Chemical Dependency as Self-Medication for Mental Disorders

For those with undiagnosed mental disorders, the risk of drug or alcohol addiction can increase dramatically. Whether individuals experience common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety or more complex disorders such as Bipolar Disorder and schizophrenia, attempts to manage symptoms on their own can lead many individuals to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, these attempts to regulate psychological and physical symptoms often only compound the original issues by adding the weight of chemical dependency.

Chemical Dependency as Self-Medication for Mental Disorders

When we experience a mental health issue, it’s usually for one of two reasons. Either our brains are experiencing chemical imbalances that need adjustment physically, or our minds have been affected by traumatic experiences that breed emotional pain. Often, the symptoms of these problems manifest in the form of mental health disorders—affecting our perception of the world, our sense of identity, and our behaviors, fears, moods and impulses.

Chemical Dependency to Self-Medicate Chemical Imbalances

Unfortunately, this can lead many people already experiencing psychological or emotional pain to attempt to solve the problem through drug and alcohol use. Those facing depression or learning disabilities often come to rely on stimulant drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines to provide a temporary boost in energy, mood, alertness and motivation. Conversely, those experiencing anxiety disorders or other mental health issues often find solace in central nervous system depressants, such as marijuana, alcohol, or sedative drugs.

Temporarily, drugs and alcohol may provide a relief for the person suffering from an undiagnosed mental disorder—they may feel calmer or more energetic, as the levels of neurotransmitters in their brain alter and compensate for the problem at hand. However, over time, the brain actually becomes more imbalanced, after attempting to compensate for the drug- or alcohol-fueled chemical changes. The end result is that the brain becomes dependent on alcohol or drugs in order to avoid feeling the imbalance that chemical dependency has worsened.

Self-Medicating Trauma Responses Through Chemical Dependency

Similarly, those suffering from trauma-induced mental health disorders can find themselves desperately seeking a cure. Because trauma responses can be incredibly severe, many individuals suffering from them cannot understand their own reactions. In an attempt to eliminate the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (DID), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depersonalization disorder, individuals may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them feel greater calm, experience uninterrupted sleep, or block out intrusive thoughts. However, this only serves to further repress traumatic memories, generally leading them to resurface with greater force, and leaving the traumatized individual with the secondary problem of chemical dependency.

Recovery From Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Disorders

Not all drug and alcohol rehab facilities will cater to a dual diagnosis. In fact, many outpatient and inpatient drug and alcohol treatment centers aren’t well-equipped to handle patients with long-standing mental health issues. However, luxury or private treatment programs often can present a solution—as many of them take a holistic approach to treatment that includes focused individualized therapy, hypnotherapy, detox, and mainstream as well as alternative medicine practices. With an integrated team of doctors, therapists, nutritionists and wellness experts, many of those suffering from mental health disorders can experience inner healing, as well as freedom on dependency from drugs and alcohol.

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