Should You Treat Mental Health or Addiction First?

Co-occurring disorders don't care about who you are. They can affect anyone, no matter how they were raised, how much they know, what race they are, how much money they have, or what gender they are. A dual diagnosis is another name for someone with both an addiction and a mental illness simultaneously.

Many people who have problems with drugs or alcohol also have problems with their mental health, and vice versa. Even though mental illness and addiction are very different, the same person can have both simultaneously.

This is called comorbidity, or having more than one disorder. Because drug abuse and mental health are closely related, it can be hard to tell which problem came first.

For others, addiction hides the signs of a mental health problem that is going on underneath. Some people have disorders that get so bad that they cause mental health problems.

People with mental health problems like PTSD, depression, or anxiety may start consuming alcohol or drugs to self-medicate and feel better. This is a bad idea. 

But drinking and taking other drugs can worsen mental disorder symptoms. In the same way, people who abuse drugs may develop problems like depressive disorders or other mood disorders if their addiction makes them separate from their family and friends.

Dual Diagnosis: The way Mental Health Issues and Addiction Go Together

Even though addiction to drugs and other mental health problems often happen simultaneously, this doesn't mean that one always leads to the other.[2] People sometimes have trouble with a dual diagnosis because risk factors for both addiction and mental disorders are the same, such as:

• At home
• Things in the economy
• Stress or trauma in the environment
• The study of genes

But studies have shown that people with depression, anxiety, or PTSD have a greater tendency to use drugs or alcohol to help themselves feel better. This way of taking care of yourself can easily turn into an addiction. 

On the one hand, studies show that long-term use of drugs or alcohol can cause changes in the brain that can lead to mental illness. Therapists and medical professionals may be able to tell if an individual's psychological disorder or addiction came first by looking at their past habits and behaviours.

Which Came First?

In a classic "chicken or egg" situation, it's not always possible to tell if a person's mental illness or drug use came first. It's not unusual for a condition like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to lead to alcoholism. On the one hand, drug use can also make some people feel sad. The goal of the doctor is to treat the entire person. Often, this means finding out as much as possible about the causes.

When someone is ready to go to a residential facility for any reason, their health and mental problems are likely linked. It's hard to split them up and deal with each individually.

Doctors ask questions to find out as much as they can about a patient so they can figure out what's wrong. For instance, did hallucinogens cause a sanity break? If so, this could be what led to the first signs of schizophrenia. Could a person with a history of drug or alcohol abuse use the numbing effects of alcohol to treat their bipolar disorder symptoms?

The Mental Illness and Substance Misuse Relationship

There is an obvious connection between psychological wellness and drug abuse. Almost half of people with a mental illness will also have a problem with drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives. The same is true for the other way around. But it's very hard to determine the link between mental wellness and addiction.

Even though many people have addictions and mental health problems simultaneously, this doesn't mean that one triggered the other. The truth is that it can be hard to figure out why these illnesses happen.

There are three primary explanations for why drug abuse and some mental health problems happen together:

• Increase the risk of mental disorders: The fundamental cause of a disorder of the mind is a complicated mix of the environment, genetics, and other things. People already at risk for mental illness and using drugs or drinking too much can be pushed in that direction.
• Self-medicating a mental illness: People often use alcohol and drugs to relieve the symptoms of a mental health problem that hasn't been diagnosed. These things can change your mood temporarily and help you deal with hard feelings. Sadly, drug abuse makes mental health problems worse in the long run.
• Making mental illness worse: Over time, drinking alcohol or using drugs can affect how your brain works. Besides, this can worsen your current mental health problems, but long-term use can also cause new problems.

How to Deal With Drug Abuse and Mental Illness

People who have a problem with using drugs and a psychiatric disorder at the same time may find that the symptoms of their concurrent conditions vary in how bad they are and that the severity of these medical conditions can change over time.

Compared to people who only have one of these disorders, people who have both addiction and mental health problems may find it harder to get better and may need more time in treatment. But that doesn't mean getting better is impossible.

The notion that a qualified therapist can't help a person with depression who is also addicted to substance abuse is old. We now know that the best way to treat co-occurring disorders is through "integrated intervention." This is when a person struggling with both drug abuse and mental illness can get help for both problems simultaneously.

With this in mind, you should search for a treatment centre with a full plan to deal with a dual diagnosis. Even though recovery programmes are very flexible, they may have these things in common:

• Treatment at a hospital
• Intensive treatment at home
• All-around services
• Counselling and therapy from a psychiatrist
• Detox under medical supervision

Medical Needs Are Met First

Some health problems need treatment as the first step. For example, if someone isn't getting enough food or is at risk of heart failure because they use drugs, the first step is to get them to a stable medical state. A personalised plan is always needed to take care of medical needs. Once a person is stable medically, they can start getting help for their mental health and drug use.

When Addiction Comes First

Sometimes mental illness comes before an addiction. Over time, drugs and alcohol change how the brain is built and works. They change how receptors interpret neurotransmitters, and the brain makes important chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, or glut.

When there aren't enough chemicals in the brain, people start to have bad mental health symptoms. People who were perfectly healthy before using drugs or alcohol may have problems with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Studies have shown, for example, that the more an individual drinks, the more likely they will get major depression, regardless of whether they have never had depression before.

When Mental Illness Comes First

When someone asks, "What comes first? "Illness of the mind or addiction?" Many people think that mental illness is the answer. This is sometimes true and often happens when people try to treat themselves.

Consider a person with PTSD as an example. This person may feel anxious all day and have flashbacks that make it hard for them to work. They may not be able to sleep at all or have terrible nightmares that make sleeping very scary. Living with PTSD is hard, and that's not a secret.

It's so hard that many individuals with PTSD try to dull their symptoms by using substances or alcohol. Individuals with PTSD are two to four times more likely to become addicted to drugs than people who don't have PTSD.

Whether someone is dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or another mental disorder, drugs and alcohol are never the answer. People depend on drugs to feel calm, happy, or at ease. They soon feel like they can't do anything without drugs. And in many cases, using drugs worsens mental health problems, which starts a chain reaction.

Both mental illness and addiction make each other worse. They may also make it hard to get better.

Which Gets Treated First, Then?

When someone has more than one disorder, doctors and psychologists must figure out which is the most important right now. For instance, when a person comes to a psychological facility for inpatient treatment or detox, they are given a full physical exam and evaluation. The doctor will first take care of any condition that could kill the person, such as an overdose or toxicity. For some patients, psychosis is their biggest worry, which is fixed before getting any other treatment.

Once an individual is physically and emotionally stable, work can begin to treat the condition. The goal is to improve the patient's health in many ways. Many people will need painkillers or a full detox to eliminate the chemicals in their bodies. Still, improving the patient's health in natural ways becomes more crucial, such as by giving them a better diet and making their environment safe.

Finding the Right Treatment Center

You should try to find a treatment centre that specialises in helping people who have more than one disorder. Your doctor might have some ideas. Check to see if a programme has been approved and is licenced. Ask about programmes for aftercare as well. During the second withdrawal stage, which can last for months, depression and anxiety are common. Along with treatment, you'll need a plan for how to deal with these symptoms.

Even though treating someone with both a mental illness and an addiction might be harder, don't give up hope. This is a typical diagnosis, and there are a lot of doctors and nurses who can help you.

Conclusion

A person has a dual diagnosis when they have both a drug and a mental illness at the same time. This is called "comorbidity," and it can be hard to tell which trouble started first. There is a close link between drug abuse and mental health, and it is hard to tell which trouble came first.

Some people with mental health problems like PTSD, depression, or worry may start drinking or using drugs to help themselves feel better. But drinking and taking other drugs can make the signs of a mental disorder worse. People who use drugs may have problems like depression or mental disorders if they are cut off from their family and friends because of their addiction.

It's not always possible to get a dual diagnosis because the risk factors for both drug and mental illness are the same. People who have sadness, anxiety, or PTSD are more likely to use drugs or alcohol to feel better, which can lead to addiction. Using drugs or drinking for a long time can change the brain in ways that can lead to mental illness. By looking at a person's old habits and behaviours, therapists and doctors may be able to tell if their mental disorder or addiction came first.

Some drug abuse and mental health problems happen together for three main reasons: increasing the chance of mental disorders, trying to self-medicate a mental illness, and making a mental illness worse. Even though it's important to treat both mental health problems separately, it's hard to figure out what links them.

Dealing with drug abuse and mental illness at the same time can be hard because the signs of each can be different and the severity of each can change over time. Integrated intervention is the best way to treat people with both drug and mental health problems. This is because it allows people to get help for both problems at the same time.

To deal with a dual diagnosis, it is important to find a treatment centre with a full plan that includes treatment in a hospital, intense treatment at home, all-around services, counselling and therapy from a psychiatrist, and detox under medical supervision. The first thing that should be done is to take care of medical needs since some health problems need to be treated first.

When mental illness comes first, it's important to know that drugs and drinking are never the answer. People rely on drugs to feel calm, happy, or at ease, and in many cases, using drugs makes mental health problems worse, making it hard to get better. Mental sickness and addiction can make each other worse, which makes it hard to get better.

When a person has more than one problem, doctors and psychologists have to figure out which one is the most important at the moment. For example, a person in a mental health centre for inpatient treatment or detox will get a full physical exam and evaluation. The doctor will first talk about any possible dangers, like an overdose or toxicity.

Once the patient is physically and mentally stable, treatment can begin with the goal of making the patient's health better in different ways. Painkillers or a full detox may be needed, but natural methods like a better diet and safe surroundings are more important.

It's important to find the right treatment centre, and both doctors and nurses can help people with mental illness and addiction.

Content Summary

• Co-occurring disorders can affect anyone, irrespective of their background, race, wealth, or gender.
• The dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both addiction and mental illness in an individual.
• Mental illness and addiction, though different, can occur simultaneously, known as comorbidity.
• Drug abuse and mental health are closely connected, and it's challenging to determine which one came first.
• Addiction can mask underlying mental health issues in some individuals.
• Some disorders can deteriorate to the extent of causing mental health problems.
• People with PTSD, depression, or anxiety may consume substances to self-medicate, although this is a poor solution.
• Substance abuse can exacerbate mental disorders and create new problems like mood disorders.
• The relationship between addiction and mental health doesn't mean one always leads to the other.
• Common risk factors for addiction and mental disorders include home environment, economy, stress, trauma, and genetics.
• Those with depression, anxiety, or PTSD may have a greater tendency to use drugs or alcohol as self-medication.
• Long-term substance use can change the brain, leading to mental illness.
• Professionals may assess past habits and behaviours to determine which disorder came first.
• In a "chicken or egg" situation, it's difficult to ascertain if mental illness or drug use came first.
• PTSD can lead to alcoholism, while drug use can cause emotional sadness.
• Doctors aim to treat the entire person and learn about the underlying causes.
• In a residential facility, mental and health problems are often linked, and separating them is difficult.
• Understanding the patient's history is vital, such as whether hallucinogens led to schizophrenia.
• Nearly half of those with a mental illness may also have a problem with drugs or alcohol, and vice versa.
• It's challenging to pinpoint the link between mental wellness and addiction.
• Three primary reasons explain why drug abuse and mental health problems occur together: increasing risk, self-medicating, and making mental illness worse.
• Co-occurring conditions can vary in severity and require longer treatment but are not untreatable.
• Integrated intervention is the best way to treat both mental health and addiction simultaneously.
• Treatment centres with dual diagnosis plans offer services like hospital treatment, intensive home treatment, counselling, and medical detox.
• Some health issues, such as malnutrition or heart failure, require immediate medical attention.
• Mental illness can precede addiction, with substances changing the brain's structure and leading to disorders like depression and anxiety.
• Substance usage can lead to major depression even if the individual has never had it before.
• Mental illness sometimes comes first, often leading to self-medication with substances or alcohol.
• Individuals with PTSD are two to four times more likely to become addicted to drugs.
• Drugs and alcohol are never the answer for mental disorders, often making mental health problems worse.
• Both mental illness and addiction can exacerbate each other, hindering recovery.
• Determining which disorder to treat first requires a full examination and prioritising life-threatening conditions.
• Treatment begins once the patient is stable, including detox, dietary improvements, and creating a safe environment.
• Finding the right treatment centre specialising in dual diagnosis is essential, and one should check for proper licensing and aftercare programmes.
• During the withdrawal stage, depression and anxiety are common, requiring a long-term management plan.
• Treating co-occurring disorders might be more complex but is not impossible, with many professionals available to assist.
• People with mental health issues often use substances to feel better temporarily, but this turns into addiction over time.
• Long-term substance use can cause or worsen existing mental health issues.
• Treating co-occurring disorders requires an approach that deals with both addiction and mental illness together.
• Treatment options should include intensive therapy, detox under medical supervision, and comprehensive services.
• When addiction comes first, it can significantly alter the brain's chemical balance, leading to mental health symptoms.
• Often, people try to treat themselves with substances, leading to addiction when mental illness comes first.
• A personalised plan is essential to take care of medical needs, followed by mental health and substance abuse treatment.
• Proper treatment addresses the patient's overall health and includes natural improvements like diet and safety.
• Living with PTSD can lead people to use substances to dull symptoms, thus leading to addiction.
• Recovery from dual diagnosis can be more challenging and time-consuming but is attainable with proper treatment.
• Integrated intervention is the modern approach, treating both disorders together.
• Substance abuse can change mood temporarily but makes mental health problems worse in the long term.
• The connection between mental health and drug abuse is clear, though hard to define.
• An effective treatment centre must be licensed, specialise in dual diagnosis, and provide a comprehensive aftercare plan.