Depression is quite common, affecting about one in 10 people at some point during their life. It affects men and women, young and old. Studies have shown that about 4% of children aged five to 16 in the UK are anxious or depressed.[1]
Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. Many of us go through times in life which are sad. If these feelings of sadness become persistent though, lasting long after or being unrelated to a particular event you may be experiencing depression.
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms including losing interest in things you used to enjoy, feeling hopeless and irritable or becoming very tearful. Additionally, there are often accompanying physical symptoms such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and having unexplained aches and pains.
Sometimes there’s a trigger for depression such as life-changing events, like experiencing bereavement, losing your job or having a baby. You may be more likely to experience depression if you have a family member with depression. But depression often comes without any warning and without any obvious cause.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, clinical depression lasts for at least two weeks, interfering with your ability to work, maintain healthy relationships and function socially.
People with depression may experience five or more of the following symptoms on a daily basis:
Depression can occur for a variety of reasons, and it has many different triggers.
For some people a life event, such as divorce, bereavement, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, or having a baby can be a trigger
Often people will talk about a combination of factors that lead them to fall into depression rather than one event. Depression is very much an isolating illness and that social isolation only serves to further its progression.
Studies have also suggested that you’re more likely to get depressed if you live in difficult social and economic circumstances and that you are more vulnerable to developing depression as you get older.
Some of the potential causes of depression are:
Sometimes we all need time to process difficult life events, it is important during difficult times to continue to reach out to your friends, family members, and community. Your risk of becoming depressed is lessened if you manage to maintain a good support network.
You will be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain patterns of thought such as persistently self-critical thoughts.
The genes you inherit from your family may play a part in the development of depression.
If someone in your family has had depression in the past it is much more likely that you will develop depression in comparison to the general population.
The hormonal and physical changes, as well as the added responsibility of a new life, can lead to postnatal depression.
Mental illness can be a very isolating experience. Becoming cut off from your family and friends can also increase your chance of developing depression in the first place.
Sometimes people turn to substance misuse as a way of coping with or ‘self-medicating’, unfortunately, this can cause a cycle of addiction and poor mental health that is hard to break.
The symptoms of depression can be complex and vary widely between people. If you’re depressed, you may be experiencing persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest in things you used to enjoy. If you have depression it is likely that these feelings will start to impact your personal life, your social life, and your work life.
There are many symptoms of depression and you’re unlikely to have all them but you may have some combination of:
Such as:
Including:
The social symptoms of depression include:
Depression often presents gradually so it can be tricky to identify when you have crossed the line. You may find yourself trying to cope for some time before you realise that something is seriously wrong and that you are unwell.
Your GP should be the first port of call in getting a diagnosis for your depression. The GP may diagnose you with:
For most people, most of the time, sad times in life come and go. But for those who suffer from depression, the emotional low periods don’t go away so easily.
Substance misuse is prevalent among those who are battling a depressive disorder. Often people turn to drinking as a way of experiencing relief but because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, the use of this drug tends to trigger depression symptoms like lethargy, sadness and hopelessness. As a result, depression and substance misuse feed into each other, creating a seemingly inescapable cycle.
This co-occurring depression alongside addiction is sometimes referred to as Dual Diagnosis. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reports that one in three adults who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse also suffers from depression.
When suffering from depression you may have started to take alcohol and drugs in order to escape negative emotions. But substances can only mask feelings temporarily and addiction may soon become its own problem.
The warning signs of addiction onset are:
Depression and addiction, when they co-exist, each intensify the symptoms of the other. There are specific programmes available to help those with dual-diagnosis through which you will be able to address your emotional and mental health issues as well as your addiction at the same time. Through medication, therapy, peer support, education and relapse prevention for both addiction and depression, recovery is possible.
Support, encouragement and motivation are essential tools in the battle against depression and substance abuse. Clinical depression can drain your energy and make you feel like rehab might not work. But the combination of individual counselling, peer group support and family counselling can give you the strength you need to continue your recovery journey in spite of the challenges you face. You can recover.
A dual diagnosis of depression and addiction is complex. There is no single best treatment option as each case is unique. The addiction and underlying mental health issues can be managed and treated through rehab, medication, and therapy, or most effectively by a combination of all three.
Dual Diagnosis programmes will offer a holistic approach including;
You may be preoccupied with using or fearful of relapse. You might experience a surfacing of emotions like anger and the depression you have long tried to suppress. In rehab you will be supported through this process. Rehab can help you if you are;
Rehab can really help you with building resilience, focusing on the positive and learning to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings.
You can look at interpersonal relationships and connect with others in an accepting, nonjudgmental way and break through the isolation of depression and addiction.
Rehab can:
> Our rehab programme for Depression and Addiction
Medication therapy is a core component of recovery for many Dual Diagnosis patients who are faced with depression and addiction. Antidepressant drugs have helped many individuals who struggle with depression cope with symptoms and become able to recover from addiction.
Finding the right approach to pharmacological treatment can take time and patience, but with the help of qualified staff who are trained in Dual Diagnosis treatment, prescription drugs can provide valuable support.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. These drugs fight depression symptoms by decreasing serotonin reuptake in your brain.
SSRIs include:
Common side effects of SSRIs include:
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs help increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. This may reduce depression symptoms. These drugs include:
Common side effects of SNRIs include:
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
TCAs are often prescribed when SSRIs or other antidepressants don’t work.
TCAs include:
Common side effects of TCAs can include:
The more serious side effects of these drugs include:
Tetracyclic antidepressant
Maprotiline is used to treat depression and anxiety. It also works by balancing neurotransmitters to ease symptoms of depression.
Common side effects of this drug include:
Dopamine reuptake blocker
Bupropion a mild dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake blocker.
Common side effects include:
5-HT1A receptor antagonist
The drug works by balancing serotonin levels and other neurotransmitters.
Side effects can include:
5-HT2 receptor antagonists
Two 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, such as trazodone.
Common side effects include:
5-HT3 receptor antagonist
Common side effects include:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs are older drugs that treat depression. They work by stopping the breakdown of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
MAOIs include:
MAOIs also have many side effects. These can include:
Noradrenergic antagonist
Mirtazapine is used primarily for depression. It alters certain chemicals in your brain to ease depression symptoms.
Common side effects include:
Depression and anxiety drain your energy making it difficult to take the steps that will help you to feel better.
But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. Reaching out for help when you are experiencing depression and anxiety can be difficult but getting support and breaking the cycle of isolation is essential in overcoming depression. Equally, it is eminently possible to recover from a life of addiction and to be not only clean and sober but also able to experience happiness, love, and serenity.
Through engaging with the therapeutic process you will be able to leave behind the whirlwind and desperation of addiction. You can start to relax as you learn effective and healthy emotional regulation skills.
Recovering from a dual diagnosis can be challenging, unsurprisingly so after a life of drinking and using. You may be preoccupied with using or fearful of relapse. A first you might experience a surfacing of emotions like anger about the things which have happened in the past, perhaps things which fueled or justified your using.
The therapy process is very much unique to each person. It is likely though that you will establish goals for your therapy and work on the steps you need to take to get there.
Whether it’s individual, group or family therapy, what you talk about with your therapist will be confidential. Your therapist should provide you with a safe space, attentive listening and appropriate feedback and support. Good therapy should be tailored to you and your experiences.
Through therapy you can begin building resilience to help you deal with difficult thoughts and feelings, and start to flourish.
Calls and contact requests are answered by admissions at
UK Addiction Treatment Group.
We look forward to helping you take your first step.
0808 163 9632