Fighting the Black Cloud: Battling Depression During Addiction Recovery

Entering recovery after battling drug and alcohol addiction is a noble and impressive step in attaining sobriety. It is also a dramatic life change that comes with unique challenges to overcome. One of these challenges is oftentimes depression. When transitioning to a sober lifestyle, your brain undergoes many shifts that can sometimes result in feelings of anxiety and sadness. These feelings can also be tied to dual diagnosis disorder.

If this is something you have struggled with, please know you are not the only one. This is a very normal part of the addiction recovery process, and our team is here to help.

A few other things to keep in mind about depression during addiction recovery include:

• Depression is not a weakness.

  Depression is a mental illness that has nothing to do with being weak or being strong. Taking the initiative to enter recovery in the first place shows incredible strength.

• Depression does not mean you failed.

  Again, depression is a common part of recovery and not in any way a sign that you have failed or are doing something wrong. Drug rehab is made up of numerous triumphs and setbacks, and we are not defined by emotions or mental illnesses experienced during the negative times.

• Addiction is not a cure for depression.

  It can be tempting to wonder if drugs or alcohol will cure depression. It is important to remember that substance abuse merely masked symptoms of depression and actually worsen the underlying issue astronomically.

How to cope with depression during drug treatment: 

• Seek guidance from licensed therapists.

  Our team of licensed professionals are extremely well-versed in guiding individuals through the complicated emotions that come with recovery. Our chief clinical officer, Jill Krush, MS, LPC, NCC, CAC III, is a nationally recognized therapist who is trained in countless areas of mental health. She and the rest of our team will walk by your side every step of the way.

• Stay active.

  Physical activity releases endorphins and create a profound sense of purpose, so we strongly encourage outdoor adventure therapy as a large component of the recovery process. Whether it’s hiking, biking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding or anything in between, there is always an outdoor activity available in the Rocky Mountains that will help build strong mental health.

• Don’t go it alone.

  No matter what, keep a strong community by your side. At our Denver area drug treatment center, we foster a powerful brotherhood among our clients so you always have a close friend by your side.

Start the journey to lifelong sobriety today. Contact our admissions team to talk about your treatment options further: 720-577-4422 or hello@choicehouse.com.