How Addiction and Mental Health Go Hand in Hand

There has long been an apparent connection between substance abuse and mental health disorders for a long time, with many millions of people per year receiving a dual diagnosis. Yet, only a small percentage of people receive adequate treatment for both of these conditions. Is it possible to reach full recovery treating one without the other? We believe that long lasting recovery from addiction and mental health go hand in hand, and here’s why you should too. 

What are Comorbidities? 

Comorbidities are the presence of two existing conditions together at the same time. This is possible because long-term mental health conditions and substance abuse are chronic brain disorders, so they can mimic each other in terms of symptoms and long term effects. Long term substance abuse permanently changes the makeup of the brain, and so much like lung disease or diabetes, a recovered addict will have to learn to adapt to their altered state and manage their condition for the rest of their life. 

The areas of the brain affected by drug abuse are the same that are impacted by depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The situation becomes even more complex when the individual turns to alcohol or substance abuse in order to self-medicate due to their mental health struggles. It can turn into a vicious cycle that is hard to stop. 

Other Influences 

Mental illness and tendencies towards substance dependency can have a root in genetics. Several genomes have been identified which demonstrate an increased risk for cognitive vulnerabilities, with consequences usually showing as mental health and drug or alcohol related issues. Trauma can also play a huge environmental risk factor and can cause both conditions to appear in people who displayed neither of the diagnostic criteria previously. 

The age of the individual is a huge consideration, with impulsive behavior and reckless actions more prevalent in those who are younger, and the symptoms of many of the social, psychological and biological components of mental illnesses rearing their heads in a person’s later years. 

Negative Impact 

The consequences of this vicious cycle can be enormous. The person may only be viewed in terms of the outside expression of their internal suffering. As they begin to throw themselves further into binge drinking or excessive drug use to escape their increasingly distressing mental health struggle, they experience all the repercussions that addicts face - strained relationships, job insecurity and low self-esteem – without getting the help they need for what is causing it. 

What is the Solution? 

If many of those experiencing substance dependence also suffer from mental health issues, what is the solution? Especially if many have not received adequate diagnosis and treatment for both up until now. The answer is to find the right team of experienced individuals who recognize that the foundations of long-lasting recovery lie in doing the groundwork necessary to pin-point the root causes of substance abuse, and to correctly identify any possible mental-health diagnoses that accompany it. 

Individualized, integrated treatment is possible – by recognizing the signs of an overlap and treating each factor like parts of a greater puzzle piece that is solvable, you empower the addict to begin putting together a whole new life – clean, sober and happy. A future that everybody deserves. 

Get in touch with our team of certified experts for a confidential assessment if you or someone you know struggles with addiction. 

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