Depression, Anxiety & Addiction
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About half of all people with a substance use disorder also have another mental health diagnosis; often either depression, anxiety, or both. Mental health issues co-occur with substance use disorders frequently, and conditions like anxiety and depression are the most diagnosed mental health issues.
We at Coastwise utilize an integrative treatment approach to help clients combat co-occurring disorders, through the combination of individualized therapy, medication-assisted treatments, and regimented outpatient treatment programs.
We at Coastwise utilize an integrative treatment approach to help clients combat co-occurring disorders, through the combination of individualized therapy, medication-assisted treatments, and regimented outpatient treatment programs.
Understanding the Link Between Depression and Anxiety in Addiction
Researchers believe that there are three major reasons why addiction correlates with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
First, symptoms of anxiety and depression – especially in tandem – can be difficult to address. Millions of adults experience at least one depressive episode per year. Many struggle to cope with their symptoms, and don’t seek the help they need, whether due to stigma or lack of access to proper healthcare.
Drug use, while worse in the long run, provides immediate relief through escapism and the euphoria of a chemical high. Self-medication is an even greater problem among teens and young adults, who are more prone to addiction when using drugs earlier in life, and more likely to struggle with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
While self-medication might seem to soothe the issues in the short term, drug use and addiction make feelings of anxiety and depression worse.
Second, long-term drug use can negatively affect the brain, in addition to most other vital organs. Even legal substances like alcohol and nicotine can result in long-term problems with focus, mood, and memory, while exacerbating feelings of anxiety or depression, especially when sobering up.
In addition to affecting the brain, the social, legal, physical, and financial impacts of recurring drug use can also make feelings of anxiety and depression more common or more pronounced, due to problems such as mounting medical issues, financial difficulties, legal troubles, or relationship problems. In other words: substance use makes anxious thoughts and a low mood more common.
Lastly, researchers also find that the risk factors for anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders overlap. This means that someone who is more likely to struggle with symptoms of anxiety and depression is also more likely to struggle with addiction, and more likely to have access to addictive drugs.
Treatment Approaches to Depression & Anxiety for Addiction
Drug use and mental health issues are entwined enough to the point that addiction used to be considered a symptom of an underlying mental health problem, rather than its own separate diagnosis.
While we know that this isn’t always the case – many people struggle with drug use without qualifying for other mental health problems – the overlap is still significant.
Furthermore, modern treatment solutions for mood disorders and anxiety disorders don’t take symptoms of addiction into account, and vice versa. Effective treatment requires a multimodal and integrative approach, where elements from different modalities are combined to create a new kind of treatment plan.
What does this mean? Well, treatments for addiction focus on preventing relapses and promoting positive behavioral changes through inpatient or outpatient treatment programs, where people rely on a new daily routine to cope with cravings and other symptoms of addiction. Meanwhile, treatments for anxiety or depression include medication and talk therapy.
There are overlapping elements in both treatment approaches: many addiction treatment plans encourage individual and group therapy, while many anxiety and depression treatment plans encourage creating and fostering a support system outside of therapy for emotional and mental resilience. An integrative treatment strategy further adapts different elements from various modalities to form a treatment plan that addresses a client’s individual challenges. Here at Coastwise, some of the modalities we used to treat cases of addiction with depression and anxiety include:
Medication-Assisted Treatment
for Depression and Anxiety in Addiction
Psychotherapy Modalities
(e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
Group Therapy
(e.g., Family Systems Therapy, Psychoeducation, 12 Step Facilitation)
Holistic Treatments
(e.g., Gentle Yoga, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Trauma-Focused Treatments
(e.g., Trauma Informed Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Emotional Transformation Therapy)
And more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction
1. How Are Depression and Anxiety Diagnosed in Individuals with Addiction?
Many of the symptoms of long-term drug use can coincide with signs of anxiety or depression. Coming down from drug use can crash a person’s mood. Certain drugs can leave someone feeling anxious. Even drugs with an anti-anxiety effect, such as alcohol and Xanax, can exacerbate anxiety over time.
Some cases of a dual diagnosis are only realized during addiction treatment, when it becomes clear that a person’s symptoms weren’t tied solely to their withdrawal or drug use. In other cases, people may have a known history of mental health problems before their drug use began.
2. Can Depression and Anxiety Be Managed Without Medication?
Modern antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a common first line treatment for both depression and anxiety. Antidepressants are not addictive. Anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepine, usually aren’t prescribed in cases where a person’s anxiety is complicated by a history of substance use.
While anxiety and depression can be managed without medication in some cases, your mileage may vary. Symptoms of anxiety and depression can be mitigated through lifestyle modifications, counseling, skill building, healthier coping mechanisms, and more. A no-drug approach is recommended by some professionals, but antidepressants can also be a useful tool in the early stages of recovery. Continued talk therapy during and after rehab is highly recommended, with or without medication.
3. How Can Loved Ones Support Someone with Co-occurring Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction?
Social support, especially from friends and family, is crucial during all stages of recovery and treatment – from detoxification to long-term sobriety. Friends and family members can promote continued healthy coping habits and lifestyle changes after treatment by eating better, exercising more together, and being mindful of a client’s triggers.
Friends and family also play an important role in keeping their loved one accountable and encouraging them to seek out help or enroll in treatment after a relapse, or if symptoms worsen.
Depression and Anxiety Treatment at Coastwise
An important element of every treatment plan here at Coastwise is the need to view a client’s treatment as a means of addressing an individual’s problems, rather than addressing the symptoms. We utilize a modern and holistic approach that aims to help people achieve a better quality of life through lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, evidence-based treatments, positive habits, and coping strategies that promote personal fulfilment and mental resilience.
We at Coastwise place great importance on our rigorous after care program and guided recovery path. We want clients to view their treatment with us as the first step on a transformative journey.
Want to learn more about our treatment modalities and competencies? Get in touch with us today.