Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol that, for some people, develops as a way to cope with depression. Studies show that between 30 and 50 percent of people with alcoholism also suffer from major depression at any given time. Alcohol may temporarily relieve the painful symptoms of depression, but in the long run it is a deadly mix that can lead to severe alcoholism and even suicide.
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Recovering from drug addiction is a difficult journey, but addicts who also struggle with depression face even more obstacles in treatment. Depression is a common co-occurring disorder in addiction. In fact, 30 to 40 percent of people with a substance use disorder also have a mood disorder such as depression. Sometimes the depression leads to drug addiction, and sometimes the drug addiction leads to depression. Regardless of which comes first, both disorders must be simultaneously treated in order for a person to fully recover. Long-term sobriety is rarely achieved if the depression isn’t properly treated, and the symptoms of depression will only worsen as long as drug use is present.
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It’s not uncommon for people who experience a traumatic event to become depressed. Painful experiences such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce, a medical illness or losing everything in a natural disaster can cause so much distress that they trigger clinical depression.
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Teen drug abuse is often viewed as a way to rebel or to fit in with peers, but many times teens turn to drugs or alcohol in order to relieve symptoms of an undiagnosed emotional or behavioral problem. As many as 5 million adolescents suffer from clinical depression, but according to a 2009 study, an estimated 70 percent are undiagnosed and don’t receive any form of treatment. Without treatment, a depressed teen may turn to alcohol or drugs to escape their feelings of helplessness or to help them feel ‘normal.’ Unfortunately, drug and alcohol use only worsens depression symptoms. To make this problem even worse, only 10 percent of the estimated 1.4 million American teens with substance abuse problems receive treatment.
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Recovering from alcohol and drug addiction can be a difficult journey, but addicts who also struggle with depression face even greater hurdles in treatment. People who struggle with depression and addiction often blame themselves or are blamed by others for not being able to recover from their co-occurring disorders. The truth is that addiction and depression are both diseases; they are not an indication of poor character or a lack of willpower. People who struggle to recover from co-occurring mental and substance use disorders are not to blame, especially if they haven’t been exposed to proper dual diagnosis treatment.
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By Dr. Maryann Rosenthal
Over 11 million prescriptions were written last year for kids with depression. That did not include those who didn’t even see a doctor.
Growing up is never easy. It is a time of upheaval and emotional storms. The very openness children exuded and were rewarded for seems to invite penalties as they grow beyond adolescence They are exulting in their hoped-for independence even as they are frightened by the demanding, often-uncaring world of adulthood. During this confusing period, they end up changing from one mode to the other so often and so rapidly that it confounds their parents. Teenagers often turn to actions that provide emotional stimulation to counteract feelings of self-induced emptiness and low self-esteem.
All kids get sad or upset about things now and then: getting a bad grade on a test, arguing with a friend, being grounded, or being without a date for a big dance. These temporary disappointments are not necessarily depression, but stress in its many forms and the inability to deal with stress is a major factor in creating and exacerbating the problem.
Changes in behavior are normal as our kids try to figure out who they are and what they believe in. Most depressed kids are troubled by who they are, how others perceive them, and what parents, peers, and the world at large expect of them. Researchers believe depression affects 3 percent to 5 percent of preteens and up to 15 percent of adolescents with girls suffering from depression at twice the rate of boys. In an alarming study by Seventeen magazine, 28 percent of girls said they feel depressed every day or at least a few times a week. Girls are looking to peers for validation and it is often hard for them to retain a positive self-image. Adolescent girls undergo more life changes than boys and for yet unknown reasons, they are more vulnerable to negative life events, while the sources of stress in boys are more commonly school performance or other factors outside of social relationships, such as a move to another home. The good news is that serious depression in our children is treatable but it is often difficult to diagnose. The symptoms may be mistaken for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causing misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
What should parents and teachers look for?
You really have to tune in and judge the signs of depression against your child’s usual and normal behavior. Depression is different from “the blues” because it is longer in duration and more intense. Parents, friends, and teachers are crucial allies in the treatment of childhood depression. Don’t ignore your instincts and if you think there’s something wrong with your child, chances are you’re right. It’s a real danger sign when stress becomes too much to deal with and a child just feels like giving up, where life becomes overwhelming and hopeless.
If your child experiences two or more of these symptoms for two consecutive weeks, it might be depression and not just “the blues”:
• Decline in school performance
• Change in eating/sleeping habits
• Persistent unhappiness
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritable or angered easily
• Aggressive, impulsive, or reckless behavior
• Excessive guilt or anxiety
• Withdrawal from people and activities previously enjoyed
• Physical aches and pains
• Talk about death or suicide-this should always be taken seriously
Tuning In!
Fortunately, there are effective treatments for childhood depression. First, you must overcome any discomfort or embarrassment that you might feel about the problem. A real key is to be able to talk calmly with your child about it.
Your physician can offer guidance and help with a referral to a mental health practitioner A good mental health evaluation should include discussions with teachers and other family members.
Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy should be part of every treatment plan and may be all that is necessary. Medication can be a powerful weapon against depression but should be prescribed only by an experienced physician in close consultation with family. Medication doesn’t work for everyone and may make some depressed kids feel worse.
Clinical depression has biological origins and has been linked to an inherited imbalance in brain chemicals, although family environment is a contributing factor. Depression is in part a disorder of relationships. The depressed person withdraws and breaks connections with the larger traditions of which we are a part, such as family, culture, and religion. Part of the antidote is strengthening those relationships.
All of the medications and therapy in the world will not help a child if their home environment is a root cause of problems. In other words, depression is a family matter that involves everyone. Nurturing a child’s self-esteem and confidence, staying active, exercising, and developing good eating habits can help alleviate stress and depression in our children.
It’s important that you look out for serious depression and doubly important that you heed the great deal of research that shows that the more family-like connections a person has, the more inoculated against depression they are.
Dr. Maryann Rosenthal’s new book “Be A Parent Not a Pushover is available in bookstores everywhere. Dr. Maryann tells how to find a balance between loving your children and setting limits for them, to generate trust, confidence, resilience, and integrity.
You can read the original article here.
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While it is true that some people have a sudden urge to sleep and relax at home during the winter months or feel saddened at the onset of darker, colder days, those with seasonal affective disorder experience much more severe feelings. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of disorder in which a person experiences a drastic change in their overall mood during the fall and winter seasons of the year. Finish reading this article »
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Depression is a mood disorder in which someone is frequently tired, has a decrease in energy levels and typically does not take part in previously enjoyed activities. A person may feel like life will be miserable forever and lose all hope of recovering. Such a state may be triggered by certain traumatic events such as a natural disaster, family problems or an illness. Finish reading this article »
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Depression occurs as a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. It often runs in families. This mood disorder can be caused by a variety of experiences or emotions. Finish reading this article »
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