Living with Depression and Addiction

 
Much research has been done to uncover what might cause mental health disorders and why some people may be more likely to develop an addiction when using drugs or alcohol. The most agreed-upon factors are typically that personal genetics and heritability are likely to play a role, as is the environment surrounding an individual, particularly during the development stage of life.

The specific biology of the brain may also indicate a vulnerability for mental illness and/or addiction. Someone with a family history of depression and/or addiction may be more prone to develop a substance abuse disorder or a mental illness than someone with no genetic predisposition, as twin and gene heritability studies published by the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America indicate. This does not mean that an individual is guaranteed to develop an addiction or suffer from depression due to a family history of either; it just highlights a potential connection.

Specific regions of the brain, namely the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, may not function exactly as they are meant to in someone who suffers from depression, as well as an in an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol. These brain regions help regulate emotions, develop working memory, mitigate impulse control and motivation, and are important for processing rewards and rewarding behaviors. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine Neuroscience Department reports that similar parts of the brain that have been tied to depression may also be involved in the onset of addiction.

There are also certain chemicals produced by the brain, known as neurotransmitters, that send messages throughout the central nervous system. These chemical messengers, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, tell the brain when to feel happy and relaxed, and when to be stressed or anxious. When someone abuses drugs or alcohol, these neurotransmitters are either artificially increased or blocked from being reabsorbed back into the brain, creating a surge of these chemicals. This is why drugs or alcohol make people feel euphoric, or high, as well as less sad, anxious, or nervous.

Regular abuse of psychoactive substances like alcohol or drugs actually changes the natural production of these neurotransmitters and therefore alters the chemical makeup of the brain and the circuitry related to reward, motivation, and emotional regulation. A dependence on psychoactive substances may be formed as the brain may now rely on the disruption in order to continue to produce these important chemicals at the necessary levels. If the drugs and alcohol are then removed, levels of “happy cells” in the brain may drop drastically. As a result, individuals may suffer from anxiety, agitation, irritability, an inability to feel pleasure, and the onset of depression.

Chronic substance abuse, and subsequent addiction, may actually then trigger depression Psych Central postulates. Conversely, due to the way that abusing substances may elevate moods and seem to improve depressive symptoms, depression may also be the root cause of substance abuse and addiction. Drugs may increase feelings of pleasure in the short-term, and individuals may abuse substances as a coping mechanism or a way to feel better through self-medication. In the long-run, however, drugs and alcohol will actually make depressive symptoms worse and compound substance abuse withdrawal symptoms.

 
Environmental factors may be just as influential as genetic and biological ones when discussing potential root causes for depression and/or addiction. Childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, may increase vulnerabilities for both disorders.

When an individual feels stressed, levels of certain chemicals in the brain, such as cortisol, may be elevated, and central nervous system functions may be on high alert. When feelings of stress are prolonged and continuous, regions of the brain may be negatively affected and may make it more likely for someone to turn to substance abuse in order to cope. High levels of stress at a young age can therefore be a predictor of future substance, the American Journal of Psychiatry publishes.

Abusing substances at a young age also increases the chances for later becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse makes changes in the regions of the brain that are not yet fully formed in adolescents and may interfere directly with normal brain growth and development.

Early onset of depression may also increase the odds for an individual to abuse substances as well. NIDA states that both addiction and depression can be considered developmental disorders, and the onset of either at a young and vulnerable age can lead to the development of the other and therefore to a dual diagnosis of depression and addiction.

Other environmental influences may play a role in the likelihood that someone may feel depressed or engage in substance abuse. A lack of a strong support system, isolation, financial problems, peer influences, and school, work, or family issues may all be risk factors for substance abuse and also depression. Again, heightened stress levels due to outside factors can increase the odds that someone may turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate difficult or depressive feelings and emotions.

 
Both depression and addiction can take years off a person’s life and decrease overall  quality of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes that depression is the number cause of disability on a global scale. Of the 350 million people around the world affected by the disorder, potentially less than half will get the proper treatment that could make all the difference.

When you add addiction and substance abuse to the mix, all potential risk factors and health concerns increase. Suicide is a real risk factor for both addiction and depression separately (around 10 percent lifetime risk for each disorder), and together, the risks may be multiplied. Psychology Today estimates that one out of every four individuals with comorbid depression and addiction may be at risk for attempting or completing suicide.

Mood disorders, such as depression, pose the biggest risk for suicide, which is the 10th leading cause of death in America. Individuals who battle a substance use disorder are around six times more likely than the general population to commit suicide. Drug poisoning accounts for 75 percent of all suicide deaths, Psychology Today reports.

Suicide is a preventable cause of death. Both addiction and depression, and the combination of the two disorders, are highly treatable. It is therefore helpful to recognize and understand the signs of depression and addiction in order to be able to get the necessary care and treatment to avoid a tragic outcome.

Signs of depression, as defined by the Statistical and Diagnostic Manual for Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), and published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), include:

When at least five of these symptoms are present and interfere with daily life within a period of two weeks, depression may be diagnosed.

DSM-5 defines the following as symptoms of addiction, as published by NIDA:

Those who struggle with addiction may have financial difficulties related to spending money on obtaining drugs or alcohol, and they may also be more likely to suffer an injury due to impairment or intoxication, or even a potentially life-threatening overdose. Individual with drug or alcohol problems may also have related legal problems or be at risk for being involved in criminal or violent behavior related to their substance abuse. Mood swings, disrupted sleep patterns, decreased physical health, and weight fluctuations may be common in those who may be addicted to drugs or alcohol as well.