A mental illness doesn’t necessarily lead to substance abuse. Conversely, substance abuse doesn’t directly cause a mental illness. However, these two are inextricably linked. Alcohol abuse can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression. On the other hand, abusing substances like methamphetamine or cocaine for a prolonged period may lead to psychotic behavior.
According to results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), those with a mental illness are more likely to have a substance use disorder. Data shows that about 49% of adults who use illicit drugs have a serious mental illness (SMI), while 36% have a mental illness (AMI). Meanwhile, only 15% of those who use illegal substances have no mental illness. Furthermore, roughly one-third of adults with a mental illness or a serious mental illness were binge alcohol drinkers.
When an individual has a substance abuse disorder and mental health issue, the condition is called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. As shown by the statistics cited above, co-occurring disorders are more prevalent than you might think. Read on to understand how substance abuse and mental illness are linked.
- Some Resort To Self-Medication With Drugs And Alcohol To Deal With Symptoms Of Mental Illness
Many people today go through difficulties in life that affect their mental health. However, not all have proper coping mechanisms to deal with their stresses, so they turn to substances like alcohol and illicit drugs to avoid dealing with painful emotions or to change their overall mood.
In some cases, such people may have an undiagnosed mental illness, so they self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to alleviate the symptoms. Examples of problems that might cause an individual to turn to substance abuse include the following:
- The build-up of past issues like childhood trauma and coming from a broken family
- Unresolved conflicts
- Losing a loved one
- Financial instability
- Losing a job
These and similar situations can cause you to experience stress, worry, and anxiety. But when these feelings become so overwhelming that they disrupt your ability to function and relate with others, these could be symptoms of an underlying mental health problem. When you use alcohol and drugs to cope with these symptoms, it’s known as self-medicating.
Some people who self-medicate may be aware they have a mental health issue but don’t know healthier coping mechanisms. On the other hand, others may not know they have a mental health problem, and they simply use drugs or drink alcohol to numb their pain, boost their mood, and improve how they feel.
Although self-medicating offers short-term relief, it will multiply your problems over time. Substance abuse triggers the development of new mental health issues, such as the following:
- Acute depression
- Mood disorders
- Having a negative self-image
- Loss of motivation and morale
Given the above, substance abuse can affect your home relationships and your performance at work or in school.
Furthermore, when you’re consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs as a form of regular self-medication, you may become addicted in the long run. If you stop taking the drugs, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms like feeling sick, cold, sweaty, and restless.
Other ways through which increased substance abuse as a way of escape can affect your physical health include the following:
- Increased risk of stroke
- High blood pressure
- Problems with orgasm
- Difficulties maintaining an erection
- Pancreas and liver problems
Since drinking alcohol is socially acceptable in many cultures, and consuming substances like marijuana is legal in some countries, it may be challenging to ascertain whether you’re self-medicating or just having fun.
It’s critical to examine why you’re taking alcohol or other drugs. Signs that indicate you may be self-medicating include the following:
- You feel worse after abusing drugs and alcohol.
- The first thing that comes to your mind when you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed is substance abuse.
- It takes increased self-medicating to feel better and relieved.
- Your problems don’t get solved; instead, they’re multiplying.
- You worry so much when you have no access to alcohol or illicit drugs.
- Your family and friends are worried about your alcohol intake or substance use.
The problem with self-medicating is that it delays you from consulting specialists, such as those from jacksonhouserehab.com, who can guide you to healthier and more effective ways to deal with your issues.
It’s essential to understand why you’re self-medicating. If it’s because of life stresses, it’s best to stop before it gets worse. However, quitting drugs and alcohol is easier said than done, and you may have to rely on professional help to overcome your substance abuse disorder. They offer customized treatment plans to promote recovery from addiction and improve your mental health and overall well-being.
- Risk Factors May Cause Both Substance Abuse And Mental Illness
Certain risk factors can cause an individual to become susceptible to both mental illness and substance abuse. These include the following:
According to research, genetics account for roughly 50% of a person’s risk of having a substance use disorder. Twin and family studies are ongoing to determine how genetics increase the chances of an individual developing a mental illness and substance abuse disorder or how it increases the risk of a second disorder after the appearance of the first one.
The leading cause of this vulnerability is the complex interactions between genetic polymorphisms and environmental factors. An example is if a teenager uses marijuana frequently, there’s a high risk of them getting psychotic episodes in adulthood. This explicitly affects individuals who carry specific gene variants like serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Sometimes, a particular gene may directly contribute to how an individual responds to substance abuse, depending on how long it remains in the body. For example, certain genetic factors have been reported to increase an individual’s susceptibility to becoming dependent on cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking.
Researchers are also trying to figure out the connection between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences and the following:
- Heavy opioid use
- Withdrawal
- Dependence on cocaine
- Cannabis craving
Genetic factors can also indirectly affect how a person responds to negative emotions like stress. These explain why they may start abusing drugs.
Also, these factors may increase the likelihood of the individual exhibiting novelty-seeking behavior or indulging in risky behavior like substance abuse. Over time, the person will develop substance abuse disorders and mental health problems.
- Environmental Factors
Certain environmental factors are associated with the high risk of developing a mental illness and, at the same time, a substance abuse disorder. Examples of these include the following:
- Chronic stress
- Psychological trauma
- Neglect in the home
When dealing with such issues, you may develop depression and anxiety from overthinking and start indulging in alcohol and substance abuse to make yourself feel better. Unfortunately, doing so will compound your problems and increase your negative emotions in the long run.
- Substance Abuse Can Increase The Risk Of Developing A Mental Health Illness
While it’s true that mental health sickness can result from the interplay of factors like the environment and genetics, substance abuse can also increase the chances of becoming mentally ill. Using drugs like cocaine or cannabis can cause the following mental health problems:
Psychosis is a condition where a person views, experiences, and processes life differently from other people. Generally, their perception and interpretation of reality differ from those around them.
If you have this mental health problem, you’ll hear and see things others can’t. Also, you’ll start believing unrealistic things. For example, you may think that the government plans to deport you and your family members, a claim that your loved ones can’t make sense of or understand. Consequently, they’ll start worrying about you.
Psychotic episodes can sometimes be a one-time experience or may recur depending on the individual and the intensity of their substance abuse. They’re mostly linked to long-term mental health illnesses and can worsen preexisting mental health problems like anxiety.
Your psychotic episodes may be different from those of others because some recover fully while others don’t. Some of the symptoms you’re likely to have when you experience psychosis include the following:
- Cognitive Impairment: This is related to mental actions. Cognitive impairment may cause you to experience the following:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Making irrational decisions
- Trouble processing and understanding new information
- Memory problems
Cognitive impairment can be mild or severe.
- Delusions: These are beliefs that people around you don’t uphold or share. However, they seem real to you. Apart from this, you may worry about one or more of the following:
- You’re being followed by members of the police or Secret Service agents.
- Your food has been poisoned.
- You’ve been implanted with a brain chip to monitor and control your thoughts.
- Someone is planning to murder you.
Sometimes your beliefs might be optimistic. The delusion may not be all about paranoid thoughts. For instance, you may believe that you hold a senior and influential position in the government, yet that may not be the case.
- Hallucinations: These happen when you smell, see, taste, feel, or hear things that don’t exist. Other people around you can’t relate to what you’re experiencing. Detailed examples include:
- Tasting things without actually eating
- Seeing things like people, objects, and shapes that other people can’t see
- Feeling an unreal touch or movement on your skin
The most common type of hallucination is hearing sounds and voices, which may include the following:
- A male or female voice
- A person talking in an accent or language that’s different from your own
- A shout or whisper
- Negative or disturbing sounds like gunshots
You may hear the voices every day, once per month, or occasionally, depending on the severity of your condition.
Apart from substance abuse, there are other causes of psychosis. Alcohol withdrawal may also cause psychosis.
- Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder similar to psychosis because it makes people experience an abnormal reality. It has all the symptoms relative to psychosis, like delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking.
People with schizophrenia typically undergo lifelong treatment, especially if they seek professional help in the late stages. It would be best to seek help immediately if you exhibit any symptoms of this disease. Early intervention can help reduce the severity of this mental illness.
Apart from psychotic symptoms, signs to look out for include the following:
- Abnormal Or Disorganized Behavior: The individual may exhibit symptoms such as regular agitation and child-like behavior. Other forms of disorganized behavior that they show include the following:
- Inappropriate posture
- Resistance to instructions
- Excessive and aimless movement
- Inability to respond to different life circumstances
The chances of these individuals focusing on a particular thing are slim. Hence, they either leave tasks partially done or undone.
- Negative Symptoms: These refer to the absence or impairment of mental function related to thought and behavior. Some examples of negative symptoms are as follows:
- Neglecting their hygiene
- Low motivation to indulge in conversations and other activities
- Lack of facial expressions and eye contact
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Constant sadness
From the symptoms above, you can tell that schizophrenia involves psychotic symptoms like hallucinations. The symptoms and severity of schizophrenia vary from one person to the next depending on how long they have engaged in substance abuse and how long they experienced the symptoms before seeking treatment.
That said, it’s best to admit you have a problem with alcohol or substance abuse and seek professional help to avoid mental health problems like the ones explained above.
Conclusion
Substance abuse and mental illness are closely connected. An individual with a mental health problem can start abusing alcohol and drugs as a way of escape. On the other hand, a person who engages in excessive substance abuse may develop a mental illness like psychosis in the long run.
Furthermore, certain risk factors like stress, environmental conditions, and genetics might increase the likelihood of having co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorder.
To reduce the likelihood of having these disorders simultaneously, seek professional advice as soon as possible if you think you have a mental health issue or become increasingly dependent on alcohol or illicit substances. Mental health professionals can help you deal with these disorders before they worsen. As the cliché goes: prevention is better than cure.
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