Did you know people with a mental health disorder are more likely to develop a substance use disorder, and vice versa? For example, someone with a condition like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is at an increased risk of developing an addiction to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and other substances.
It’s not that one condition causes another. But mental health disorders and addiction are both chronic brain conditions that can influence each other, and treating one condition and not both can make healing and recovery more difficult.
What Is a Co-Occurring Disorder?
A co-occurring disorder, also called a dual diagnosis, is the presence of a mental health disorder and substance use disorder at the same time. For example:
- Depression and alcohol use
- PTSD and opioid use
- Anxiety and benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety medication) use
- Bipolar disorder and cannabis use
Co-occurring disorders aren’t always simple. Either condition could come first. One can make the other worse or have no influence at all on the other. There can be multiple mental health and substance use disorders (complex co-occurring disorders).
Because relationships within co-occurring disorders can be complicated, it’s important to understand both conditions and their underlying causes and treat them together.
Why Are Mental Health Disorders and Addiction Closely Connected?
People struggling with mental health challenges may turn to alcohol or drugs to reduce, manage, or temporarily escape symptoms. This cycle of self-medication might offer short-term relief, but once the effects of a substance wear off, the condition remains and will probably get worse.
On the other hand, substance use alters brain chemistry, which affects behavior, mood, judgment, sleep patterns, how you control your emotions, and other brain functions. These changes can eventually contribute to the onset of a mental health disorder or make an existing condition worse.
The risk of both mental illness and addiction is higher if there’s a family history of these conditions, while poverty, discrimination, childhood trauma, and other stressors can contribute to both disorders.
The Need for Integrated Treatment
If you injure your knee and ankle in a car accident, you would never follow a treatment plan that only accounted for one injury. The problem wouldn’t be fixed and you’d probably experience chronic pain.
Similarly, treating co-occurring disorders separately slows or prevents full healing and increases the risk of relapse. Treatment plans should always be personalized and can vary from person to person depending on their needs.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder and/or addiction, Oaks Integrated Care can help. To schedule an appointment, contact our Access Center at 1-800-963-3377.
