whats worse depression or opiate addiction?

[TheLostBoys]

As few have said before I think your depression stems from your opiate addiction. So in the bigger picture wouldn't the opiate addiction be the larger problem since that's what started the depression?

No.....opiate addiction has started a lot because you are depressed &/or have been threw some mental issues. It can go both ways.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

No.....opiate addiction has started a lot because you are depressed &/or have been threw some mental issues. It can go both ways.

I'm not saying that's the case in every situation, it's based on the OP, from what it seemed like to me was he started becoming depressed after he got off the opiates

He specifically says after not using for days and breaking the physical addiction is when he started feeling depressed

 

[TheLostBoys]

I'm not saying that's the case in every situation, it's based on the OP, from what it seemed like to me was he started becoming depressed after he got off the opiates

He specifically says after not using for days and breaking the physical addiction is when he started feeling depressed

I understand that but the OP was asking everyone what worse. If you were a sex addict, you would feel depressed afterwards, if you were severe gambler & stopped, you would feel severely depressed for a while, no matter what your addiction would be, you need to fill that void with something, thats why you are partly depressed & of course with the opiates, its part chemical as well

Thats why exercise should be a big part of someones life after stopping with the opiates.

 

[xburtonchic]

I agree it can go both ways as well, but opiate addiction always leads to depression at some point. That's one of the reasons why I feel it's worse; there is no way to ever "fully" recover. You might stay clean, but it's a battle you'll have to fight every day for the rest of your life to "just say no".

In my case, depression only had a very small part in my addiction to opiates. I had pretty severe PTSD; the worst of it worked itself out on it's own over the course of a year or so, but other residual feelings that I haven't fully worked through yet lingered. Mostly the anxiety and occasional flashbacks. My opiate dependency started after a wisdom tooth surgery and developing a dry socket and my oral surgeon kept me on the Norco's for too long. After a while though, once the pain was gone and I was ALREADY physically addicted... only then did I notice that the opiates wiped out my residual PTSD symptoms completely. So I partly stayed on it because they made me feel good all the time, but the bigger part was the fact that my body was already physically addicted.

I agree with the exercise thing, both with clinical depression and opiates. It's the safest and healthiest way to fight depression and release endorphins naturally.

 

[belfort]

exercise dopes help no doubt about it but its just like a drug imo...it helps you feel better for 2-3 hours and then you are back to normal...hot baths help a little too..nature and sun do as well..

 

[Thou]

Snake eating it own tail sounds like to me.

 

[joezraptor]

Exactly my point. You're trying to cure your addiction WITH opiates, which just makes depression worse in the long run.

What I meant when I say depression is easily curable is that there are a ton of remedies out there for it, both medicinal, herbal, and natural. Medicinal: Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, etc. Herbal: St. John's Wort, Valerian Root. Natural: activities that produce endorphins such as exercise, sex, getting out there and socializing with people, counseling, etc.

Whereas opiate addiction does not have any "easy" cure. The only way to cure yourself from opiate addiction is by taking... more opiates. Either methadone or Suboxone, which are both equally as addictive and have withdrawals that are just as bad. And then once you manage to get off... IF you manage to get off... it's a lifelong battle you have to deal with. Just seeing an opiate or even just hearing someone talk about them can trigger you into a relapse. Not to mention, opiate addiction leads to depression much worse than clinical depression. Oh, and you can die from it. It seems pretty straight forward to me.

I'm not speaking from ignorance here. I've suffered from clinical depression and PTSD before, and it was pretty severe. Yet I still managed to get myself out of it through counseling and forcing myself to do things that naturally produce endorphins. So as someone who's had severe depression, PTSD, AND a severe opiate addiction... I'm sorry, but I would choose clinical depression over an opiate addiction any day of the week.

There may be more options for a depressed person, but an opiate addiction is completely avoidable: don't use opiates. Someone who suffers from clinical depression can't decide to 'quit', they never made the decision to start in the first place.
If anything, many people become addicted because of their depression.
But really, at the end of the day both cause enormous amounts of suffering and pain and there isn't much point in debating which is 'worse'.
I just feel like someone with an opiate addiction, or any addiction, had more choices. They didn't decide to be addicted, but they sure as hell made poor decisions which lead them there. The decision to use multiple times a week, the decision to up their dose, the decision to start shooting up, etc.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

I understand that but the OP was asking everyone what worse. If you were a sex addict, you would feel depressed afterwards, if you were severe gambler & stopped, you would feel severely depressed for a while, no matter what your addiction would be, you need to fill that void with something, thats why you are partly depressed & of course with the opiates, its part chemical as well

Well yea but everything u mentioned is a result from an addiction. From what your saying the depression occurs when deprived from whatever it is that addicts you. In the long run it seems that the addiction is really the worse of the two because that's what's causing the depression.

Whether your a dope fiend or a shopaholic they both generally have the same consequences. not to say that depression can't be caused from something else, but in the OP's case his depression is a result from his opiate addiction

O yea and OP I dk if this was mentioned but you should look into 5-htp. It basically helps to increase the naturally occurring amino acids which produce serotonin and endorphins that give a feeling of well being. It's sold OTC if you live in the U.S., U.K., & Canada. I know a few who have used it and they give it good reviews

 

[TheLostBoys]

There may be more options for a depressed person, but an opiate addiction is completely avoidable: don't use opiates. Someone who suffers from clinical depression can't decide to 'quit', they never made the decision to start in the first place.
If anything, many people become addicted because of their depression.
But really, at the end of the day both cause enormous amounts of suffering and pain and there isn't much point in debating which is 'worse'.
I just feel like someone with an opiate addiction, or any addiction, had more choices. They didn't decide to be addicted, but they sure as hell made poor decisions which lead them there. The decision to use multiple times a week, the decision to up their dose, the decision to start shooting up, etc.

^^^^^^^^^^

Exactly!

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

There may be more options for a depressed person, but an opiate addiction is completely avoidable: don't use opiates. Someone who suffers from clinical depression can't decide to 'quit', they never made the decision to start in the first place.
If anything, many people become addicted because of their depression.
But really, at the end of the day both cause enormous amounts of suffering and pain and there isn't much point in debating which is 'worse'.
I just feel like someone with an opiate addiction, or any addiction, had more choices. They didn't decide to be addicted, but they sure as hell made poor decisions which lead them there. The decision to use multiple times a week, the decision to up their dose, the decision to start shooting up, etc.

WHAT?! Someone who's seriously addicted to anything doesn't partake in it multiple times a week, change their dose and start shooting up because they feel like it. They do it because of progression, increased tolerance and if they don't they're in a whirlwind of trouble. Sure they'll make that decision to use at first, but when someone is really caught in an addiction (ESPECIALLY OPIATES) they don't think straight and often times can't control their actions or needs, because they're ADDICTED. That's what separates a user, abuser and an addict.

Have you ever been caught deep in an addiction? because if so you know you do a lot of shit out of necessity, because your body physically NEEDS that drug. Plus I'm pretty sure more people die due to the drug lifestyle (i.e. Juarez Cartel) as well as dying from w.d. (i.e. Alcohol w.d.) than depression

Not to mention if you were going into a job interview and you had to disclose that your either a drug addict or depressed which would you rather disclose?

I'm not downplaying depression, but to say that an addict has more choices than someone whose depressed is ridiculous. Getting a job, going to college/school, exercising, volunteering, counseling or anything to make you a productive member of society could help deal with depression.

A real addict can't do any of those things unless they're high first, and if they did want to stop the only real choice they have to beat addiction is to stop doing whatever it is that's addicting them.

How is depression easily curable? Atleast half the reason i got into drugs was because they helped my mood. Ive gotten drunk, coked up, fucked on opiates, stoned, spun and everything else all to escape my mood swings.

Just because drugs increased your mood doesn't mean your depressed. They probably increased your mood due to the rush of dopamine you received when using.

xburtonchic hit the nail on the head

If your depressed take some 5-htp and hit the gym. BOOM

And whoever said that going to the gym only makes you feel good for 2-3 hours is full of it. Besides all the endorphins activated watching your body transform due to all the hard work and dedication you did completely by yourself is much more self-serving than just a few hours as well as it can increase self-esteem, self worth, confidence, energy, HEALTH!

Unless you juice because then your just a bitch

 

[TheLostBoys]

Have you ever been caught deep in an addiction? because if so you know you do a lot of shit out of necessity, because your body physically NEEDS that drug. Plus I'm pretty sure more people die due to the drug lifestyle (i.e. Juarez Cartel) as well as dying from w.d. (i.e. Alcohol w.d.) than depression

Addiction is mostly psychologically with most drugs, definitely gambling(because I was in it) & other addictions.

 

[belfort]

wolfman- i said that exercise only makes u feel better for a few hours and its true..the main reason exercise helps depression is because it does the same thing drugs do, it raises pleasure chemicals, endorphins, what have you...sure the lasting benefits of looking better help but to a person that is truly depressed, simply looking better doesnt help much when u feel bad inside!u need a little better understanding of depression and the diffeent types..

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

wolfman- i said that exercise only makes u feel better for a few hours and its true..the main reason exercise helps depression is because it does the same thing drugs do, it raises pleasure chemicals, endorphins, what have you...sure the lasting benefits of looking better help but to a person that is truly depressed, simply looking better doesnt help much when u feel bad inside!u need a little better understanding of depression and the diffeent types..

I'll admit I'm not a connoisseur of depression but I have dealt with some myself in the past, and someone who's depressed usually shows signs of it on the outside. Whether it be lack of appearance or just not caring how you come off because your so depressed. Despite the endorphins flowing to increase your mood, being able to see your body change to the body you desire as well as having others notice it can do wonders for your self-esteem. I know from experience

Addiction is mostly psychologically with most drugs, definitely gambling(because I was in it) & other addictions.

Any addiction you adhere to produces dopamine (feeling good) when you stop doing whatever it is your used to/addicted to there's a lack of dopamine. Have you ever seen a shopaholic or know what their addiction is like, because for them shopping activates the same chemicals as heroin does. Dopamine. You can't say an addiction is psychological when people go through physical withdrawls and sometimes death due to lack of whatever drug theyre used to. However I do think ones feelings or mood can be affected psychologically, but not completely.

For you guys to say addiction is a choice is bullshit. No one wakes up one day and says I'm gonna shoot heroin, lose all contact with my friends and family, lose my job, spend all my money, and wake up sick every morning for the next 10 + years

Were talking about 2 different things. My initial response was directed at the OP stating he's become depressed because of his opiate abuse. Someone who's depressed and someone whos depressed due to their lack of drug of choice are 2 different things in my book. Someone's who's depressed didn't get that way due to drugs, but someone who's depressed due to their lack of drug use is a completely different story IMO

When it comes down to it, clinical depression is usually caused by a chemical imbalance. If your depressed before you become addicted then there are natural ways to combat that which doesn't necessarily involve drugs. If your depressed due to lack of drug use then it's because your deliberately depriving your body of a chemical or it's stopped producing natural chemicals because it's so use to it being supplied from an outside source. Chemicals which its become so used to in order to survive.

I'm not a doctor, but I've been in many many different rehabilitation centers and seen the difference first hand in LOTS of different people as well as experiencing it myself. None of us are licensed professionals so therefore our responses are based solely on opinion and experiences. And everything I've talked about is my opinion. I'm not trying to force you guys to agree with me, and I can respect everyone's difference in opinion, I'm just trying to get my point across since it's something I feel very strongly about incase you haven't noticed. my intention wasn't to have this turn into a huge argument about who's right and who's wrong, and if that's how it came off I'm sorry. I just naturally like to debate, especially if it's something I believe strongly in, as well as giving someone 2 sides to every story, but I'm not worked up over it to the point I'm gonna lose sleep on it or anything. Just a few guys having an educated conversation

 

[TheLostBoys]

For you guys to say addiction is a choice is bullshit. No one wakes up one day and says I'm gonna shoot heroin, lose all contact with my friends and family, lose my job, spend all my money, and wake up sick every morning for the next 10 + years

I beg to differ with this statement. Doing drugs is a choice & once you get addicted, it was because you made the choice of doing the drug.

Over the the years I have watched plenty of movies of what crack & heroin & other drugs have done to a person & the 2 scariest outcomes of the people doing crack & heroin prevented me in my mind from doing these drugs. Im the kind of person that isnt curious for a drug if ive seen how bad the people before me using the drug has turned them into someone I rather not be.

This is why I never picked up a needle & never will hopefully but its my choice whether I do drugs or not, no one elses.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

I beg to differ with this statement. Doing drugs is a choice & once you get addicted, it was because you made the choice of doing the drug.

Over the the years I have watched plenty of movies of what crack & heroin & other drugs have done to a person & the 2 scariest outcomes of the people doing crack & heroin prevented me in my mind from doing these drugs. Im the kind of person that isnt curious for a drug if ive seen how bad the people before me using the drug has turned them into someone I rather not be.

This is why I never picked up a needle & never will hopefully but its my choice whether I do drugs or not, no one elses.

Before I started using I was well aware of the negative affects and consequences from drug use from the DARE program, movies, and having prisoners coming into our school and talk to us about the decisions they've made. But I, like most addicts, never fathomed that any of those outcomes would pertain to me. I, like most people had the mentality that it can happen to them but I won't let it happen to me. Which I was wrong about. When it comes down to it NO ONE chooses to become addicted to anything. It's just a dependence that builds up over prolonged use to the point that you can't control it.

When you say you never picked up a needle and that it's your choice whether you decide to use or not, does that mean that you haven't experienced serious drug addiction? Because only someone who knows what it's like to be seriously dependent on a drug or action for a prolonged period of time can really know how bad drug dependence/addiction is. For those who haven't experienced intense drug addiction, they can't make an educated statement because everything you'll watch on tv or read in articles don't to it justice. people can try to explain how it is all they want, but you will never REALLY know until your there yourself

 

[TheLostBoys]

Before I started using I was well aware of the negative affects and consequences from drug use from the DARE program, movies, and having prisoners coming into our school and talk to us about the decisions they've made. But I, like most addicts, never fathomed that any of those outcomes would pertain to me. I, like most people had the mentality that it can happen to them but I won't let it happen to me. Which I was wrong about. When it comes down to it NO ONE chooses to become addicted to anything. It's just a dependence that builds up over prolonged use to the point that you can't control it.

I agree with you 100% on no one chooses or wants to become an addict but everyone has the choice of doing drugs & we are not retarded, we know what can possibly happen if we do choose to do the drugs.

Just like having unprotected sex, we know we may catch a disease or get a girl pregnant but we still do it knowing the possible outcome. Maybe its the excitement of doing the drug that drags us in, how they glorify drugs in movies that pulls us in or maybe our friends are doing it so it must be okay & once in the game, we're hooked.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

I agree with you 100% on no one chooses or wants to become an addict but everyone has the choice of doing drugs & we are not retarded, we know what can possibly happen if we do choose to do the drugs.

Just like having unprotected sex, we know we may catch a disease or get a girl pregnant but we still do it knowing the possible outcome. Maybe its the excitement of doing the drug that drags us in, how they glorify drugs in movies that pulls us in or maybe our friends are doing it so it must be okay & once in the game, we're hooked.

I can say from personal experience the reason I started using was to be accepted by my friends (stupid I know,but I was young). And even though a lot of people including myself are aware of the consequences of prolonged drug use, everyone who I've talked to on the subject including me never thought that we would end up at rock bottom etc..

I know if you wouldve come up to me at 13 and told me that I would be in 4 different rehabs, one for a year, jail, using heroin, not able to control my drug use, and would've lost contact with almost everyone I was close to due to my drug addiction I would've said your full of shit. As most people would probably say. But that's exactly what happened. I don't think anyone starts using drugs with the mindset that they'll become physically dependent as well as all the other negative outcomes of drug addiction, but throughout my life and from relating with people I've found that 90% of addicts have the same consequences, no matter who they are, and no one planned for it.

The addiction took over and someone who hasn't ever been really addicted to drugs can't imagine what it's like.

And just like contracting an STI or becoming impregnated due to unprotected sex, none of those people really thought it would happen to them until it was too late. If people seriously believed that everything they hear about drug addiction would actually happen to them then i don't think we'd have nearly as many addicts on this planet as we do. Its all because they think they're different from the person next to them, which isn't the case when it comes to drug addiction.

 

[Wolfmans_BrothEr]

I understand that but the OP was asking everyone what worse. If you were a sex addict, you would feel depressed afterwards, if you were severe gambler & stopped, you would feel severely depressed for a while, no matter what your addiction would be, you need to fill that void with something, thats why you are partly depressed & of course with the opiates, its part chemical as well

Thats why exercise should be a big part of someones life after stopping with the opiates.

And in the OP's original post he talks about becoming depressed due to his lack of opiate use. He never said he was depressed before he started the opiates, but once he stopped. Which is why I responded that in his particular case, the opiate addiction is worse because that's what caused the depression. IMO

 

[TheLostBoys]

And in the OP's original post he talks about becoming depressed due to his lack of opiate use. He never said he was depressed before he started the opiates, but once he stopped. Which is why I responded that in his particular case, the opiate addiction is worse because that's what caused the depression. IMO

Yes, that may have caused his depression, his opiate use but theres a flip side to that story. Others have used opiates because they are depressed hoping to feel anything other than depression.

Me personally, I would rather feel anything but (natural depression, not caused by drugs) so choosing to do a drug to make me feel better is no contest. I would have to bite the bullet & be happy/feel normal/enjoy life for a while & then suffer what an addict goes threw but then again, we are all different & addiction captures us all differently.

Some of us can stop cold turkey w/o anyones help & some of us are so addicted to drugs because thats how we are wired structurally in our brains, addiction is a disease caused by our own choice of trying the drug itself.

 

[itsok]

I actually read and enjoyed every word on this post. It made me laugh and smile and I don't feel so bad anymore. So, I'm not depressed or addicted to opiates now, but I'm spoiled and bored too death and rich and have nothing else to say but thanks and I love every single response to this post.

Oh and I'm a female, asian, middle-aged person...lol!!!