Have you ever eaten something you liked but afterward it made you feel bad? Maybe you even ate it knowing that you would likely feel bad after but thought that the joy you got while eating it was worth it.
This same thing can happen with substances and your mental health. One example of this is cocaine and depression. Over 105,000 people aged 12+ in Arizona reported engaging with cocaine in the last year. This is more than double the population of Prescott, AZ. Despite this, most people are unaware of how substances like cocaine can truly influence mental health conditions like depression.
Our team at Wolf Creek Recovery is dedicated to honesty, which is why we want to talk about this combination and how it can impact a person’s overall well-being.
What You Need to Know About Cocaine and Depression
Cocaine is a stimulant-type substance. This means that it causes the body to overall speed up. The primary systems impacted are the heart, lungs, and mind.
Depression, on the other hand, is a mental health condition that primarily consists of low energy, low self-worth, and low motivation – to boil it down simply. Innately, this is a counter opposite of how cocaine influences the body.
So, how do these two interact?
How Cocaine Impacts Your Mind and Mood
As we touched on, cocaine speeds up the body, but let’s talk more specifically about how it works when it’s within your system.
The biggest thing that cocaine does is that it interrupts the normal operation of your dopamine system. Dopamine is a natural chemical that the brain produces that causes us to feel pleasure. It’s known as the “reward chemical” because it’s produced when we do positive things like eating or having sex. When cocaine is present, it overproduces dopamine and blocks it from recycling back into your body as it normally would.
This causes people who are engaging with cocaine to feel euphoric. It leads to increased energy, elevated mood, insomnia, increased anxiety, reduced appetite, and more.
Does Cocaine Cause Depression or Does It Just Worsen It?
Because cocaine influences your dopamine system, it can greatly impact your mood. Your body becomes accustomed to the heightened levels of dopamine caused by regular cocaine use so that when you have normal levels of dopamine it feels lacking. This can both lead to the development of depression or worsen pre-existing depression.
For the development of depression, specifically, there is usually more involved than just the physical reactions from cocaine. The other circumstances they’re in, such as lowered self-care, high stress, damage to their relationships, financial challenges, and more also play a part.
How Cocaine Withdrawal Impacts Your Mental Health
Our minds are very adaptive. When something regularly alters part of the brain’s normal function, it changes in response. In some cases, this means the brain relaxing because something else is doing its job for it.
When you then remove this substance, your brain has to scramble to remember how to take over the function once more. This leads to side effects as your body adjusts. This period is known as withdrawal.
Cocaine withdrawals, specifically, have side effects such as:
- Restlessness
- Increased depression
- Fatigue
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Slowed thinking
Effective Treatment Options for Cocaine and Depression in Arizona
Both cocaine and depression can have an impact on your life. At times it can seem like there’s no way out, but we promise there is. There are cocaine addiction rehab programs available right here in Arizona that are dedicated to meeting you where you are and helping you find healing.
Our team at Wolf Creek Recovery understands the recovery journey – they’ve been through it themselves. That’s why our program is so focused on integrity, respect, and compassion. We will work with you to craft a plan that addresses your needs. Just give us a call at 833-732-8202 and you can get started building a life you love today.
