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When it comes to staying balanced, both depression and addiction can throw you off course. If you suffer from both, it’s easy for things to get out of hand and quickly spiral out of control.
Research shows that around half of all people who experience a mental health condition will also develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, and vice versa. In one study, up to 60% of people with a drug use disorder also suffered from major depression.
If you’re using substances to cope with depression symptoms, you may not realize that your “coping mechanism” is doing you more harm than good and that your substance use is devolving into an addiction. Here are seven signs that you may be developing an addiction
1. You’re Using More and Building a Tolerance
If you used drugs or alcohol recreationally before becoming depressed, your use may increase with depression. An increase in both the quantity and frequency of substance use can cause you to build a tolerance. This means you’ll need more and more of the substance to get the same high.
2. You Feel Remorseful After You Use
When you started using drugs and alcohol, you most likely did it because it was fun. But now, between your depression and addiction, when you drink or get high, you feel bad about using. These feelings of remorse show that you know your use is getting out of control.
3. You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms
Experiencing withdrawal is a common sign that an addiction has gotten out of control.
If your drug or alcohol abuse is to the point that you don’t feel good when you stop using, then it’s out of control. After a long period of drug use, your body becomes dependent on the substance. Without it, the body doesn’t function properly, causing withdrawal symptoms. These can include the following:
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
4. You’ve Relapsed Before
Perhaps you know you have a problem with depression and addiction. Maybe you’ve been to a dual diagnosis facility and sought treatment. Yet, you’ve relapsed, falling back into negative behaviors. If you’ve relapsed before or let your mental health symptoms go untreated, you have a greater risk of spiraling out of control.
5. Your Family and Friends Are Worried
Talking to someone you love about their depression and addiction isn’t easy. If someone you love has reached out and expressed concern over your drug use or depression, take their concerns seriously.
6. You’re Hiding It
When it comes to depression and addiction, if there’s something to hide, chances are it’s a problem. Otherwise, you wouldn’t feel compelled to cover up what was going on. If you’re sneaking around or making up excuses for your use, stop and consider if it’s time to find help.
7. It Consumes Your Thoughts
One of the signs of addiction is being consumed by thoughts of obtaining and using your drug of choice, while depression often leads to both compulsive thoughts and behaviors. These two things combined make it easy to get lost in the throes of depression and addiction.
Find Help for Co-Occurring Depression and Addiction
Dual diagnosis treatment can help you heal your mind and body from the inside out. These treatment programs help you dive deeply into the core of your addiction so you can understand why you started using drugs or alcohol in the first place. You’ll also address the symptoms of your depression and learn new, healthy coping techniques to help you reclaim the life you deserve.
If you or someone you know is looking for addiction treatment, search our online database to find a rehab center near you. Help is here, and we’ll connect you to the right providers.