Steroids And Depression

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Learn How Steroids And Depression Can Go Hand-In-Hand

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, anabolic steroids have legitimate medical uses for the treatment of problems such as muscle loss from cancer, but some people abuse these drugs to improve physical appearance and performance, which can lead to abuse of steroids and depression.

Steroids are man-made drugs that mimic the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone, making them appealing to weight lifters and body builders who want to pack on muscle.

While these drugs may temporarily boost performance for some users, when people use them for reasons other than a legitimate medical condition that a doctor is treating, they can suffer from a range of negative side effects.

These include paranoia, aggressive rages, delusions, poor judgment, and manic behavior.

Over the long-term, steroid abuse can also cause serious health problems, including kidney failure, liver problems, blood clots, heart problems, increased cancer risk, hair loss, and decreased fertility.

Steroids and depression are also among the negative effects of steroid abuse.

Why Steroids And Depression Occur Together

Steroids and depression can occur because of how steroids interact and affect your brain functioning. While steroids may not cause someone to feel high like other drugs of abuse do, they do have a harmful impact on mental status, as evidenced by their negative effects on judgment and their association with psychological symptoms like delusions, paranoia, and irritability.

These negative effects may be a result of the brain damage from steroid abuse. According to the results of a study in addiction, men who are dependent upon steroids show brain damage in areas associated with controlling emotions, which can alter the mood and lead to problems like depression.

Withdrawal From Steroids And Depression

While steroids can cause brain changes that lead to depression, withdrawing from these drugs can also affect how you feel mentally and make you feel more depressed after you stop using steroids. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, depression is one of the more serious withdrawal symptoms associated with steroid abuse, and it may even increase the risk of suicide attempts. Some people need to take antidepressant medications after coming off of steroids, because the link between steroids and depression can be long-lasting, meaning symptoms of depression continue for a significant period of time after a person gives up these drugs.

Other Risk Factors For Steroids And Depression

Steroids and depression can be related because of brain changes from steroid abuse and the withdrawal symptoms associated with these drugs, but these are not the only causes of abuse of steroids. A study in Drug and Alcohol Review found that steroids and depression may be linked because of concerns over appearance.

When people are concerned about their appearance, they may become depressed, and they might also use steroids to cope with these appearance-related concerns. While steroids can sometimes directly cause depression by changing the brain chemistry or leading to withdrawal symptoms, it is also possible that worries over physical appearance can lead to abuse of steroids.

Are Steroids Addictive?

Regardless of the reason for steroids and depression, an important point to cover is whether or not steroids are addictive. As the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains, steroids are not addictive in the sense that a drug like heroin is addictive, because they do not cause a rush of the feel-good brain chemical called dopamine, which results in pleasure and makes a person want to continue to use drugs.

This means that steroids do not make people feel high, but they can cause problems. For example, a person may continue to take steroids, despite suffering from health problems or from abuse of steroids. They may also continue using steroids even when they cause relationship problems. These behaviors point to a substance use disorder, which is the clinical term for an addiction.

It is also true that steroid withdrawal can cause a range of negative side effects beyond depression, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, drug cravings, lowered sex drive, lack of appetite, and restlessness. These withdrawal side effects, combined with the consequences of steroid abuse, mean that steroids can lead to symptoms that represent drug addiction.

Treatment For Abuse Of Steroids And Depression

If you have been struggling with steroids and depression, you may need treatment to help you stop using steroids and develop coping skills for overcoming depression. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment for steroids and depression should involve psychological therapies to help people overcome body image concerns, as well as treatment to deal with depression.

Some people may require antidepressants to recover from the effects of steroids and depression, whereas others may benefit from hormonal therapies to relieve depression. People may also need medications to treat withdrawal symptoms like pain and headaches. A doctor or healthcare provider can help you to determine the best treatment plan for your situation.

Steroids And Depression Treatment In California

For those seeking treatment for steroids and depression in the California area, Resurgence is located in Orange County, and offers detox services as well as outpatient and inpatient drug rehab. The facility is a dual diagnosis rehab, which means you can get treated for both abuse of steroids and depression. We believe in providing an individualized treatment plan to each patient, and we will complete a thorough psychological evaluation and then create a plan that is customized to treat your specific situation.

If you choose us as your inpatient rehab provider, you will complete your treatment in a homelike setting, with easy access to California’s beaches, piers, waterfalls, swimming pools, and outdoor shopping centers. You will participate in individual and group counseling as well as educational sessions. We are proud to offer a variety of counseling techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, so you can be sure there will be a program that is a strong fit for your needs.

We can offer you a detox program to help you get through withdrawal symptoms associated with steroids and depression, and after you complete detox, you will have the opportunity to transition into a 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day inpatient rehab program. A member of our team will work with you to determine the best plan for you.

Paying For Treatment

While covering the costs of treatment is often a concern for people seeking mental health services or drug rehab, Resurgence California is able to take some of the stress out of the process. We offer a free insurance verification program to help you make a plan for paying for your treatment. Simply give us a call or fill out a brief form on our website, and a member of our team will contact you to tell you what services your insurance plan covers and what you can expect to pay out of pocket for treatment.

We accept most PPO insurance plans, and once you begin, treatment, we will communicate with your insurance provider on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery. If you do not have insurance to pay for abuse of steroids and depression, we will work with you to develop a payment plan to make rehab affordable for you. Reach out to us today at 855-458-0050 to discuss your options.