Briarwood Detox Center

Mental healthDepression

Depression and addiction, treated together

Most people who arrive at detox low have been low for a long time, and have been told at some point that they would feel better if they stopped drinking. That is partly true and it is not the whole story.

Admissions answered 24 hours a day · Most major insurance accepted

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Includes reviews of Flourishing Foundations Recovery, now part of Briarwood

The essentials

Depression and detox, in short

Depression and substance use feed each other. Medical detox with psychiatric support, in Austin, Houston and San Antonio — and an honest account of what detox can and cannot fix.

Not sure whether depression is part of what is going on?

An assessment answers that, free.

Call (866) 710-7710

At a glance

Co-occurring · Depression

Condition
Depression
Treated
Alongside medical detox, not instead of it
Locations
Austin · Houston · San Antonio
What we do
4 things, in full below
Signs to call about
4 listed — recognition, not a checklist
What we do not do
We are a detox provider. If you are not drinking or using and you need treatment for depression itself, we are the wrong service and we will say so on
Admissions
(866) 710-7710 — answered 24 hours a day
Insurance
In network with most major carriers; benefits verified free

Coverage

Our center is in-network with many insurances

Type your plan below to check it, or call and we will verify your benefits with your insurer directly. Free, and with no obligation to admit.

  • Harbor Health
  • Evernorth
  • Oscar
  • Optum
  • Curative
  • Carelon
  • Ambetter
  • Anthem
  • Multiplan
  • Cigna
  • United Healthcare
  • BlueCross BlueShield
  • Beacon Health
  • Aetna
  • Christus Health
  • Baylor Scott & White
  • Sendero Health
  • TRICARE West
Verify my benefits — free

Takes about two minutes · Or call (866) 710-7710

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval
  • Accredited The Joint Commission
  • Rated 4.7 · 182 Google reviews Flourishing Foundations Recovery, now part of Briarwood
  • Admissions 24 hours a day

How the two feed each other

Alcohol is a depressant, so it lifts a mood briefly and lowers the baseline afterwards. Drinking to get through a bad week works well enough to repeat, and repeating it deepens the thing it was covering. By the time someone calls us, it is usually impossible to say which came first — and it does not much matter, because both need attention.

What withdrawal does to it

The first days of withdrawal are a poor time to judge your own mind. Mood drops sharply as the nervous system rebalances, and almost everybody feels worse before they feel better. That is expected, it is monitored, and it is not evidence that this will not work.

Reasons people call us about this

  • You have stopped doing things you used to want to do, and cannot quite explain why.
  • Drinking or using has become the part of the day you are waiting for.
  • You have tried stopping on your own and the low mood is what brought you back.
  • Someone has suggested antidepressants and you were drinking too much to start them safely.

What we do

  • A psychiatric evaluation during admission, not weeks later.
  • Medication management, including restarting or adjusting an antidepressant when it is safe to.
  • Daily contact with a counselor while you are here.
  • A plan for what continues the mental-health side after detox, arranged before you leave.

What we do not do

We are a detox provider. If you are not drinking or using and you need treatment for depression itself, we are the wrong service and we will say so on the phone rather than admit you — but we will point you somewhere better. If both are true at once, this is the right place to start.

More on how the two are handled together during a stay: dual diagnosis support during detox.

Straight answers

Depression and detox — common questions

What is the relationship between depression and addiction?

Alcohol is a depressant: it lifts a mood briefly and lowers the baseline afterwards. Drinking to get through a bad week works well enough to repeat, and repeating it deepens the thing it was covering. By the time most people call, it is impossible to say which came first — and it does not much matter, because both need attention.

Can I keep taking my antidepressant during detox?

Usually yes, and stopping one abruptly is its own withdrawal. Bring the bottle so the physician can see the dose. Some combinations need adjusting during detox, which is a reason to have a doctor involved rather than a reason to stop.

Will detox fix my depression?

No, and anybody who tells you otherwise is selling something. Detox removes the substance that was making it worse and creates the conditions for treating it. The treatment itself continues afterwards, which is what the aftercare plan is for.

Is it normal to feel worse in the first few days?

Yes. Mood typically drops before it improves as the nervous system rebalances. It is monitored daily, and it is the main reason doing this without medical supervision is harder than people expect.

Call (866) 710-7710