Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorders often overlap with alcohol or drug addiction. While these disorders can coincide independently, they are often related and require dual diagnosis treatment. If left untreated, co-occurring disorders can trigger each other, making it more difficult for a person to function.
For instance, depression can trigger and fuel addiction to alcohol or drugs. Likewise, addiction can aggravate the symptoms of depression or anxiety. A person dealing with disorders may live in a constant depression state while drinking excessively as a coping mechanism. The only way to overcome these disorders is by seeking professional care at an addiction treatment center in Maryland.
Alcoholism and Antisocial Personality Disorder
The term antisocial is often misunderstood. An antisocial person is not necessarily a recluse who avoids people or relationships. Instead, a person with antisocial personality disorder consistently shows disregard for right and wrong and ignores or downplays others’ rights and feelings. Furthermore, the individual shows no remorse for their behavior.
When combined with alcohol, an antisocial personality disorder can result in extremely bizarre or harmful behavior. A person who has co-occurring disorders can rarely function at home, work, or school. A substance abuse treatment program includes dual diagnosis treatment to help people manage their disorder and overcome their addiction.
Cocaine Addiction and Anxiety Disorders
When assessing co-occurring disorders such as cocaine addiction and anxiety disorder, it can be difficult to tell which condition came first or which condition triggered the other. The primary reason for this is how cocaine affects brain function. Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system and speeds up brain activity. This can lead to severe anxiety if the addiction lasts for an extended period.
Cocaine is attractive to people who suffer from anxiety because it lifts them out of their anxiety or depression, if only for a few minutes. However, the high does not last. Eventually, cocaine does not produce the high because the body builds a tolerance to the drug. As a result, the user ends up with a full-blown addiction harmful to their mental health.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Benzo Addiction
The benzo crisis in the U.S. reflects the spike in mental disorders over the last decade. As more people experience trauma during childhood or adulthood, they turn to benzos such as Valium, Ativan, Xanax, or Klonopin to ease the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Social disorders
- Phobias
- Depression
- Panic attacks
The most significant risk of using benzos without a proper trauma therapy program is that the user may become addicted to drugs. Trauma-informed care addresses co-occurring disorders through dual diagnosis treatment that is more sensitive to the client’s experience, memories, and current mental state. A trauma victim can recover from the traumatic event without becoming addicted to benzos.
Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction
Although chronic pain is not a mental disorder, it can lead to various mental health issues. A person in constant pain may suffer from anxiety or depression over several months or years. As a result, they may continue using opioids or other drugs to relieve the pain and cope with their anxiety.
As opioid addiction continues to skyrocket in the U.S., treatment centers have adopted medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help individuals overcome the withdrawal symptoms and cravings during rehab. This allows them to focus on overcoming the addiction and any other co-occurring disorders.
Learn More About Co-Occurring Disorders at TruHealing Centers
Living with co-occurring disorders can be challenging at best. If you need help with a mental health issue and addiction, we can help. Call TruHealing Centers at [Direct] to find out more about your treatment options and how to overcome your addiction.
