Why Addiction and Mental Health Occur Together

For those battling addiction and a mental health disorder at the same time, the road to treatment and recovery can seem difficult and long. If you get into an appropriate treatment program and work towards recovery with science-based and holistic care, you may be able to move beyond these limitations.

Sometimes, uncovering why you are experiencing them can offer guidance and help in structuring a treatment plan. Why are you battling substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders?

At Mental Health Hope, we provide strategies and tools to help those with SUDs and mental health disorders find long-term recovery and healing. Connect with us now to learn what steps we can take to help you recover.

Why SUDs and Mental Health Disorders Happen Together

Mental health disorders and addiction are co-occurring disorders. That means they often occur together. They have many of the same risk factors, and some people find that one can lead to and worsen the other. Some of the most common reasons why people suffer from both include the following.

Self-Medication

People with some mental health disorders are more prone to developing addiction if they use substances to self-medicate. That means they use substances to control the mental health symptoms they have. These substances can provide you with some relief for a short period of time.

Your brain is programmed to seek out experiences that make it feel good consistently. When you’re using a substance, and it tricks your brain into not experiencing mental health symptoms, your brain learns to keep seeking out that substance.

Self-medicating may help some people with symptoms such as:

• Intrusive thoughts
• Severe symptoms like hallucinations or delusions
• Calming anxiousness and worry
• Improving depression
• Stimulating with more energy
• Creating more focus for those with ADHD

In each of these situations, the substance, such as alcohol, cocaine, opioids, or others, creates a short-term break from the mental health symptoms you experience. The result is limited, but it seems helpful.

Yet, problems occur. Soon, you will need to use more of the same substance to get the relief you need. That increases the risk of overdose. At the same time, you may feel cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the substance. All of this contributes to the onset of a substance use disorder (SUD). And, they may no longer help provide any relief from the mental health symptoms you have.

Brain Chemistry

Another reason these conditions occur together is the way the brain operates. Your brain is made up of numerous circuits controlled by a delicate balance of chemistry and communication. But your brain is always learning and changing from experiences.

The brain’s natural chemistry is to seek out positive and euphoric experiences. That happens when you experience a release of dopamine and serotonin into your bloodstream. Substances do this. They create a high that your brain wants to prolong with more of the substance.

In addition, these are the same areas of the brain responsible for decision-making and stress response. They are where your brain is processing what’s around you, including past trauma and negative thought patterns. Both conditions, then, are managed in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system of the brain.

Same Risk Factors

Those who are at risk for mental health disorders face similar risk factors for SUDs. That is, the roots of both conditions are often the same. They include:

• Genetic predisposition, with some evidence that both mental health disorders and SUDs can be genetically influenced
• Trauma, especially in early life, can create both outcomes, often leading to long-term complications to mental health and substance use disorders
• Ongoing stress, which causes a constant level of cortisol in your bloodstream, can cause the brain to struggle with various mental health symptoms, as well as the seeking out of substances

In each of these cases, there is risk, but not a guarantee. That is, you may be predisposed to develop an SUD or a mental health disorder, but that doesn’t mean you have to. And, it also means you can seek treatment and see effective results.

Finding Addiction and Mental Health Treatment Near Me

If you are experiencing co-occurring disorders, you can find treatment. Treatment for both conditions at the same time can provide you with ongoing relief and support your long-term recovery. Treatment for both conditions can include a stay in a mental health hospital for acute conditions, especially if you are at risk of harming yourself.

In addition, alternatives to a mental health hospital, including mental health retreats and residential treatment centers, can provide you with tools, resources, and support to help you recover. Contact Mental Health Hope now. Let us help you find treatment for addiction and mental health disorders close to home so you can get relief.