Researchers have explored the relationship between addiction and mental health for a long time and have concluded that there is a significant connection between the two. Recent research estimates that people with anxiety disorders or other mental health conditions are twice as likely to also suffer from substance abuse disorder or addiction. Also, people struggling with addiction are twice as likely to suffer from at least one mental health condition. Today, we will explore how the two are connected and the help available for those struggling with this dual diagnosis.
Addiction and Brain Chemistry
We know alcohol and other substances are chemicals, and they interact with numerous systems in the body. For example, alcohol is known to alter how the nerve cells receive, send, and process information. These chemicals also enter the brain and permanently change how its circuits are wired. As the brain adjusts to these new conditions, users start to increasingly rely on alcohol and drugs to function because this is the new normal, at least for them.
Alcohol and drugs also activate the brain’s reward system. Because the dopamine hits are so high, the brain is rewired to seek out these rewards. This leads to increased alcohol and drug use, which becomes increasingly worse as the user develops a tolerance and previous amounts no longer satisfy their cravings.
Addiction Can Cause Mental Health Conditions
Scientists know from long-term research that mental illnesses are associated with changes in neurochemicals and the brain’s communication channels and processes. Alcohol and drug use interfere with or alter both, forming the basis of the development of mental health conditions.
Additionally, disruptions in how the brain processes information can lead to abnormal thinking, mood, behavior, and perception, which are all noted symptoms of mental health challenges.
AA and 12-step programs emphasize the importance of community and structured support in recovery, helping individuals regain stability in their lives. Thankfully, you can easily find a sponsor online to guide you through the steps and provide crucial accountability. By addressing both addiction and its impact on mental health, these programs create a pathway for long-term healing and personal growth.
Mental Disorders Can Lead to Addiction
Mental disorders can also lead to addiction in several ways. One of the most studied is the use of alcohol and drugs to numb feelings and to cope with the world and whatever is going on in it. Doing this is referred to as “self-medication”, and substance abuse can reduce the symptoms of whatever mental illness or condition the user has, at least temporarily.
Because the effects wear off in a few hours, the person may choose to keep using and abusing different substances, putting them on a direct path to addiction.
Additionally, some mental health conditions can cause individuals to develop a reduced awareness of the effects of alcohol and substance abuse. As their addiction and mental health condition worsen, the person can start feeling worse, leading to even more substance abuse and a vicious cycle unless they get help.
What Are the Available Treatments?
Anyone with a dual diagnosis of a mental health issue and addiction must get the right type of help. They can find treatment centers with robust dual diagnosis treatment plans that approach this issue like a single diagnosis instead of two separate issues. By doing so, these centers are in a much better position to help those with a dual diagnosis than those who separate these two conditions.
Addiction and mental health are linked in numerous ways. Their relationship is further complicated by the fact that one can cause the other, and treating one is usually not enough to ensure a sober, fruitful, and rewarding life for the individual. This is why dual treatment plans are so important and have become the go-to option for those with substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions in recent years.