Signs Your Drug Addiction May be Causing Your Depression
If you or a loved one are struggling with drug addiction, you may also find that mental illnesses such as depression present a problem in your life. These two struggles can actually be strongly correlated, which is why this pattern is so often noticed in the lives of drug addicts.
What are some signs you can watch out for that indicate your depression might be caused by your drug addiction?
You No Longer Find Pleasure in Daily Life
There are many things in your life that should bring you pleasure, whether it’s your favorite meal or a relationship with someone special. These moments of pleasure can happen because your brain releases Dopamine, which is associated with the reward system in your brain. Drugs such as Cocaine, however, can also induce a release of Dopamine that can provide you with similar feelings.
According to NIDA, the problem with seeking that feeling through drugs is that it can have a damaging effect on your brain, and the long-term effects include a desensitization to pleasure in regular life. As you continue to abuse drugs, your ability to find pleasure in life’s moments will decrease.
This desensitization to pleasure can also be a symptom of depression, which is why the two are often linked together in a condition called comorbidity.
Your Depression is Linked to Negative Life Changes
An addiction can destroy important areas of your life, leading to depression.
Drug addiction can influence your life in so many more ways than just changes in your brain. It can also have an extreme impact on your job, relationships, and goals. A negative shift in any of these areas could contribute to depression even without a drug addiction, but if these issues were brought on by the addiction then it might be the cause.
Since drugs will consume much of your time and money, you may find yourself spending less time developing your close relationships or committing yourself to your work. Consequently, these areas of your life can suffer.
It is difficult for anyone to see relationships fall apart or to lose a job, and these can often be driving factors for depression.
If you find yourself in this position, don’t hesitate to call 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with a specialist about your next steps towards recovery.
You Did Not Experience Depression Prior to Addiction
When did you first begin to experience depression? Whether these signs appeared before or after addiction can be a large indicator to which might have brought on the other. According to MentalHealth.gov, depression and addiction share many underlying causes, which is why comorbidity of the two is so common among drug addicts.
However, it is not a distinct relationship where one causes the other, although they are usually linked by similar triggers or symptoms. Determining whether your depression arose before or after your addiction can help you figure out if your addiction caused the depression.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or comorbidity, just call 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with a caring specialist who can help answer your questions or concerns.
5 Most Common Mental Health Issues that Accompany Drug Addiction
Coping with a mental illness is no easy task, making drug abuse and addiction a common occurrence among those affected.
