Coping with Withdrawal-Induced Depression After Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Cocaine abuse can cause some of the most intense and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms of any drug. One of the most difficult symptoms to endure is depression, and it can last long after cocaine addiction treatment. Therefore, it is important to be able to cope with this symptom in order to keep it from leading to relapse and other issues.

Medication

According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, “During the late withdrawal phase, when depression may be present, antidepressants may be an appropriate choice for treatment.” If you discuss the issue with your doctor, you can potentially take antidepressants even after your initial cocaine addiction treatment program has ended. Different medications may be appropriate for different individuals, and you should always discuss the other medications or supplements you are taking with your doctor to make sure the antidepressants will not react poorly with them.

While many people believe these drugs are only for those suffering from major depression or another mental disorder, those who are dealing with cocaine withdrawal must also have access to antidepressants when they can be helpful. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Antidepressant medications should NOT be withheld under the assumption that the depression is only related to withdrawal, and not a pre-exiting condition.”

Therapy

If you are struggling with severe depressive symptoms after quitting cocaine abuse, you should continue to attend therapy for this issue. In a behavioral therapy program or another type of therapeutic treatment, you can receive the help you need to avoid relapse and to treat your depressive symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a beneficial treatment that can help with both addiction and depression simultaneously by teaching patients better coping strategies and ways to avoid issues associated with these disorders. Many counselors can treat both issues and take all your needs into account when helping you work through your recovery.

Other Coping Mechanisms

Breathing exercises can be effective in relieving withdrawal-induced depression.

There are changes you can make to your everyday routine to help avoid any issues associated with your depressive withdrawal symptoms. These include:

Doing things that make you happy like playing video games, watching a good movie, reading a book, or playing with your pet when you begin to feel depressed
Breathing exercises to relax and help yourself focus on what you need
Asking a friend or family member to stay with you while you are going through your severe withdrawal symptoms
Going for a walk or putting on some music and dancing around for a bit; anything to get your body moving
Challenging your negative thoughts by asking yourself where the truth is behind them
Keeping a journal to get out your bad emotions so you won’t have to dwell on them as much