The Menacing Duo – Depression and Addiction

Presley, Jackson, Houston, Williams, Spade, Bourdain- and the list goes on…

Several years ago I was grief-stricken when my favourite singer Elvis Presley died.

It was also surprising to learn that he battled depression fueled by an addiction to several substances including alcohol.

Then I read of Michael Jackson who was hooked on opiates due to his inability to sleep. He too succumbed to depression.

Not Long after that Whitney Houston died in her hotel room from polysubstance overdose. Those who follow her life story were exposed to a re-enactment of how the popular singer’s daughter died.

It was in a manner strikingly similar to her mother’s death- overdose of several drugs and found slumped on a bathtub in her hotel room. Both were trying to medicate their depression.

And who can ever forget the affable Robin Williams? He made many people laugh and cry by his gift. Yet, he too suffered from depression, which he tried desperately to resolved through drugs and alcohol.

Lately, we have Kate Spade. Then most recently, Anthony Bourdain.

The former is alleged to have been a heavy drinker and the latter a self-confessed cocaine-addicted and alcoholic. Both have depression.

These popular individuals struggled with both depression and addiction. They are also gifted with beautiful talents that elicit the admiration of the world.

Depression and addiction are first cousins. They tend to co-occur.

That is why clinicians have coined the term comorbidity or dual diagnosis.

The current perception of both illnesses in regard to the cause is sometimes referred to as biopsychosocial.

Bio for genetic predisposition gleaned from strong family history; psycho for psychological stressors; and social for the environment from where the individual operates.

As a practitioner for many years, I will add another component which many tend to not talk about.

This is the spiritual, the matter of the spirit; the affair of the soul.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) would talk about the hole in the soul to describe the spiritual impairment a person suffers from that seeks remedy from drugs and alcohol.

The substances offer a quick relief but the longing for deeper satisfaction never occurs.

Only The Resource Greater than Ourselves can truly bring full satisfaction.

Which comes first, addiction or depression is a chicken and egg question that remains unsettled.

Depression fuels addiction; and addiction fuels depression.

A lot of people are not aware that many drugs have depressant capacities.

Alcohol, for example, is a major depressant. One should never drink alcohol while taking antidepressant medication!

On the other hand, most stimulants, cocaine, and methamphetamine depress the individual when their high effect is gone.

Depression is a silent killer.

Alcohol is a legal drug that fuels depression. It too kills!

I am writing this post to encourage my friends not to be casual about these two maladies of our days.

If you have depression or know of someone who struggles with depression, please seek help.

If you have a strong family history of depression, please unfriend alcohol.

You still can enjoy life and celebrate without it!

And please, do not neglect the affairs of the soul- it is from where that true satisfaction emerges!

True inner satisfaction cannot be given by things or by being renown.

The popular individuals mentioned earlier have proven that to us all.

Let their sleep wake us up!

Shalom, everyone. Have a peaceful weekend ahead of you.

(VLG)