Self Medicating Mental Health

Understanding the Risks of Self Medicating Mental Health

While it is not the only possible cause of drug and alcohol abuse, self-medicating mental health is a very common reason for using drugs and alcohol. While everyone facing substance abuse has a different story, it is critical to address self-medication when it is an underlying cause of substance abuse, misuse, or addiction.

Changes Healing Center provides integrated substance abuse and mental health services in Arizona. This means that clients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma disorders, and other conditions who get help for substance abuse at our center will also receive treatment that targets the mental health concern(s) they have.

So, what exactly is self-medication, and what are the risks? How do you know if you’re doing it? This article will cover what you need to know about self-medicating mental health and seeking help. If you have any questions about Changes Healing Center or how we can help, please give us a call.

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What Does Self-Medication Really Mean?

Self-medication is when someone uses drugs or alcohol in an attempt to cope with or alleviate psychiatric symptoms, emotional pain, stress, or related mental health challenges. For example, someone might drink to “self-medicate” depression, personality disorders, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, grief, or another mental health issue.

When you use drugs or alcohol, they can alleviate difficult emotions or mental health symptoms temporarily–but temporarily is the key word. For example, you might drink so that you feel less anxious before or during a social situation if you have social anxiety disorder. Although this is just one example of self-medication, it paints a good picture of what the term means.

What are the Risks of Self-Medicating Mental Health?

While it is not uncommon to misuse drugs and alcohol to try to feel better, the risks can be immense. The following possible consequences of self-medicating mental health may present themselves at any point in time, for as long as the behavior goes on. However, you can overcome it, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders are one of the greatest risks of self-medicating mental health. Those who use substances to alleviate symptoms of conditions like mood or anxiety disorders are at risk of developing an independent substance use disorder (the formal name for addiction or drug abuse).

Untreated Mental Health Problems

There are effective treatments for mental health conditions, and the same is true for concerns like stress or grief. When you self-medicate, it does not address the underlying issue. This means that mental health problems may go untreated.

Worsened Psychiatric Functioning and Cognitive Abilities

Although it is the opposite of what you are attempting to do when you self-medicate, drugs and alcohol can actually worsen your psychiatric functioning, mental health symptoms, and cognitive abilities.

Complications Associated With Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Any type of drug or alcohol use disorder can have serious negative consequences. If you use drugs and alcohol to cope with mental health symptoms, you may run into various risks linked to drug and alcohol use. For example:

Physical health complications, like overdose, an increased risk of injury, liver and kidney problems, brain damage, or heart problems.
Legal problems. Substance abuse can coincide with legal problems, like charges for possession of illicit drugs or driving under the influence (DUI) charges.
Financial issues. Substances like drugs and alcohol can be costly, leading to serious financial issues. The health complications linked to drug and alcohol abuse can also be costly. Substance abuse treatment is considered cost-effective.
Problems at work or school. Substance abuse can lead to unsatisfactory performance at work or school, job loss, absenteeism, and other challenges.

Interpersonal relationships and other parts of your life can also suffer as a result of substance use.

Uncovering Self-Medication as a Coping Mechanism

Getting introspective about why you use substances can help you understand whether you are personally using substances as a way of self medicating mental health issues or concerns. You may find that using substances serves a purpose in your life.

Acknowledging what the purpose is for you can be the first step toward finding other, healthier coping skills. We’re here to help you find better ways to get your needs met.

Changes Healing Center provides free intake assessments. Your assessment will go over your mental health history and current symptoms in addition to other information that will help us understand what you’re going through so that we will know how to help you best.

How Do I Know If I Have a Problem With Substance Abuse and Self-Medication?

Looking at the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse can help you grasp whether you may have a problem with substance abuse and self-medication. If you personally experience two or more of the following signs, it could indicate a drug or alcohol use disorder.

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of the substance (or using the substance to avoid withdrawals).
Needing to use more of a substance than you did before to achieve the desired effects (increased tolerance).
Continuing to use the substance despite adverse effects on your physical or mental well-being.
Continuing to use the substance even if it causes problems in your interpersonal relationships.
Using alcohol or drugs in larger amounts, or for a longer period of time, than intended.
Spending a considerable portion of time obtaining, consuming, or recovering from the effects of a substance.
Spending less time on significant or important activities, like your hobbies.
Unsuccessful attempts to stop or decrease the amount you use.
Recurrent use of substances in potentially hazardous situations.
Urges to use the substance (cravings).

The free assessments at our center will include questions about your current and past relationship with substances, which can help determine whether you have a problem with substance abuse or self-medication.

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How Integrated Drug Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Helps

Integrated treatment at Changes Healing Center uses targeted, evidence-based treatments for the specific mental health condition you have in addition to treating substance abuse. Our highly experienced team has experts with a variety of specialties, including specific therapies and mental health conditions.

Coping Skills for Mental Health

Our approach produces lasting positive results for clients by teaching coping skills for mental health and difficult moments, like high-stress times. We teach clients how to problem-solve and navigate or relieve mental health symptoms in everyday life.

Research-Backed Treatments

Changes Healing Center uses an extensive range of the most research-backed treatments for addiction and mental health. These may include but are not limited to the following.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Family Therapy
Contingency Management
Trauma Therapy
Experiential Therapy
Medication Management

Group therapy and individual therapy sessions are an important part of our treatment programs.

Individualized Treatment Plans

You or your loved one at Changes Healing Center will get an individualized treatment plan. Since our center offers a full continuum of care (detox, inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient treatment), clients are able to get treatment that fits their needs and schedule.

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse and Overlapping Mental Health Conditions

Around one in four adult individuals with a serious mental illness will also meet the criteria for some form of substance use disorder. When someone has both a mental health disorder and problems with substance abuse, it’s strongly recommended that they are treated at the same time through dual-diagnosis (integrated) treatment.

Dual-diagnosis treatment can help people like you who have or may have co-occurring disorders achieve positive outcomes such as:

A better quality of life.
Improvements in psychiatric functioning and symptoms.
A higher chance of success in treating both disorders.
Reduced medication interactions.
Decreased hospitalization.

Even better employment and housing rates are seen in those with co-occurring addiction and mental health concerns who get dual-diagnosis treatment. Since things like employment and housing can be affected by addiction and mental health concerns alike, this is worth considering.

Common Mental Health Conditions Co-Occurring with Alcohol or Drug Abuse

Which mental health conditions are most likely to co-occur with drug or alcohol abuse? Any mental health challenge can raise your risk. Common co-occurring conditions include but aren’t limited to the following.

Personality disorders. 78% of people with borderline personality disorder develop a drug or alcohol use disorder at some point in time. Other personality disorders, like antisocial personality disorder, also come with a high risk of addiction.
Mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder). 56% of people with bipolar disorder will face substance use disorders at some point in their life.
Anxiety disorders. Usually, anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder predate addiction, but they can increase your risk, and people with both may have worsened symptoms.
PTSD. PTSD and trauma are significant risk factors for substance abuse and addiction, and nearly half of those with PTSD also have a substance use disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Similar to PTSD, around half of people with OCD are said to develop a substance use disorder.

Schizophrenia and related disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have a significant crossover with substance abuse. As a dual-diagnosis treatment center near Phoenix, Changes Healing Center provides solutions for people with co-occurring disorders.

Other Reasons for Co-Occurring Mental Disorders and Addiction

While many people with mental health conditions use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, there are other possible reasons for the crossover between substance use disorders and mental health.

For example, substance abuse and mental health conditions share some of the same risk factors, including trauma, family history, and low socioeconomic status. Regardless of the cause, we’re here to help.

We Provide Accessible Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Covered by Insurance

Expensive treatment costs are one possible barrier to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Changes Healing Center accepts insurance to make your treatment accessible.

To check on your insurance benefits for rehab, please call our admissions line. The Changes Healing Center team is here to help you find solutions and alternative forms of payment if needed.

Get Help for Self-Medication, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse at Changes Healing Center

Changes Healing Center is an addiction treatment center in Phoenix that treats all types and levels of drug or alcohol dependence. Our clinical team thoroughly addresses contributing factors like self-medication when applicable to the client, and we are here to help you or your loved one get treatment that considers their holistic needs.

Please call Changes Healing Center for help with self-medication, mental health, and substance abuse. We are here to tell you more about our programs, answer your questions, or start the intake process today.

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FAQs on Self-Medication for Mental Health

What is self-medicating for mental illness?

Self-medicating for mental illness is when someone uses substances–like alcohol, opioids, or another type of drug–to cope with a mental health condition.

What is the self-medication hypothesis?

The self-medication hypothesis refers to the idea or possibility that someone may use drugs and alcohol to cope with or self-medicate psychiatric symptoms.

Is there a difference between self-medicating and addiction?

Self-medicating is not the same as addiction. However, it can lead to addiction and is a risk factor.

Is it okay to self-medicate for anxiety?

Although it may seem like a quick solution, self-medicating anxiety can lead to problems with substance abuse and other serious challenges. Anxiety disorders are treatable mental health conditions, and seeking help for anxiety is important.