What is depression?

For some, substance abuse may be an individual’s way of masking another issue.  Some call it “self-medicating”.  In many instances, that issue may be depression.  Though we’ve all heard the word used before, just how is depression defined?  Surely there is a difference between the “Monday morning blues” and a major depressive episode.  This article may begin to help identify just what major depression is.

http://bipolar.about.com/od/depression/f/what-is-depression.htm

Childhood Trauma and Addiction

This is an interesting article that explores the relationship between different traumas one might experience as a child and how they significantly increase the chances that one will abuse drugs or alcohol later in life.

http://www.thefix.com/content/trauma-and-addiction9180