Depression and Addiction Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles

What Is Depression?

Depression is more than feeling “blue.” It’s a full-body shutdown that affects your emotional, mental, and physical states. It drains your energy, hijacks your thoughts, and disconnects you from the world around you. According to a 2023 national survey, nearly 30% of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with depression.[1]

Common symptoms of depression can include:[2]

• Sadness, irritability, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest in what used to make you happy
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Eating too much or too little
• Feeling like you and what you do doesn’t matter
• Brain fog or poor memory
• Suicidal ideation or attempts

Symptoms like these that persist for more than a few weeks go far beyond “just being in a funk.” While everyone feels down occasionally, clinical depression is a sustained pattern that disrupts daily functioning and well-being.

Addiction and Interaction with Depression

Depression makes you want to disappear. Substances can offer a temporary escape, leading to a cycle of self-medication. You may drink or use drugs to numb your emotions or quiet your mind — but over time, this “relief” rewires your brain, making you dependent just to feel okay. Addiction also disrupts brain chemistry, worsening depressive symptoms until you’re chasing a high that’s always out of reach.

Both addiction and depression share risk factors like stress, trauma, and genetic predisposition. People with close relatives who have depression are two to three times more likely to develop it themselves.[3] The same holds true for dysfunctional or abusive environments, which raise the risk of both addiction and mental illness.[4]

Brain imaging studies confirm that the parts of the brain involved in mood, sleep, and decision-making are functionally different in people with depression.[5] Other research shows that disruptions in these same brain regions are tied to addiction and impulsive behaviors.[6]

The numbers say it all. Nearly 50% of people with a mental illness also struggle with addiction — and vice versa.[7] Those with mood disorders are twice as likely to develop substance use disorders, and over 17 million U.S. adults are living with both conditions.[8,9]

Sorting out which came first — depression or addiction — and which symptoms belong to which disorder can be confusing. But treating them separately misses the point. Recovery requires a dual diagnosis approach that addresses both conditions together to create meaningful, lasting change.

Different Types of Depression

Major depressive disorder is what we commonly refer to as “depression,” but there are other types of depression to be aware of.[10]

• Persistent depressive disorder: A long-lasting depressive episode that can be more persistent than major depressive disorder with less-severe symptoms. It typically lasts two years or longer and can wear you down over time.
• Seasonal depression: Also known as seasonal affective disorder, this form of depression occurs with seasonal changes, usually in fall and winter, and tends to improve with more daylight in spring and summer.
• Bipolar depression: Marked by extreme highs and lows (mania or hypomania and depression), bipolar depression is a cyclical mood disorder with episodes that can severely impact daily life.
• Perinatal depression: More intense than typical “baby blues,” this type affects women during pregnancy or after childbirth and can interfere with bonding and caregiving.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): An extreme form of PMS characterized by mood swings, irritability, and depression that occur before menstruation.
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD): A childhood disorder with severe temper outbursts and chronic irritability, going beyond normal mood swings or tantrums.

Depression and Substance Use Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs in Los Angeles

At iRely Recovery, we rely on evidence-based, life-changing modalities that help you overcome your struggles. Here are some of the treatment options for practical and holistic therapy for depression and substance use disorder:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps challenge your inner critic, rewrite negative thought loops, and make conscious, healthy choices.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): Balances emotional highs and lows while teaching tools to cope with intense feelings and impulsive behaviors.
• Individual therapy: A one-on-one space to process trauma, understand your story, and rebuild through personalized strategies.
• Family therapy: Repairs damaged connections and helps loved ones navigate the healing process together with empathy and structure.
• Group therapy: Offers connection, support, and shared understanding in a space where others are walking a similar path.
• Recovery-oriented treatment: Focuses on building purpose, clarity, and a sustainable sober lifestyle.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Teaches how to move forward even in the presence of pain, guided by values and meaning.
• Somatic experiencing therapy: Releases trauma stored in the body and helps you feel physically grounded and safe again.
• Adventure therapy: Builds confidence, connection, and healing through outdoor activities that challenge and inspire.
• Trauma-informed care: Ensures every step of treatment respects your lived experience and avoids retraumatization.
• Experiential therapy: Uses art, music, and movement to help you express feelings that may be difficult to verbalize.
• Mindfulness-based therapy: Cultivates awareness and calm by learning to observe emotions and thoughts without judgment.
• Motivational interviewing (MI): Encourages honest reflection and empowers you to find your own reasons and readiness for change.