Comorbid Mental Health Conditions and How They Worsen Substance Abuse
Mental health disorders are complex. Even when you just think about the impact that one can have, it can be astounding. Mental health conditions often impact multiple areas of a person’s life. Not only can it impact somebody mentally, but it can also impact physical health. Furthermore, it can impact work and relationships.
Substance abuse, or addiction, amplifies these complexities. Unfortunately, many who struggle with an addiction often deal with other mental health conditions as well. But what is the connection between them, and do they worsen addiction?
What Does Comorbid Refer To?
Comorbidity refers to any instance where someone has multiple conditions at the same time that often influence one another. Comorbid conditions are also sometimes referred to as dual diagnoses.
Keep in mind that just because an individual person has one mental health condition does not mean they will receive a dual diagnosis, likewise with addiction. It only increases the chances of someone having a dual diagnosis. Some of the most common comorbid conditions with addiction are:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or chronic anxiety
Major depressive disorder, or depression
Panic disorders
Bipolar disorders
PTSD
ADHD
What Causes Comorbidity?
This is a complicated question to try to answer. The truth is that it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of comorbid conditions. They are often so intertwined that it’s often hard to discern which caused the other issues to surface.
Each individual person will often have a variety of causes that increase their chances of developing a dual diagnosis of addiction with something else.
For example, substance usage can either trigger or amplify symptoms of other mental health conditions. An individual who uses or drinks may experience intense symptoms of depression. But, the cycle doesn’t end there, unfortunately. Which leads us to how do comorbid conditions impact addiction?
The Connection Between Comorbid Conditions and Addiction
It Creates a Vicious Cycle
We’ll start with a basic example. Substances, whether that is alcohol or drugs, are proven to change the chemistry of the brain. Furthermore, mental health disorders are also influenced and caused by changes in the chemistry of the brain.
This creates a vicious cycle. Someone who is dealing with depression may turn to substances to cope and make themselves feel better. As their usage increases, though, it doesn’t mean they will begin to feel better. Instead, it will only amplify their depressive symptoms, which, in turn, leads them to turn to their substance of choice even more.
This creates a vicious, endless cycle for a person struggling with addiction.
Untreated Mental Health Conditions
Even though talking about mental health has become less taboo, that does not mean everyone is completely open to the idea of it. It takes courage to reach out to someone for professional help, but unfortunately, many people are not often ready to take that initial step.
Mental health conditions can absolutely influence someone’s addiction when they are not treated. We often use the term self-medicating to describe people who turn to substances initially as a way to help them feel better. This self-medication often strengthens the need for someone to turn to drugs or alcohol. We often say that people use drugs as a solution to a bigger problem. And as part of the recovery process, we help them find healthier solutions to the substance use and mental health challenges.
How to Deal with Comorbid Conditions with Addiction
Treating addiction involves a multi-faceted approach. While the focus is normally on the addiction itself, that often leaves other areas of a person’s life, including their mental health, untreated.
To increase the likelihood of someone reaching sobriety and staying on the path of recovery, it is important to reach out to professionals who understand the complexities of addiction. At our practice, we specialize in addiction recovery as well as providing resources and a game plan to help those struggling with addiction. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can support you or a loved one.