Originally Posted by
ryan9872340972 
Hi, thanks for the reply.
Yes I understand that I have to be responsible with tramadol and it shouldnt be treated as a permanent fix. I think that I would be best suited to an actual anti-depressant , but
im scared to jeopardise my sobriety in doing so.
Maybe I should seek a physiatrist or similar to discuss the situation?
Thanks again for the response, this is an amazing site
The bolded words represent part of the process of psychological addiction: the idea that I need a substance just to feel okay.
Tramadol is an opioid, and also has antidepressant properties similar to meds like Zoloft and Lexapro in that they all extend the actions of neurotransmitters in the brain that are associated with depression. In this case, serotonin and norepinephrine. It's also extremely addictive.
Seeing a psychiatrist or someone who specializes in psychopharmacology is an excellent idea.