Mental Health

If you’re struggling with a substance abuse disorder, you should understand how your mental health plays into the battle.

Understanding Mental Health

Addiction and substance abuse are mental health disorders. Being addicted to or dependent on drugs can take a toll on your mind, body and spirit. If you’re struggling with a substance abuse disorder, you should understand how your mental health plays into the battle. Finding the right support can lead you toward successful recovery.

Mental Health with MD Home Detox
Mental Health with MD Home Detox

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How is substance abuse linked to mental health?

Some experts refer to addiction as a brain disease. Addiction is characterized the compulsive use of harmful substances. People who suffer from addiction aren’t always able to stop despite adverse consequences.

In some cases, mental health issues cause people to turn to drugs. For example, someone who deals with anxiety may not have tools to cope with the intense mental struggle. Initially, taking drugs may seem like an easy fix.

But whenever you block your ability to work through your emotions, they stay stuck. You may feel as though you’ve found the magic pill for happiness, but the high is fleeting. When the drugs wear off, you feel as bad as you did before. Sometimes, you feel worse.

Mental Health with MD Home Detox
Mental Health with MD Home Detox
Mental Health with MD Home Detox
Mental Health with MD Home Detox

Does addiction lead to mental health disorders?

People often turn to drugs because they already have a psychological disorder. Taking substances can exacerbate mental health problems or cause issues that weren’t present before.

Drugs change the way that your brain is wired. They interfere with the natural mechanisms that the body uses to maintain equilibrium. Studies show that taking substances can alter the parts of the brain that are associated with judgment, learning, memory, decision-making and impulse control.

These brain changes linger even after you’ve come down from the high. You may be anxious, isolated, sad or lethargic. In many cases, using the drug makes you feel better. But you’re not engaging in the healing that you need to address the mental health disorder.

What is a Co-Occurring Disorder?

People with co-occurring disorders are diagnosed with a psychological issue along with a substance abuse disorder. The mental health problem produces symptoms that can interfere with your daily functioning. Some of the most common co-occurring mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

Mental Health Support in Los Angeles

It can be difficult to identify which symptoms are related to the substance abuse disorder and which are caused by other mental health conditions. To manage a co-occurring disorder, you must seek help for all of the mental health conditions that you’re struggling with.

If you’re concerned that you might be dealing with any of these issues, reach out to us. We can help you determine what’s going on and create a personalized treatment plan for detox and recovery.

If you would like more information about receiving treatment in Los Angeles, please contact us to find out more.