Understanding the Relationship Between Cocaine Use Disorder and Depression

Many who experiment with cocaine don’t intend to make it a regular habit. However, the rush of confidence and energy can be difficult to resist once you’ve experienced it, especially if you struggle with self-confidence in your daily life. What starts as a simple boost can quickly consume your life in Los Alamitos, CA, leading to mental health challenges.

While cocaine delivers a euphoric sensation, it can leave you feeling worse than before you took the drug. As the high wears off, you’re left feeling a bit down. This can become a severe issue as cocaine use disorder can trigger or worsen depression. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of cocaine use on depression and the importance of seeking addiction treatment programs.

Does Cocaine Cause Depression?

It may seem counterintuitive that cocaine, a drug known for its euphoric sensations, would cause depression. However, once you understand the science behind cocaine, it becomes obvious. Cocaine triggers a heightened state of mind akin to the “fight or flight” response. It also floods your brain with dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical, but this dopamine dump has a price.

The energy required to maintain that heightened “fight or flight” state of mind is exhausting, and the dopamine dump depletes those neurotransmitters, forcing them to “recharge” before they can effectively regulate your mood via everyday amounts of dopamine. This combination creates a severe comedown in those struggling with cocaine use disorder, akin to depression.

Depression and Withdrawal

The fear of this depression motivates further use of cocaine in an attempt to prevent experiencing the comedown. Unfortunately, this only exacerbates dependence on the drug, making it harder for patients to find satisfying sobriety as severe dependence leads to more severe withdrawals, increasing the fear of the withdrawal. This dangerous cycle perpetuates drug addiction.

If this constant up-and-down goes on long enough, it can cause long-term depression. The sooner you find drug addiction treatment, the better chance you have of freeing yourself from cocaine use disorder without lasting effects like long-term depression.

How Cocaine Use Contributes to Ongoing Depression

Over time, your brain becomes used to the higher-than-normal levels of dopamine that flood it during cocaine use. Eventually, your brain becomes unable to produce the “feel-good” chemicals on its own, forcing it to rely on the drug to maintain normal dopamine levels. When patients attempt to quit, they experience depression as their body no longer provides the dopamine they need, which can be worse than previous depression symptoms.

There is another aspect to this issue, which is cocaine’s ability to corrupt your brain’s natural cell-removal process, causing it to kill cells that are required for proper emotional regulation. This opens the door for depression and makes it more difficult for you to cope with symptoms.

Treating Co-Occurring Disorders

There is some good news. Cocaine use disorder and depression can be treated together as co-occurring disorders, breaking the cycle and helping patients achieve lasting and satisfying sobriety. This approach removes or mitigates the triggers for cocaine use while addressing the mental and emotional challenges of depression to comfort patients.

Mental health professionals can guide you through comprehensive drug addiction programs that include CBT, individual counseling, detoxification, and other services that support you throughout withdrawals and empower you with relapse prevention strategies. You don’t have to choose between cocaine use and depression. There is hope for holistic recovery!

Find Recovery at Twin Town Treatment Centers

If you’re struggling with cocaine use disorder, Twin Town Treatment Centers can help! We provide flexible, evidence-backed addiction treatments to address various challenges, including cocaine abuse, alcohol addiction, meth use disorder, and more. Our comprehensive addiction treatments increase your chances of recovery while addressing mental health conditions like depression and other co-occurring disorders. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, call Twin Town Treatment Centers today at 866-594-8844 or contact us online for more information.