First of all, what is a co-morbid condition? A condition is considered to be co-morbid when the symptoms occur at the same time or alongside another condition. As far as mental health goes, comorbidity is a relatively new concept as the symptoms and diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders have become more defined. Depression is one of the top three most common mental health disorders in the United States; additionally, the most common to experience a co-morbid condition. So, what are some common co-morbid conditions of depression? The most common disorders to occur with depression are anxiety disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 60% of people who struggle with anxiety also suffer from symptoms of depression and vise-versa. Though professionals cannot definitively say why depression and anxiety are so commonly co-morbid, there are a few things that inform us as to why this happens so frequently. One of the reasons may be that due to the visible overlap in symptoms of the two conditions, it is entirely possible that they both come from the same parts of the brain and rely on the same chemical messengers, i.e. serotonin.

Recent studies have shown that one-third of people suffering from depression also have a co-morbid SUD. Additionally, this population has shown to have greater instances of death by suicide than any other comorbidity. This reason could largely be due to the fact that typically, people who struggle with SUD often isolate themselves and experience other things that increase the risk of developing depression such as job loss, strained relationships, or financial strain, due to their struggle with substances.

According to recent literature reviews, up to 90% of people who live with personality disorders–especially borderline personality disorder (BPD)–also meet criteria for depression. Being that personality disorders stem from the inability or difficulty to control mood and emotions, it is not surprising that someone living with a personality disorder may struggle with symptoms of a mood disorder, such as depression.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), comorbidity of OCD and depression occurs at a rate of almost 41% of people who suffer from OCD. Additionally, people who suffer from OCD usually do not meet criteria for depression until after OCD diagnosis. Interestingly enough, researchers believe that this happens due to the stress people’s OCD symptoms cause on an individual level, but also due to the stress that may have built from problems at home or work created by their OCD symptoms.

The comorbidity of PTSD and depression is very common, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that “approximately half” of the people who struggle with PTSD also suffer from depression. Some of the reason for this is due to the fact that many of their symptoms and diagnostic criteria overlap; however, there is a great deal of research currently studying a biological component for an explanation of this as well. In the article cited above, the researchers suggest that the comorbidity of PTSD and depression is a “trauma-related phenotype.”

Now that we know the common co-morbid conditions of depression, what does it mean? It means that it is possible to experience more than one diagnosis at a time, but also that this occurrence is common, and that there are so many different approaches to treating both conditions simultaneously. Do some co-morbidities make treatment more difficult? Sure, that’s possible; however, treatment in and of itself can be difficult when treating just one disorder as well. The therapists at Niyyah Counseling PLLC describe themselves as eclectic, meaning that your treatment is individualized for you with what works for you. No two people are alike. No two experiences are alike. Reach out today and let us support you in your first steps toward recovery!

Recent science tells us that when we experience something traumatic, our brain’s limbic system activates the “fight or flight” response. The “fight or flight” response is triggered by an acute threat to survival that triggers us to either react to, or retreat from, the threat. From there, the limbic system stores the memory in our subconscious in order to protect us from future traumatic events related to the original threat. This is an important protective factor as far as survival is concerned; however, some situations that are not life threatening can provoke the same physiological response without our conscious effort and can cause distress. With how quickly we receive information in our world today, it is important to remember that there are ways to help ourselves cope with triggers bringing up past trauma. Coping with past trauma can look like allowing yourself to experience the feelings and emotions that you’re having instead of avoiding them; however, in the moment, if they are too distressing, practicing the following 6 things came to mind, spelling the word “eclipse.” So, when current events bring up past trauma just remember the word ECLIPSE:

Engage. Enrich your daily routine by engaging in healthy activities that are positive, rewarding, meaningful, or that bring you joy, even when you don’t want to.

Connect. Continue to stay plugged in and connected to people who make you feel safe and valued. Connect with the people that bring calming energy, that create happiness, or with someone that understands what you are going through.

Limit. When coping with trauma triggered by current events, it is important to consider limiting exposure to media, including social media, especially if it contributes to your distress. Limiting screen time can also help with overstimulation and allow the brain to rest.

Inquire. Consider reaching out to family, friends, or community members and inquiring about what you may be able to do to provide some help to them. Of course, always consider reaching out to a mental health professional that can help you process your feelings or emotions triggered by current events. Depending on the severity of distress, there are also hotlines that can offer immediate support.

Practice. Self-care has become a real buzzword recently, but it has always been important. Make sure that you are practicing self-care by engaging in calming activities like listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing deep breathing exercises, or reading inspirational text.

Sense. Be aware of your surroundings and use your senses to ground yourself in the present moment. A common grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 method in which you use all 5 senses to put yourself in the current situation. Grounding allows you to activate coping skills to help get through past traumas being triggered.

Exposure. Use the exposure to these current events as a way to gain insight into what triggers thoughts of past trauma. Take time to document feelings, emotions, and mood daily to help track pre- and post-exposure feelings, emotions, and mood.

Though the ECLIPSE method cannot change the events of the past, it can contribute to alleviating the present. Though it may only provide temporary relief, it could buy you some time until you can reach out to the appropriate professional for help. Our therapists at Niyyah provide trauma-focused therapy and most are able to offer EMDR therapy–reach out today!