The relationship between substance abuse and mental health is a complex one. It can be difficult to say which came first — the mental health disorder or substance abuse. Sometimes people may start using substances to self-medicate. Others may turn to substances to cope with symptoms of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety and trauma. Substance abuse can exacerbate existing mental health issues .
Substance abuse can lead to addiction. One of the challenges associated with substance abuse is the stigma associated with substance abuse. People often hesitate to seek help due to fear of judgment and discrimination.
Promoting open conversations about substance abuse can help break down barriers and encourage individuals to seek help.
Being a loved one to a person with substance abuse issues can bring up feelings of helplessness, as the individual battling substance-abuse issues must come to the realization that their abuse of substances has negatively impacted their life — as well as the lives of those around them.
The statement, “I need help” is a difficult one to say.
Therapy can assist individuals with substance-abuse issues to identify the catalyst that led to abusing substances, as well as to identify triggers and learn new ways to cope with underlying issues that might have led to substance abuse in a non-judgmental and safe space.
Therapy can also be helpful for those loved ones who feel overwhelmed and do not know how to best process the emotions that come up when loving and caring for a person in their lives who battles substance-abuse issues.
