By now you’ve probably seen the statistics about the link between mental illness and addiction, and it can be disheartening to learn that so many people in both categories are dealing with both at the same time. For those dealing with either of these conditions, it can feel like there’s no way out, and that you’re destined to continue on this path until something drastic happens. Thankfully, there are resources available to help those suffering from depression or an addiction find happiness and success in their personal lives and careers once again.
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Alcohol Rehab North Wales
Alcoholics go through a series of steps to overcome addiction, including recognising that they have a problem, asking for help, and putting plans in place to ensure they don’t drink again. All too often, though, treatment for mental health disorders gets lost in all of that. Depression and addiction are two conditions that often overlap—according to researchers at Harvard University, as many as 30 percent of alcoholics also suffer from depression—and going to rehab isn’t enough if you’re dealing with both issues at once. If you want to put an end to your struggle with alcoholism once and for all—and hopefully fix what led you down that path in the first place—you need proper mental health treatment just as much as you need help dealing with your substance abuse
Dealing With Depression
People suffering from depression often turn to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to self-medicate. The problem is that these substances can lead to addiction and make it even harder for people to recover from depression. There are many reasons why alcoholics become depressed, including the effects of chemicals on their bodies. A lack of healthy social interactions. Realising they’ve been relying on alcohol more than they want to admit. When people with substance abuse problems also suffer from depression, treatment should take both illnesses into account—as well as all possible contributing factors—when planning a path forward for recovery.
Becoming Addicted
When you’re depressed, your mind and body become overwhelmed with negative thoughts. This makes it difficult to deal with stress and other problems in your life, so it may seem like drinking or using drugs can help numb those feelings. Unfortunately, once you start down that path, it’s easy to see how addictive substances can take over your life. For example, if you start thinking about alcohol every time you get stressed out at work or upset by a bad relationship (or whatever else life throws at you), depression becomes intertwined with addiction.
Conclusion
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, please get help. If you have a chronic mental illness, remember that it’s not your fault. It’s also treatable, and there are programs out there to help. As I’ve shown in my own life, people with these dual diagnoses can recover fully—and so can you.