Mental health issues can be difficult for anyone. They can especially complicate a teenage boy’s life because he already has pressures from school, peers, and changes in their physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Depression causes severe symptoms that can make it hard to enjoy life fully. Teen depression and substance abuse disorders are strongly connected. Depression symptoms can cause teens to rely on drugs and alcohol to alleviate uncomfortable, complex, and intense negative emotions.
We are dedicated to treating teen boys’ addiction and mental health with our teen dual diagnosis treatment program. To learn more, contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® today at 828.519.5047.
Teen Depression and Substance Abuse
Depression is a mental health issue that impacts your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Depression occurs when you experience symptoms for at least two consecutive weeks that affect your daily life.
The symptoms of teen depression are not always obvious. For this reason, you may not recognize when your child is dealing with either of these conditions. Symptoms of teen depression and drug use may include:
- Sudden changes in behavior or friends
- Feelings of isolation and wanting to disconnect
- Neglecting responsibilities at home, school, or work
- Lying about using drugs or alcohol
- Mood swings, depression, or feeling anxious
- Changes in appetite or sleep
Occasional depression or drug use is not a sign of a disorder. It’s a normal part of being a teen. However, chronic depression or drug use is a sign that your teenager needs help.
While there isn’t a known cause for depression, experiencing a significant life change, such as the death of a loved one, can cause symptoms to intensify or appear for the first time. Moodiness and complaining about physical ailments, such as pain or headaches, are also common signs of depression in teens.
Why Does This Happen?
Teen depression and substance abuse are common combinations. Struggling with depression, especially without treatment, can make drug and alcohol use seem attractive, as psychoactive substances can temporarily relieve depression. Why teen depression and substance abuse are connected because drugs and alcohol force your brain to release more neurotransmitters than it should.
Mental health conditions like depression are linked to abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, such as depleted serotonin and dopamine levels. That makes teen depression and substance abuse highly destructive, as addiction leads to severe neurotransmitter imbalances. While everyone experiences sadness, struggling with depression creates intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness that interfere with one’s daily life.
Reaching Your Teenage Son
There comes a point in a teen’s life when they don’t want to talk to you about anything. They feel uncomfortable sharing their personal life or feelings. This wall can be difficult to tear down. So, if you are going to approach your teenager about depression, you need to have a strategy.
Intervention at a young age is important because an untreated addiction can plague your son for the rest of his life. First, make sure he feels supported and loved—not judged. Second, do more listening and less preaching. You don’t have to be the one to solve your child’s problems. You just need to help your teenager become more aware of them. Last, discuss options for how to help your teenager. Work it out together.
Treatment For Depression and Addiction
Because teen depression and substance abuse are relatively common, as many people struggling with addiction have a co-occurring mental health disorder, dual diagnosis treatment is an essential part of successful recovery. When your son has a dual diagnosis, it’s important to manage symptom of both conditions in order for him to recover fully. Worsening depression can intensify cravings and lead to relapse. Relapsing can undermine his recovery from depression.
During recovery, it takes time for your son’s brain and body to heal from addiction. When teenage boys have a co-occurring disorder, it means early recovery may be more difficult. Withdrawal symptoms, which occur when they quit using after developing a physical dependency, are more severe when they have a dual diagnosis. It’s also common to need medication adjustments during dual diagnosis treatment. Medication changes can take several weeks to take effect, which can make substance abuse recovery more challenging.
Understanding Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis programs provide your son with immediate access to mental health professionals, including a psychiatrist, which ensures that he addresses his mental health appropriately. Addiction creates changes to his brain chemistry, meaning that depression medications likely need to be changed during recovery.
Another critical way dual diagnosis programs promote recovery is by teaching your son how to identify and change negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Cravings are unavoidable during recovery, meaning that learning how to utilize healthy coping strategies is necessary to reduce his risk of relapsing.
Reach Out for Help Today at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®
Untreated mental health conditions can create disabling symptoms, while substance abuse disorders can make it even more challenging to recover from conditions like depression. Teen depression and substance abuse disorders require treatment, as symptoms will continue to get worse until you get help.
If your teenage son is struggling with a mental health disorder, substance abuse problem, or a co-occurring condition, call Foothills at Red Oak® today at 828.519.5047 or use our online contact form to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment for teens.
