Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in the world. In the U.S., about 7% of adults suffer from depression in any given year. However, many people don’t realize that there is a correlation between sobriety and depression. When people set themselves the goal of becoming sober, they sometimes hit unexpected roadblocks in the form of mental health challenges.
In other cases, people attribute their addiction to the wrong thing because they do not understand how it relates to their mental and emotional health. Learn all about the most crucial things to understand about sobriety, depression, and how you can cultivate better mental health.
The Connection Between Sobriety and Depression
The connection between sobriety and depression is complicated. In some cases, addiction to alcohol or another substance leads to mental health challenges like depression. However, sometimes it’s the other way around. Mental health challenges can lead to substance abuse.
Things can be even more complicated than that because overcoming addiction can lead to signs of depression. How is it possible that an addiction can cause depression, and becoming sober can also cause depression? It can take some time to understand how depression relates to addiction and sobriety. Doing so is essential to find the fastest path to recovery.
Living With Depression Can Lead To Addiction
In some ways, it is easier to understand how depression can cause addiction. When people are depressed, they have a natural tendency to look for things that can help them feel better. At least in the short term, alcohol and other substances can provide positive emotions and sensations.
As a result, many people end up using substances more and more as they battle depression. Alcohol and other substances only mask their problem and provide positive experiences in the short term. The underlying causes of their depression are not resolved. When people struggling with depression start to become addicted, it often makes their depression worse.
Discovering Depression While Living a Sober Life
For many people, the most challenging thing about addiction is that it feels good in the short term while making things worse in the long term. Things often become even more complicated when people seek sobriety.
Symptoms of depression sometimes worsen at the beginning of the sobriety journey. Some people do not even have depression until they start becoming sober. Without the false positive feelings provided by substance abuse, people have to face their problems, which can be scary.
Managing Signs of Depression
In many cases, the best strategy is cultivating positive mental health while pursuing sobriety. The more positive experiences you have, the easier it can be to let go of an addiction.
Many people with depression benefit from therapy. There are many treatment options, so people sometimes have to search for the style that suits them.
The most popular therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. People learn not to entertain negative thoughts. By refusing to listen to negative and untrue thoughts, people find their mental health improving. Other people experience success through medication. Only use medication under the supervision of a medical professional.
Seeking the Benefits of Sobriety
As mental health improves, it is easier to seek sobriety benefits. It will become easier to enjoy life when sober. It can also make maintaining positive relationships with friends and loved ones easier. Many people are grateful that they learn to cultivate positive mental and behavioral habits.
Understand the Connection Between Sobriety and Depression
Although the relationship between sobriety and depression can be complicated, it is essential to understand how it affects you. If you don’t know what is happening, you might think signs of depression mean something is going wrong as you seek to become sober. By treating both of these issues at the same time, you can recover as fast as possible.
Get in touch with us to learn more about how to find the most effective addiction and mental health treatment.
