Mental Health

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder (BPD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Personality and mood disorders
• Major depressive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Eating disorders

Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities. Almost half of all people who suffer from a mental illness will develop a substance use disorder in their life. It is sometimes hard to tell which came first, and the combination of them can make each condition worse. Some possibilities as to why they occur are common risk factors, like genetics, stress, and trauma. Co-occurring disorders are more common than people think.

• 9.2 million people have both a substance use disorder and a mental illness.
• People with severe mental illnesses are 4x more likely to be heavy alcohol users.
• People addicted to drugs are twice as likely to have a mood or anxiety disorder.

One of the most common effects of having a co-occurring disorder is self-medication, which many do in an attempt to regulate emotions. However, self-medication can make an underlying condition even worse, or even make an addict develop one. Some examples of self-medication are:

• Drinking alcohol to feel less anxious in social situations
• Taking excessive amounts of Benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium) to ebb an oncoming panic attack
• Using marijuana to numb the emotional pain from trauma or grief
• Smoking or injecting stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine to increase energy and motivation to complete daily tasks