Depression affects people differently. If you suffer from depression and you’re thinking about trying opioid therapy, you need to learn more about the situation before you decide to move forward. Discuss your options and the probable outcomes of long-term use of opioids as part of your treatment.
Why Depressed Patients Use Opioids
Lowers Pain Intensity
Some patients who suffer from depression use opioids to counteract the depression. Depressed patients use it to lower the intensity of their pain, turning the pain manageable. That helps them achieve a better quality of life.
Restores Physical Function
By lowering the pain intensity, the drug also makes it possible for these patients to get back higher levels of physical function. That gives them more freedom and flexibility in their movements.
Treat Insomnia and Stress
Patients with depression might also use opioids to treat their insomnia, as many of them will have trouble settling or sleeping. The lack of sleep might also leave them stressed and irritable. Opioid use can help them sleep so taht they can regain their strength and health.
What are the Risks of Opioid Use?
However, with the long-term use of opioids, patients tend to suffer from treatment-resistant depression sooner or later. Overuse of opiates to treat insomnia and stress is common among adults and adolescents, leading to a spike in nonmedical opioid use. In this case, patients require treatment that addresses both problems.
What is the Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
People with depression might also develop an addiction to opiates. That’s because opiates are used to ease their condition. In case addiction occurs, patients need to undergo opiate depression treatment. It’s a treatment program designed to address both drug addiction and depression. That’s essential since addressing or treating only one condition while leaving out the other will only lead to a failed response and outcome. The only way for the patient to achieve full recovery is through treatment of both depression and addiction.
How Does the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Work?
The treatment uses several methods, usually counseling and therapy. Patients can expect to go to individual and group sessions. The sessions are designed to help them deal with the depression and addiction. Through therapy, they’ll learn to discover their triggers and find out what their core issues are. If those core issues are responsible for their depression and that, in turn, resulted in their addiction, therapy helps them process those emotions. Once that step is done, it’s easier for them to move on. That way, they can welcome treatment.
Where Do You Get Addiction and Depression Treatment?
Not all facilities offer an integrated care plan for patients who suffer from co-occurring disorders. Make sure you do your homework when you look for help. Consider the following:
Location
How far is the facility from your home? For future visits, a facility near you is much more convenient.
Credentials
What kind of qualifications do the staff and facility have?
Treatment
What treatments and services do they provide? Does the rehab center offer medically supervised detox or residential care?