impoverished environment
• experiencing a recent traumatic event (e.g., an accident, injury, major medical diagnosis, job loss, divorce, or the death of a loved one)

While none of these conditions are guaranteed to cause a person to develop either an SUD or prolonged symptoms of depression, they do increase the risk that a person will experience one or both conditions at some point, especially during high-stress periods. 

Self-Medication

Self-medication occurs when a person turns to substances in order to cope with difficulties like depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, or physical pain. 

However, this will only distract you for a short period of time, and it won’t do anything to change the feelings or reality you are avoiding. There are also real risks at play. What starts as a drink or two after work to help you unwind can turn into an addiction, as your substance use builds up physical and psychological dependence, changes your behavior, and alters your brain function and body chemistry. 

This can quickly create other new problems and new sources of stress in turn, along with new reasons to stay distracted and avoid healing, multiplying the long-term consequences you may face as your substance use increases and your depression remains untreated. 

Loneliness

Human beings are fundamentally social creatures. We need connection with peers and family members in order to remain mentally, emotionally, and even physically healthy. However, depression, addiction, and loneliness can all have reciprocal relationships with one another, and the worse any one of these factors becomes the greater the chance a person will experience the other two. 

Consider the following:

• Depression can make it difficult for a person to summon the energy and motivation to spend time with others, or to be emotionally present or invested when they do.
• Addiction is known as a fundamentally isolating experience, turning a person’s thoughts and feelings inward toward their own experience and away from others, especially those who would not approve of their substance use.
• Isolation and loneliness can contribute to depression, disconnection, and loss of a sense of self-value, making it more likely that a person will experience depression or use substances to manage these negative feelings. 

Despite a greater degree of digital connection in the modern world, meaningful personal connections are becoming more and more frayed, with the U.S. Surgeon General reporting that less than 40% of American adults now feel deeply connected to others, contributing to starkly increased rates of hospitalization, dementia, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and premature death. 

Treating Dual Diagnosis At Ark

“Co-occurring disorders” is a term that primarily describes when a mental health disorder (like clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others) occurs alongside a substance use disorder (like alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and others). And co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, also known as a dual diagnosis, are common. In fact, according to SAMHSA, around 21.5 million adults (6.2%) in the United States have a dual diagnosis today, and around half (46.2%) of all adults who have with a substance use disorder (SUD) also have some form of diagnosable mental illness, with mood disorders (primarily depression) being the second most common after anxiety disorders.

However, if you’ve been living with an SUD and depression, there is a way out. Ark Behavioral Health is among the addiction treatment providers in the U.S. offering dual diagnosis treatment, addressing both depression and drug or alcohol addiction through proven, evidence-based treatment services like:

• prescription medications (antidepressants)
• behavioral therapy and counseling
• medical detoxification
• medication-assisted treatment of alcohol or opioid use disorder
• peer support meetings
• case management
• aftercare support

To learn more or participate in your own residential treatment program for substance abuse, depression, or other mental health conditions, please contact Ark Behavioral Health today.