Can You Get Mental Disorders from Drug Use?

When it comes to substance abuse, it not uncommon for addiction to coincide with mental disorders. In fact, mental disorders and addiction have much in common with the “chicken or the egg dilemma.” In other words, what’s the order of connection? Does drug or alcohol abuse come from the mental health issue or does the mental health issue cause the substance abuse? When it comes to treating addiction, it matters less which condition came first and more that each is addressed simultaneously. If an individual doesn’t get treatment for both mental health and substance use disorder, they are more likely to relapse.

In fact, both scenarios are incredibly common. With that said, this area is still worth examining when it comes to addiction therapy and treatment.

Why Do Mental Health Disorders from Drug Use Arise?

Let’s first discuss why mental health disorders from drug use often occur. In many cases, a full-blown mental health disorder does not occur because of substance abuse. However, it is very common for users to experience mental health symptoms such as anxiety.

For example, some marijuana users may have an increased risk of psychosis. Those who struggle with opiate abuse may also end up struggling with depression.

These connections have much to do with how specific substances affect brain pathways and receptors. It is not uncommon for certain drugs to have shared pathways with mental health conditions. Anti-depressants, for example, directly affect dopamine pathways, which are also implicated in chronic depression.

Why Does Drug Use Rise from Mental Health Disorders?

Here’s a look at the opposite effect.

Even though mental disorders from drug use are common and explainable on some levels, it may be easier to understand why substance abuse issues often arise after mental health disorders. Generally speaking, the problem is “self-medication.”

Self-medicating is the act of treating a health condition by yourself as opposed to seeking professional help. In some cases, self-medication is perfectly fine. For example, most people take ibuprofen when they have a headache. If they tend to feel tired throughout the day, they may self-medicate with vitamin C or B-12 dietary supplements.

Self-medication has a dark side, as well. Often, those who are struggling with a mental health or mood disorder don’t even realize it. The symptoms of their disorder plague them but they don’t know how to react. In many cases, this is when they turn to drugs to self-medicate. Various drugs can offer sedation and help them forget their worries and any troubling emotions and feelings that their mental health condition may have brought about.

Beaches Recovery Can Help

If you or a loved one have been struggling with a mental health disorder or mood disorder as well as a substance abuse problem, Beaches Recovery can help. We offer numerous programs and treat all of the major substance addictions, including meth, heroin, opiates, alcohol, and cocaine.

At our recovery center, clients are the priority. At intake, each client is assessed and evaluated so that an individualized program can be created just for them.

We begin each substance abuse disorder program with detox, which takes all drugs out of the client’s system, and then we move on to full rehabilitation. The rehab programs that we offer vary depending on the needs of the client. We offer programs, such as:

• Women’s drug addiction rehab program
• Men’s drug addiction rehab program
• Student addiction treatment
• Intensive outpatient program
• Drug detox

Let us help you with your substance abuse issues. To make an admissions appointment or learn more about our Jacksonville, FL programs, give us a call at 866.605.0532, or contact us online. We look forward to helping you on your journey to recovery.