Despite being a relatively common mental health condition, an astounding number of people don’t recognize they have chronic depression. The telltale symptoms—like lingering sadness, low energy, and irritability—are often attributed to life stressors like working a job you don’t enjoy, having relationship problems, or raising children in a fast-paced, technologically driven society. While these can contribute to feeling sad, angry, or tired, your emotional distress may have roots in an even deeper issue, such as chronic depression. Educate yourself about the signs of chronic depression so you’ll know if the symptoms you or a loved one are experiencing need more attention.
Many people resign themselves to feeling unmotivated, exhausted, and hopeless, particularly when they don’t realize these are classic signs of depression. You don’t have to live life under a dark cloud. With the help of Promises Brazos Valley’s depression treatment program, you can find relief from your symptoms and enjoy brighter days ahead. Reach out at 979.426.0086 to learn more and enroll in treatment.
Recognizing the Signs of Chronic Depression
Everyone feels blue at some point, especially when it seems like everything in your life is going wrong. But if the root problem is depression, you’ll only find true relief through proper treatment for your mental health condition. The first step is recognizing the signs of chronic depression, which can include:
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of Interest in favorite activities
- Increased or decreased appetite, correlating with drastic changes in weight
- Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- Constantly feeling tired
- Inability to concentrate
- Feeling worthless
- Irritability or restlessness
- Chronic physical aches and pains like headaches and stomach aches
If the above signs are familiar to you, you might be dealing with a case of chronic depression. Find out for sure by scheduling an appointment with a mental health care professional. Knowing whether you have chronic depression or another mental health condition will allow you to get the appropriate treatment so you can start feeling better soon.
What’s Self-Medicating?
Self-medicating refers to the practice of using drugs or alcohol to treat physical or mental health conditions. Instead of scheduling an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional, some people turn to alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit drugs to numb themselves from overwhelming sadness and hopelessness. While prescription medications can be an integral part of any depression treatment plan, you should only take them under the supervision of a medical professional.
Not all prescription drug use would fall under the definition of self-medication. Self-medicating entails taking prescription medications not prescribed for you to treat depression. One example would be if you’re prescribed an opioid for chronic pain after an accident, and you take your medication more often than needed for pain just to experience the euphoria the drug provides and mask your depression symptoms.
The Risks of Self-Medicating Chronic Depression
For several reasons, some people don’t get help for depression and instead self-medicate their symptoms. They can easily find relief from a low mood through opioids, alcohol, or other substances that induce euphoria. However, this is a dangerous route to take and can put you at risk of:
- Worsened depression
- Not addressing the core issue
- Introducing physical health problems
- Vulnerability to addiction
- Self-harm or suicidal ideations
If you self-medicate chronic depression instead of seeking treatment, your condition will often get worse and could last for years. Behavioral therapies and medications are often the most effective treatment plan for those struggling with chronic depression. Also, if you’ve been self-medicating for a long time, you may have developed a co-occurring addiction. If so, you may need to enroll in an addiction treatment program that offers dual diagnosis, allowing you to receive care for chronic depression and addiction simultaneously for the best outcome.
Get Professional Help for Chronic Depression at Promises Brazos Valley
When every day feels like a bad day, it might be time to reach out for help for chronic depression. To get a proper diagnosis, schedule an intake assessment at Promises Brazos Valley. Call 979.426.0086 or complete our online form to get started on a depression treatment program.