Mental health and substance use often feed off of each other. In fact, many times, one leads to the other. The symptoms of mental illness often develop by the time a person is 24 years old, but they can manifest even later than that. Due to a lot of misconceptions and lack of information about mental illness, many people aren’t’ even aware that they have one. Long-term drug or alcohol abuse can also cause symptoms of mental illness.
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse with Teenagers
Just about every high school student takes a health class at some point, but there just isn’t enough time to teach them everything. Health classes generally revolve around aspects of physical health like exercise, dieting, and diseases. Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it’s very rare that teens learn about these topics in depth. This means that when symptoms develop, a teen may be very confused and scared.
Many teens feel emotions much more strongly than adults because the part of the brain that regulates emotions hasn’t fully developed. Not only are their brains still developing, but they lack the human experience of getting through hard times. Having a mental illness can make a teen feel confused and alone on top of all their other stresses. Unfortunately, this often leads to drug abuse in teens.
Understanding Mental Health and Substance Abuse
No matter a person’s age, dealing with mental health issues can be extremely difficult. Many individuals who struggle with a mental illness feel like friends or family don’t understand. Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol can seem like the person’s only option to balance themselves out. Some of the most prominent forms of mental illness include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
There are also those who didn’t have any type of mental illness prior to drug use but developed one as a result of abusing drugs or alcohol. Long-term substance use can lead to different types of mental illness due to the damage these substances can cause to the brain. It’s quite common that a person who has an issue with substance use will feel depressed or anxious. This can lead to continued substance use or a misdiagnosis by a healthcare professional.
Managing Mental Health and Substance Abuse or Addiction
Living with an addiction and symptoms of mental illness can make a person feel hopeless, but it’s important to remember that there is help. Going to a qualified treatment center will give you the tools that you need to regain control of your life. Through various types of treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy, your mind will begin to heal. You’ll also learn how to manage your addiction as well as symptoms of mental illness in a much healthier way.
Pinnacle Peak Recovery specializes in dual diagnosis treatment. We have addiction professionals who understand mental illness as well as addiction. Our dedicated staff has helped many people, as well as their families, start to heal together. Call us today at 866-377-4761 so we can verify your insurance and help you on the road to recovery as soon as possible.