What is Self Medication

Substance abuse treatments in Jacksonville FL should contain a component that addresses self-medication. Self-medication may begin harmlessly but lead to substance abuse when certain conditions are met. What is self medication is a valid question that needs to be looked at closer in order to understand this challenging issue.

What is Self Medication?

One self medication definition from National Institutes of Health is as follows: Self-medication is the “selection and use of medicines by individuals (or a member of the individuals’ family) to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions or symptoms.”

There are various forms of self-medicating. Some people use over-the-counter medicine to take care of health problems. Others use vitamins, herbs, and other forms of alternative medicine to try to heal. This often times can have unintended consequences.

Why Do People Self Medicate?

People self medicate for various reasons, but it’s usually because they are struggling with either a physical or emotional or mental health condition. These three reasons are why many people turn to self-medicating as a means to cope:

Chronic pain

People who deal with ongoing pain have difficulties getting through the day. Pain can hinder your activities and happiness. People may turn to other the counter medication at first, but eventually, begin trying other things. Unfortunately, it can lead to substance abuse.

Trauma (PTSD)

When a traumatic event occurs in someone’s life, it can leave lasting scars on the mind. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the response to enduring trauma at an earlier time. The person may be plagued by nightmares, anxiety, and flashbacks, and this leads them to self-medicating behavior in order to mask the pain.

Mental health issues

Some people have mental health disorders that they don’t know they have or they aren’t receiving treatment for. They use medication as well as illegal drugs as an attempt to restore balance to their mood.

Consequences of Self Medication

The problem with self-medicating is twofold. First, you don’t really fix the root problem, and secondly, self-medicating can lead to substance abuse or other physical harm. When taking different medications (either legal or illegal) without a doctor’s supervision or direction, you may hurt your body or cause a drug overdose.

Discover Hope

At Beaches Recovery, we offer hope to those in need. Our programs are designed to alleviate the symptoms that led to self-medicating behavior.

Maybe you don’t know what is self medication, but you recognize that you are masking problems with different substances. If so, our therapies will guide you to a healthy and hope-filled life. For example, some of the therapies we offer include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Trauma and PTSD therapy

Don’t let pain and addiction control your life. Learn what is self medication and take steps to conquer it. You can overcome this issue by going to a quality drug rehab. Contact us at 866.605.0532, and we’ll set you on the right pathway.