Dual Diagnosis is becoming more prevalent as time progresses. The combination of drug addiction and mental illness has affected more people now than ever before. More than 7.9 million people have been reported to have Dual Diagnosis in a 2014 national drug survey.
Dual Diagnosis is when one is suffering from both a mental illness and substance use disorder disorder. Sadly, it is a cycle that feeds itself.
Anxiety, a common mental illness, promotes stress to unhealthy levels. Stuck in dysphoria, people will turn to alcohol, opioids, or any other substance that can help take the edge off. However, when one becomes dependent on drugs and alcohol to cope with something like anxiety it, in turn, will increase anxiety.
The benefits of substance only last for a brief amount of time. Once the effects ware off the individual returns to an even more anxious state. A common side-effect of drugs and alcohol is anxiety itself.
Once the substance wears off and the anxiety sets back in, the individual will now more than ever use the substance to take the edge off.
This, in turn, creates the addiction and dual diagnosis.
There are several noticeable symptoms if a loved one is coping with dual diagnosis:
- Withdrawal from Friends and Family
- Sudden Change in Behavior
- Using Substances Under Dangerous Conditions
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Loss of control over use of substances
- Developing a high tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
- Feeling like you need a drug to be able to function
This seems scary, but there are multiple treatments out there to help one recover from dual diagnosis. Psychotherapy, medications, support groups, and other treatments can be done to help one overcome addiction and manage their mental illness.
Anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental illnesses are not easy to deal with. It is understandable why someone would turn to a substance to cope with their mental illness. It’s important to remember that one is never alone, there are people to help with addiction and lead one to a happier healthier life.
