There is never a convenient time for someone to have a substance abuse issue. An individual might have one for years, or it might show up if they’re under a lot of pressure. Maybe they’re also hanging out with a crowd that is encouraging them to use illicit substances.
You might also see situations where someone is having a disorder emerge at the same time they’re using substances. This makes sense. The individual might start using drugs as a way to cope with how their condition is making them feel.
Treatment for co-occurring disorders is always possible if someone is struggling with an emerging disorder and substance abuse or addiction at the same time. Let’s discuss a few disorders that are most likely to emerge at the same time as substance abuse.
ADHD
Someone with ADHD may struggle in their daily life if it’s undiagnosed or they are not on the proper medication. They may become argumentative with those they know. They may have hyperactive periods followed by times when they feel very bleak.
The right drugs can even out such a person’s moods in many instances. Don’t be surprised if you see someone struggling with ADHD develop a substance abuse problem, though.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a condition that can completely wreck a person’s life in many instances. In extreme cases, the individual can be a danger to themselves or others if they have it. They may start using substances to try to drown out the voices they hear or visual hallucinations that torment them.
Mood or Personality Disorders
Various mood and personality disorders can start to surface. When they do, the person who’s dealing with them may begin to self-medicate. They might discover a better solution if they speak to a doctor or therapist, but they must first find the motivation to do so.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can come about if someone gets in a bad car wreck, survives a natural disaster, comes back from active duty in the military, or survives a violent crime. Living with this condition can be hellish, so it makes sense that someone in this situation may turn to substances to try to dull the pain and anxiety that they’re feeling.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is difficult to deal with. If you live every day feeling that something catastrophic could occur at any moment, that’s not easy. An individual with this condition might easily turn to alcohol or drugs to try and make themselves feel less on edge.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can wreak havoc with a person’s perception of the world. A chemical imbalance in the brain causes episodes of the most intense depression and mania. People with this condition often feel that self-medicating is the only thing keeping themselves under some measure of control.
Eating Disorders
Someone with an eating disorder is often very unhappy with how they look and feel. Taking the edge off of reality with substances is a reliable way to avoid wallowing in these feelings.
Speak Your Mind