What is substance abuse treatment. How can families support loved ones struggling with addiction. What are the different types of treatment available. How effective is substance abuse treatment. What role does harm reduction play in addressing addiction.

The Basics of Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse treatment encompasses a range of interventions and support services designed to help individuals overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol. It aims to address the complex physical, psychological, and social factors that contribute to substance use disorders.

Key components of substance abuse treatment often include:

• Detoxification
• Behavioral therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Support groups
• Aftercare and relapse prevention

Is substance abuse treatment a one-size-fits-all approach? No, effective treatment is tailored to each individual’s unique needs, circumstances, and substance use patterns. What works for one person may not be as effective for another, which is why a personalized treatment plan is crucial.

The Role of Harm Reduction in Substance Abuse Treatment

Harm reduction has emerged as a critical component in addressing substance use disorders. This evidence-based approach focuses on minimizing the negative health, social, and legal impacts associated with drug use, without necessarily requiring abstinence.

Key principles of harm reduction include:

1. Meeting people where they are in their journey
2. Prioritizing health and safety over punitive measures
3. Empowering individuals to make informed decisions
4. Providing low-barrier access to health services

How does harm reduction fit into the broader spectrum of substance abuse treatment? Harm reduction serves as a bridge, often connecting individuals who use drugs to other vital services, including prevention, treatment, and recovery support. It’s not a replacement for traditional treatment approaches, but rather a complementary strategy that can enhance overall outcomes.

The Impact of Harm Reduction Services

Harm reduction services have proven to be highly effective in addressing the current substance use and overdose epidemic. These services can:

• Prevent drug-related deaths
• Reduce the transmission of infectious diseases
• Increase access to healthcare and social services
• Provide a pathway to treatment for those who are ready

Are harm reduction services only about providing clean needles? No, while syringe services programs are an important component, harm reduction encompasses a much broader range of strategies. These may include overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, and connections to other health and social services.

Family Involvement in Substance Abuse Treatment

Families play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones through substance abuse treatment. Their involvement can significantly improve treatment outcomes and help maintain long-term recovery.

Ways families can support treatment include:

• Educating themselves about addiction and treatment options
• Participating in family therapy sessions
• Encouraging their loved one to stick with treatment
• Creating a supportive, substance-free home environment
• Addressing their own needs through support groups like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon

Should families force their loved ones into treatment? While the desire to help is understandable, research shows that treatment is most effective when the individual is internally motivated to change. Families can play a supportive role by encouraging treatment, but ultimately, the decision to seek help must come from the person struggling with addiction.

Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Substance abuse treatment comes in various forms, each designed to address different levels of addiction severity and individual needs. Common types of treatment programs include:

1. Inpatient/Residential Treatment
2. Outpatient Treatment
3. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
4. Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)
5. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
6. Therapeutic Communities
7. Sober Living Homes

How do you determine which type of treatment is best? The appropriate level of care depends on factors such as the severity of addiction, presence of co-occurring mental health disorders, previous treatment history, and individual preferences. A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional can help guide this decision.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment involves living at a treatment facility full-time, typically for 30 to 90 days. This intensive approach provides 24/7 support and removes individuals from potentially triggering environments. Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, allows individuals to live at home while attending regular therapy sessions and treatment activities.

Is inpatient treatment always more effective than outpatient care? Not necessarily. While inpatient treatment can be beneficial for those with severe addictions or unstable living situations, outpatient treatment can be equally effective for many individuals, particularly those with strong support systems and less severe substance use disorders.

The Effectiveness of Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse treatment can be highly effective in helping individuals achieve and maintain recovery. However, it’s important to understand that addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition, and treatment outcomes can vary widely.

Factors that influence treatment effectiveness include:

• The individual’s commitment to recovery
• The quality and appropriateness of the treatment program
• The duration of treatment
• The presence of co-occurring mental health disorders
• The level of family and social support

Does relapse mean treatment has failed? No, relapse is often part of the recovery process and should be viewed as an opportunity to adjust and strengthen the treatment approach. Many individuals require multiple treatment episodes before achieving long-term recovery.

The Role of Medication in Substance Abuse Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has become an integral part of substance abuse treatment, particularly for opioid and alcohol use disorders. MAT combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Common medications used in MAT include:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
• Acamprosate
• Disulfiram

Is MAT simply replacing one drug with another? This is a common misconception. MAT medications are prescribed at safe doses and help normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve cravings, and stabilize body functions. When used as prescribed, they do not create a new addiction.

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

Research has shown that MAT can:

1. Improve patient survival rates
2. Increase retention in treatment
3. Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity
4. Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
5. Improve birth outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders

How long should someone stay on MAT? The duration of MAT varies depending on individual needs. Some people may benefit from long-term or even lifelong medication use, while others may eventually taper off under medical supervision. The goal is to support recovery and improve quality of life, not to set arbitrary time limits.

Addressing Co-occurring Mental Health Disorders

Many individuals struggling with substance use disorders also have co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. This is often referred to as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

Effective treatment for co-occurring disorders typically involves:

• Integrated treatment that addresses both conditions simultaneously
• A combination of psychotherapy and medication management
• Trauma-informed care
• Holistic approaches that address overall well-being

Can substance abuse treatment be effective if underlying mental health issues aren’t addressed? While some progress can be made, treating substance use disorders without addressing co-occurring mental health conditions often leads to poorer outcomes and higher relapse rates. Integrated treatment that tackles both issues concurrently is generally more effective.

The Importance of Aftercare in Substance Abuse Treatment

Aftercare, also known as continuing care, is a crucial component of substance abuse treatment that helps individuals maintain their recovery after completing an initial treatment program. It provides ongoing support and resources to prevent relapse and address challenges that arise in early recovery.

Common elements of aftercare include:

1. Regular outpatient therapy sessions
2. Participation in support groups (e.g., AA, NA, SMART Recovery)
3. Sober living arrangements
4. Ongoing medication management
5. Vocational support and life skills training

How long should aftercare continue? The duration of aftercare varies depending on individual needs, but many experts recommend a minimum of one year of ongoing support following initial treatment. Some individuals may benefit from lifelong participation in support groups or periodic check-ins with treatment providers.

The Role of Support Groups in Recovery

Support groups play a vital role in many individuals’ recovery journeys. They provide a sense of community, shared experiences, and ongoing motivation to maintain sobriety. While 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are well-known, there are also many alternatives available to suit different preferences and beliefs.

Benefits of participating in support groups include:

• Reduced feelings of isolation
• Access to peer support and mentorship
• Opportunities to develop new coping skills
• Increased accountability
• A sense of purpose through helping others

Are support groups a replacement for professional treatment? While support groups can be incredibly beneficial, they are typically most effective when used in conjunction with professional treatment. They complement rather than replace evidence-based therapies and medical interventions.

In conclusion, substance abuse treatment is a complex and multifaceted process that requires a comprehensive approach. From harm reduction strategies to intensive inpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment to long-term aftercare, there are many pathways to recovery. By understanding the various components of substance abuse treatment, families can better support their loved ones and navigate the challenges of addiction together. Remember, recovery is possible, and with the right support and resources, individuals can overcome substance use disorders and build fulfilling, healthy lives.

Harm Reduction | SAMHSA

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Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives. Harm reduction is a key pillar in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy.

Harm Reduction at SAMHSA

Harm Reduction at SAMHSA

Harm reduction is a practical and transformative approach that incorporates community-driven public health strategies — including prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion — to empower people who use drugs (and their families) with the choice to live healthy, self-directed, and purpose-filled lives. Harm reduction centers the lived and living experience of people who use drugs, especially those in underserved communities, in these strategies and the practices that flow from them.

Harm reduction emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission; improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing; and offer low barrier options for accessing health care services, including substance use and mental health disorder treatment.

Harm reduction is an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive approach to addressing substance use disorders through prevention, treatment, and recovery — and empowering people to reach their own goals, through incremental change.

Organizations who practice harm reduction incorporate a spectrum of strategies that meet people where they are ― on their own terms, and may serve as a pathway to additional health and social services, including additional prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Harm reduction works by addressing broader health and social issues through improved policies, programs, and practices.

Why are Harm Reduction Services Needed?

Why are Harm Reduction Services Needed?

The U. S. is experiencing the most significant substance use and overdose epidemic it has ever faced, exacerbated by the recent worldwide pandemic, and driven by the proliferation of highly potent synthetic opioids (containing fentanyl or fentanyl analogs) and animal tranquilizers (like xylazine) into many types of drugs (including stimulants and counterfeit prescription pills).

There were more than 100,000 drug-involved overdose deaths in 2022.

Harm reduction offers an opportunity to reach people who aren’t otherwise accessing healthcare services ― and offer them naloxone to reverse an overdose, and help connect them to other needed services. As an example, treatment services (such as medications for opioid use disorder) can be co-located with harm reduction services and offered as an option.

This potential connection to treatment is critical, when the data show that:

• Only around one out of ten people with a substance use disorder have received treatment.
• Nearly all people with a substance use disorder who didn’t get treatment at a specialty facility didn’t think they needed treatment.

Harm reduction organizations can fill that gap ― by providing services that people do feel they need, in order to make positive change.

Harm reduction services save lives by being available and accessible in a manner that emphasizes the need for humility and compassion toward people who use drugs. Harm reduction plays a significant role in preventing drug-related deaths and increasing access to healthcare, social services, and treatment. These services decrease overdose fatalities, acute life-threatening infections related to unsterile drug injection, and chronic diseases (such as HIV and hepatitis C).

It is ideal to implement overdose education and naloxone delivery (OEND) programs at syringe services programs. (Most studies that demonstrate OEND’s effectiveness focus on programs that deliver OEND services directly to people who use drugs.) Naloxone distribution at syringe services sites has been found to significantly reduce death rates. Scaling these efforts is a priority strategy to achieving adequate availability of (and access to) naloxone.

Harm Reduction’s Place in and Among Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

Harm Reduction’s Place in and Among Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery

Harm reduction is part of a comprehensive prevention strategy and the continuum of care. Harm reduction approaches have proven to prevent death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. Harm reduction is effective in addressing the public health epidemic involving substance use as well as infectious disease and other harms associated with drug use.

As an approach, harm reduction emphasizes kindness and autonomy in the engagement of people who use drugs. It also increases the number of touchpoints (and opportunities) that peers and/or service providers have with people who use drugs.

Specifically, harm reduction services can:

• Connect individuals to overdose education, counseling, and referral to treatment for infectious diseases and substance use disorders.
• Distribute opioid overdose reversal medications (e. g., naloxone) to individuals at risk of overdose, or to those who are likely to respond to an overdose.
• Lessen harms associated with drug use and related behaviors that increase the risk of infectious diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, and bacterial and fungal infections.
• Reduce infectious disease transmission among people who use drugs (including those who inject drugs) by equipping them with sterile supplies, accurate information and facilitating referrals to resources.
• Reduce overdose deaths, promote linkages to care, facilitate co-location of services as part of a comprehensive, integrated approach.
• Reduce stigma associated with substance use and co-occurring disorders.
• Promote a philosophy of hope and healing ― by employing people with living and lived experience in leadership and in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of services. People with lived experience can also model for their peers what meaningful change can look like in their lives.
• Build community and increase protective factors ― for people who use drugs and their families.

SAMHSA’s Current and Future Support for Harm Reduction

SAMHSA awarded 25 grants in FY 2022 for its first-ever Harm Reduction grant program. This funding, authorized by the American Rescue Plan, will help increase access to a range of community harm reduction services and support harm reduction service providers as they work to help prevent overdose deaths and reduce health risks often associated with drug use. SAMHSA accepted applications from State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, Tribal organizations, non-profit community-based organizations, and primary and behavioral health organizations.

SAMHSA is distributing up to $9,750,000 per year (or $29,250,000 over 3 years). Grant recipients receiving federal funding must adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and other requirements as specified in federal grant terms and conditions of award. Other SAMHSA grants may also support harm reduction activities (see Notice of Funding Opportunities).

The following harm reduction services/supplies are allowable costs that may be covered with certain SAMHSA funds:

Harm Reduction Supplies

Harm Reduction Supplies

• Overdose reversal supplies, including the purchase of naloxone kits (this may include syringes for the purpose of administering injectable naloxone only)
• Substance test kits, including fentanyl test strips
• Safer sex kits, including condoms
• Sharps disposal and medication disposal kits
• Wound care supplies
• Medication lock boxes
• Supplies to promote sterile injection and reduce infectious disease transmission through injection drug use — excluding sterile needles, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia*
• Safer smoking kits to reduce infectious disease transmission — excluding pipes/pipettes and other drug paraphernalia**
• FDA-approved home testing kits for viral hepatitis (i. e., HBV and HCV) and HIV
• Written educational materials on safer injection practices and HIV and viral hepatitis and prevention, testing, treatment, and care services
• Distribution mechanisms (e.g., bags for naloxone or safer sex kits, metal boxes/containers for holding naloxone) for harm reduction supplies, including stock as otherwise described and delineated on this list

Harm Reduction Services

Harm Reduction Services

• Overdose reversal education and training services
• Navigation services to ensure linkage to HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care services — including antiretroviral therapy for HCV and HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), prevention of mother to child transmission, and partner services
• Referral to hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations (to reduce risk of viral hepatitis infection)
• Provision of education on HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and referral to treatment services
• Provision of information on local resources and/or referrals for PrEP

National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance (TA) Center

*The Harm Reduction grant program is authorized under Section 2706 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, which is not subject to the same syringe funding restrictions as other federal grants. Syringes to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases are allowed for purchase with grant funds authorized by ARPA for SAMHSA Harm Reduction programs.

**No federal funding is used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to purchase pipes in safer smoking kits. Grants include explicit prohibitions of federal funds to be used to purchase drug paraphernalia.

National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance (TA) Center

SAMHSA is also collaborating with CDC on their National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center (NHRTAC) to provide a comprehensive approach to harm reduction through syringe services programs (SSPs) and to improve access to prevention and intervention services to prevent infectious disease consequences of drug use.

Anyone can visit the NHRTAC website and request technical assistance on harm reduction ― to be connected with experts who will respond in a timely manner.

Going beyond education and technical assistance efforts related to needle exchange, SAMHSA’s support of CDC’s NHRTAC will enable the Center to also address a variety of other individual and community factors related to harm reduction ― such as naloxone distribution and administration, safer sex kits, HIV and viral hepatitis testing, COVID-19 response, community stigma, and opportunities for collaboration between harm reduction and other community efforts (e. g., peer-delivered recovery support efforts).

Through the collaboration with SAMHSA, the NHRTAC will support efforts to expand capacity, increase effectiveness, and strengthen the performance and accountability of harm reduction services. This will be done within a comprehensive prevention strategy at the state and community levels and will provide technical assistance and consultation services to support implementation of effective, evidence-based harm reduction programs, practices, and policies in diverse settings.

Harm Reduction Programs

(Highlights of some of the work observed during SAMHSA site visits.)

• Build trust by:
  • Being consistent and reliable to those seeking support.
  • Increasing access to person-centered services, by reducing access barriers.
  • Employing staff that reflect the community’s culture, languages, and who have lived experience relevant to the population of focus (people who use drugs, people who have experienced homelessness, people who have been incarcerated, people in recovery, etc. ).
• Involve people with lived experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
• Infuse trauma-informed care into organizational structure.
• Receive and incorporate ongoing feedback from participants.
• Regularly conduct outreach in the community, with humility, fostering relationships.
• Build and leverage community partnerships.
• Provide an array of services and resources that support a multitude of needs.
• Address psychosocial needs.
• Co-locate medical and social services with harm reduction programs.
• Nimble mobile units meet participants wherever they’re located, to provide services.
• Provide harm reduction resources and supplies (and support policies) to reduce infectious disease and overdose.

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

• Overdose Prevention Strategy (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
• National Drug Control Strategy (The White House Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy) (PDF | 2. 6 MB)
• The Biden-Harris Administration’s Statement of Drug Policy Priorities for Year One (PDF | 334 KB)
• National Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center

Last Updated

Last Updated: 04/24/2023

Last Updated

Depression Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Headaches, the sharp, throbbing, uncomfortable pains that occur in multiple regions of your head, are common occurrences. In fact, up to 80 percent of adults experience tension headaches.

However, when headaches are linked with depression, you could be dealing with other chronic issues, too.

Sometimes, depression can cause headaches, along with other pains in the body. Research has also shown there are strong links between tension headaches and mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.

In fact, one study reported by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) found that about 11 percent of people with mental health disorders had migraine attacks that preceded them. This included major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.

The ADAA also reports that up to 40 percent of people with migraine may also experience depression. Other types of headaches may be secondary, or a symptom of depression.

Understanding the causes and symptoms of depression headaches can lead to more effective treatment and preventive measures. Learn more so you can talk with your doctor.

Headaches may be classified as either primary or secondary.

Primary headaches may be brought on by lifestyle factors, such as chronic stress, alcohol use, and poor diet. Examples of primary headaches include migraine, cluster, and tension headaches.

Secondary headaches are linked to other underlying conditions, such as muscle aches or medical conditions. Examples of secondary headaches and their causes include:

• sinus headaches
• exercise-induced headaches
• chronic daily headaches
• sex headaches
• headaches from coughing
• illnesses, such as the flu or infection
• high blood pressure, blood clots, or other cardiovascular issues

Headaches can occur at any time of the day, making them unpredictable and leaving you unprepared.

Depression headaches are associated with tension and migraine. Whether a headache is causing your depression or vice-versa depends on the frequency of your headaches. This can be difficult to determine.

Daily headaches associated with muscle aches and stress may cause depressive symptoms. If depression is an underlying condition, you may experience headaches.

Secondary headaches that are brought on by depression are typically tension headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation.

A headache causes pain in your head. The type and intensity of the pain depends on the type of headache you have.

A headache can include one or more of the following symptoms:

• ongoing dull ache
• sharp pain
• radiating pain that moves to more than one area of the head
• throbbing

Sinus headache

With sinus headaches, you’re likely to also experience pain around your forehead, cheeks, and nose, where your sinuses are located.

They aren’t typically associated with depression, though frequent sinus headaches can decrease your quality of life.

Tension headache

Tension headaches can occur in the middle of your head and be accompanied by pain in your neck.

They tend to develop more gradually and occur from muscle contractions around the neck and scalp area. This type of headache is secondary to depressive symptoms.

Migraine

A migraine attack, on the other hand, develops suddenly. Unlike other types of headaches, you can experience a migraine attack for several hours or even days. Migraine also makes you:

• extremely sensitive to light and sound
• nauseated, with or without vomiting
• unable to work and perform basic everyday tasks
• cancel commitments, such as work or social events

For these reasons, migraine attacks often occur before depression.

Depression can either cause a headache or become a related complication of frequent headaches, such as migraine. In either case, it’s important to identify your depression symptoms so you can seek treatment.

Depression

Symptoms of depression include:

• hopelessness
• severe sadness
• guilt
• worthlessness
• fatigue
• excessive daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia
• restlessness
• anxiety
• irritability
• withdrawal from social activities
• decreased sex drive
• loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• physical pain
• appetite changes
• frequent crying
• headaches and other body aches such as back pain

Depression can also cause suicidal thoughts. If you’re experience suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Treating depression headaches can involve a multipronged approach, depending on the underlying causes. You may need treatment for both the headache and depression symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the following options.

Depression migraine medications

Certain prescription medications may be used to treat both depression and anxiety as well as migraine. These include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and anxiolytics.

Botox injections are another treatment option if prescription drugs aren’t well-tolerated. Treating migraine first may alleviate depression symptoms.

Tension headache treatment

Some of the same prescription medications can also treat secondary headaches and other symptoms of depression. These include tricyclic antidepressants and biofeedback.

SSRIs for depression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common medications used to treat depression. Examples include Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac.

This treatment approach may be best if your doctor determines that your headaches are secondary to depression. SSRIs don’t treat the actual headaches.

OTC pain relievers

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can temporarily ease the pain of a severe headache.

These medications include the classics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), as well as more migraine-specific medications, such as Excedrin Migraine, which has aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine.

The problem with OTC pain relievers is they only mask the underlying causes of depression headaches. Also, if you’re taking antidepressants, you may not be able to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, involves hour-long appointments with a mental health professional to work through your thoughts and behaviors. Unlike a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist doesn’t prescribe medication.

Psychotherapy is widely used for depression and anxiety disorders to help modify thoughts and behaviors. If you have major depression with your chronic headaches, then psychotherapy can help alleviate these symptoms over the long term.

Aside from taking prescribed medications, lifestyle habits can go a long way in treating underlying depression that may be contributing to your headaches:

• Diet. Eating a healthy diet of whole foods, not processed ingredients, can help fuel your brain and overall mood.
• Exercise. While it’s difficult to exercise with a headache, regular workouts in between severe headaches can help pump oxygen throughout the body and potentially decrease the incidence of headaches.
• Reduced stress. Stress management and staying socially active also go a long way in treating and preventing depression.
• Complementary treatments. Acupuncture, yoga, and massage are alternative treatments that can help.

While it may seem contradictory, you’ll also want to avoid taking too many OTC headache medications.

Overusing these medications can lead to rebound headaches. These headaches occur when your body gets used to the medications and they no longer work. Rebound headaches tend to be more severe, too.

Your symptoms may warrant a doctor’s visit if you continue to experience headaches on a daily basis, your depressive symptoms get worse, or both.

The Mayo Clinic also recommends seeing a doctor if you have two or more headaches per week.

When determining if you need to see a doctor, ask yourself:

• Are your headaches and symptoms of depression improving?
• Are OTC medications helping?
• Can you make it through the day without taking OTC pain medications?
• Are you able to pursue everyday activities, such as work and hobbies?

If you’ve answered no to any of these questions, it may be time to see your doctor.

You can find a mental health professional by searching the Find a Therapist tool from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Your primary care doctor may also have recommendations for clinical mental health professionals.

Chronic headaches can sometimes cause depression, but it’s also possible to have headaches caused by untreated depression too. In both cases, your headaches and depression are treatable.

The key is to see your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression and chronic headaches. Your doctor can help you figure out the best treatment approaches so you can start feeling like yourself again.

Scientists have discovered an unusual relationship between depression and headaches

https://ria.ru/20171018/1507053941.html

Scientists have discovered an unusual relationship between depression and headaches , 10/18/2017

Scientists have uncovered an unusual link between depression and headaches .2017

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discoveries – RIA Nauka, China

Discoveries – RIA Nauka, Nauka, China

MOSCOW, 18 Oct – RIA Novosti. People who regularly have headaches and migraines are much more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than others, doctors found out who published an article in Headache magazine.

“This finding tells us that drugs that reduce the frequency and severity of headaches may also reduce the likelihood of depression and depressed mood in these same patients,” said Fu-Chi Yang from Taiwan National Medical Center (China).

Scientists have discovered why depression affects men and women differently

11 July 2017, 15:02

Migraine is considered a neurological disease, characterized by episodic or regular severe attacks of pain in one side of the head. The causes of pain can be very different – physical overexertion, food, weather factors, lack of sleep. As a rule, women suffer more from migraines than men.

Sometimes a migraine is preceded by a so-called aura – a temporary deterioration in perception of reality, manifested in blurred vision, hallucinations, numbness, or in the form of problems with speech. Recent studies show that the predisposition to migraine is largely related to the arrangement of certain genes, including those DNA regions that are responsible for the body’s response to cold.

Yang and his colleagues uncovered an unusual relationship between migraines, headaches and depression by observing changes in the health status of approximately six hundred patients registered in the neurology department of their clinic.

Scientists have found a simple way to get rid of depression forms of migraine were more often depressed mood than in other patients.

All this was expressed in the fact that the signs of depression were about twice as bright in people with chronic migraine than in patients from the control group. Moreover, similar differences were observed both among patients with “aura” and without it.

Such a connection, according to scientists, not only indicates the presence of common roots in diseases, but also testifies in favor of the fact that the fight against one disease will help get rid of the second. The essence of this connection is not yet clear, however, Yang and his colleagues suggest that both depression and migraines develop due to lack of sleep, which most of their patients suffered from.

Tension headache – prices for treatment in Moscow, symptoms and appointments

Tension headache (tension type) is the most common type of headache. Tension-type headache (THT) is characterized as pain or discomfort in any part of the head, and is usually associated with muscle tightness in those areas. It is believed that over 20 percent of the population suffers from TTH, with women suffering more frequently. This type of headache can occur at any age but usually occurs in adults and older adolescents.

Attacks of pain may occur intermittently (<15 days per month) or chronically (>15 days). Episodic TTH is mild/moderate, constant/intermittent, and may feel like pressure. This pain lasts from 30 minutes to several days. Episodic headaches tend to come on gradually and are more common in the middle of the day.

Why tension-type headache is dangerous

Overuse of painkillers to treat TTH can cause daily worsening chronic headaches. They usually start early in the morning and are accompanied by poor appetite, nausea, anxiety, irritability, concentration problems, and depression. Chronic daily headache is often resistant to painkillers. It can vary in intensity, duration, and location, and symptoms are sometimes more pronounced than with episodic TTH. In chronic tension-type headache, consultation and examination with a neurologist and other specialists is recommended.

Tension headache symptoms

Patients often describe the pain as a tight band around the head or pressure from above. Sensations sometimes extend to the muscles of the neck, shoulder.

Main characteristics of tension headache:

• dull, pressing;
• dense, compressive vise;
• extending to the whole head;
• affecting temples, back of neck, shoulders;
• causing scalp soreness.

HDN does not cause nausea/vomiting, but may cause difficulty falling asleep. People with tension headaches try to relieve the condition by massaging the scalp and lower neck.

Causes of tension headache

No specific cause has been identified for tension headache. In some people, it is associated with muscle spasm in the back of the neck.

The most common factors (triggers) causing TTH include:

• anxiety, emotional stress, depression;
• bad posture;
• lack of sleep;
• physical exhaustion;
• head injury;
• drinking alcohol;
• too much caffeine;
• colds, flu, sinusitis;
• dental problems, eg teeth grinding, clenching of jaws;
• smoking;
• fatigue or overexertion.

Any activity in which the head is in one position for a long time can cause pain. Typing or other computer activities, fine manual work (jewelers, dental technicians, radio technicians, etc.), prolonged use of a microscope are triggers for TTH. Sleeping in a room that is too cold or having the neck in an abnormal position during sleep can also cause tension headaches.

Treatment of tension headache

Obviously, the best treatment is to eliminate the cause of tension headache, which only a doctor can determine. Self-administration of pain medication (more than twice a week) increases the risk of chronic daily headache. Uncontrolled intake of paracetamol is fraught with complications on the liver. High doses of ibuprofen and aspirin cause stomach irritation. A doctor must prescribe therapy. The key point is an individual approach to each situation. The neurologist will select the right treatment: relaxation techniques, massage, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, prescribe antidepressants if necessary, give recommendations on changing the daily routine and lifestyle, and refer you for a consultation with a psychotherapist.