Depression is not an illness you can fix by yourself. Its diagnosis requires a thorough mental and physical health assessment by trained professionals. When drug and alcohol abuse co-occur with depression, it is necessary that both conditions be recognized and treated at the same time. For someone struggling with these circumstances, the first step is safe, comfortable detox. Only then, after the addictive substances have left the body, can an accurate diagnosis of depression be made and a treatment plan put in place.

Although depression is a serious medical condition, there are effective treatments for it. Non-habit forming medications are used to re-regulate brain chemicals. Individual psychological counseling and group therapy help patients identify irrational beliefs and unsupported emotional responses. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), grief counseling, and trauma therapy help to work through attitudes and thoughts that may trigger unhealthy behavior. Additionally, life skills training, good nutrition, physical exercise, and medication management give patients tools to cope with stress and stick with the treatment plan.