Addiction & Mental Health

Addiction and Mental Health: How Are They Connected?

Addiction and mental health are often connected in one of two ways - either a person struggles with mental health issues and begins using substances to cope, or they use substances that lead to mental health problems. 

While the former is more common, both situations result in co-occurring disorders that require integrated treatment for recovery. Let’s explore the connection in greater detail.

What are Co-Occurring Disorders? 

The term, co-occurring disorder, is used to describe the presence of a mental health condition and a substance abuse problem at the same time. There are several types of co-occurring disorders, and it’s important to note that the list is not limited to the following.

Depression and Addiction

Depression is much more than frequent periods of sadness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is a mental health condition that leads to severe symptoms impacting the way a person thinks, feels, and manages their day-to-day activities. 

When a person is depressed, they may experience problems eating, sleeping, and even getting out of bed in the morning. It is quite common for depression to lead to physical symptoms of pain in addition to mental symptoms. While there is medication available to help with depression, a variety of factors could lead to self-medicating behaviors first. 

A person who is depressed is likely to turn to ways to offset those symptoms. Various drugs may seem to be good options, including: 

  • Alcohol

  • Marijuana

  • Cocaine

  • Methamphetamines

These substances offer a way for the person to escape from reality for a short time and feel more like themselves. 

Anxiety and Substance Abuse

Another common co-occurring disorder involves the presence of both anxiety and substance use. There are many different anxiety disorders, ranging from a more generalized anxiety disorder to phobias. 

Experiencing some level of situational anxiety is fairly normal for most people. For example, students may be anxious prior to a major exam, or a person might feel nervous before starting a new job. However, an actual diagnosis of anxiety requires a level of unease that goes far beyond these occasional worries or fears. 

When a person is anxious to the point of requiring a diagnosis, their anxiety does not go away, regardless of their situation. They may feel anxious for no reason at all, or for reasons that have no basis in reality. In some people, anxiety may lead to panic attacks that occur at the most mundane times, such as when they’re driving or sitting at home. 

Anxiety is incredibly disruptive. This is why it is not surprising that, rather than seek out professional mental health support, many people turn to substances. Anxiety may be temporarily calmed by: 

  • Alcohol

  • Marijuana

  • Opioid medications (prescription painkillers)

  • Heroin

Eating Disorders and Drug Abuse

One of the more common conditions we see in patients at Focus Integrative Centers is eating disorders and drug and/or alcohol abuse. Conditions like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are both examples of eating disorders. 

While they do take on many forms, people with eating disorders tend to become obsessed with their appearance, weight, and food intake. This level of obsession frequently leads to drug and alcohol use as a way to cope. Any of the above-mentioned drugs may be attractive to someone with an eating disorder if it improves how they feel. 

What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment? 

Dual diagnosis treatment is a level of care that combines mental health therapy and addiction recovery. It is a type of integrated treatment that aims to treat both conditions simultaneously. 

Interestingly enough, dual diagnosis treatment has only become more popular over the last decade or so. Before that, it was common to treat the mental health condition first and then manage the substance abuse problem. This put patients at a disadvantage because the connection between their need for mental health support and addiction treatment was never addressed. 

When individuals receive dual diagnosis treatment, they learn how closely their mental health issues and addictions are connected to each other. In turn, they become very aware of the need to properly treat issues like anxiety and depression to avoid experiencing symptoms that cause them to want to use drugs and alcohol. 

Does It Matter Which Condition Occurred First?

When a person develops anxiety or depression as a result of their substance abuse problems, they may think these conditions will disappear once they stop using. Unfortunately, that is not always the case because of the physiological changes that occur in those exhibiting addictive behaviors. 

The good news is that for many, proper treatment will help them to successfully get their mental health symptoms under control. However, in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter which issue occurred first. It is vitally important to treat both at the same time for the best outcomes. 

Contact Us for Mental Health Support and Addiction Recovery

At Focus Integrative Centers, our goal is to provide you with integrative treatment that addresses both mental health and substance abuse. We are invested in your success! 

Contact us today to discuss your treatment options by calling (865) 622-7116. 

info@focusintegrativecenters.com.

 

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