Substance Abuse and Mood Disorders: What’s the Link?

There’s always been an interesting connection between substance abuse and mental health. It seems people affected by one are often also struggling with the other. They are a dangerous combination, having disastrous results when left unchecked.

What could be the cause of this commonly found link? Doctors and researchers are working to figure it out.

Research Findings

In 2018, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published their study on the comorbidity between substance abuse and mental health. Comorbidity – or dual diagnosis – means a doctor has diagnosed someone with two or more health conditions at the same time. NIDA found that 7.7 million adults are dealing with mood disorders and substance struggles. However, it is difficult to understand which diagnosis would have come first.

There are some thought-provoking statistics found in the same study. While nearly 40% of those diagnosed with substance abuse also experience mental illness, those with mental health struggles encounter substance problems at half the rate. So, it appears substance abuse may be a factor in mood disorders but less so the other way around.

Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Abuse

There are high rates of depression and anxiety among those who use substances. One research team found 93% of those surveyed had high levels of depression and 97% reported extreme anxiety. They concluded those most likely to relapse often experience these problems, and the effects of detoxification often brought them up as well.

While the study did not say if those surveyed were diagnosed with anxiety or depression, feelings of stress and sadness are clearly associated with substance abuse.

One study has identified some possible links between mood and substance abuse disorders. These researchers have laid out four possibilities for why these dual diagnoses may be so common:

●      Genetics: Families with high rates of substance abuse are more likely to also be diagnosed with mental illnesses. A person’s genetics may have also shaped their brain to be predisposed to mood disorders and substance abuse.

●      Self-medication: Those diagnosed with mental illness may be inclined to medicate themselves with substances. Substances may also intensify the previously unrecognized signs of mood disorders, leading to more self-medication.

●      Overlapping diagnoses: Abuse and withdrawal symptoms are often very similar to those of mental illness. Stimulants and depressants produce different symptoms that can mimic other disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.

●      Kindling: This means a person’s brain may be more sensitive to repeated episodes of substance dependence and mental illness. As brain cells become more receptive to both disorders, the likelihood of them occurring together increases.

Prescription Drug Abuse

An increasing number of people are becoming addicted to or misusing prescribed medications. The most commonly misused prescription drugs are:

●      Anti-anxiety prescriptions

●      Opioid painkillers

●      Stimulants and sedatives

People can abuse these by taking them more than prescribed, snorting or injecting them, or stealing another person’s prescription. This kind of abuse is hard to manage since these substances are legal. Overusing them can lead to reliance on the substance to function, changes in mood, and poor sleeping patterns.

This might also be driven by the urge to self-medicate. A person may feel like the more they take a prescription, the more likely their problems are to go away.

How Can You Help?

There’s a lot of research pointing out the links between depression and substance abuse. If you or a loved one is suffering from this dual diagnosis, it can be hard to know how to deal with both at once. Those feelings of doubt and stress are hard to beat, but here are a few tips on fostering self-love and self-growth during these times.

1.   A Change of Lifestyle

Depressed moods can sometimes be caused by a poor diet or not enough physical activity. If you want to combat these feelings naturally, trade out your unhealthy habits for positive ones. Taking a look at your lifestyle can help you see where you could change your life for the better. It can provide benefits in addition to medication if you choose to go that route.

Being on medication is not a negative thing. Everyone’s brain is different, so talk to your doctor about ways you can use prescriptions and healthy lifestyles hand-in-hand.

2.   Learn to Calm Anxiety

Some people diagnosed with substance abuse can find anxiety-inducing situations triggering. While it is possible to avoid some triggers, others will pop up without warning. In these situations, it’s crucial for you to know ways to re-center yourself and tackle those intrusive thoughts. Finding something else to focus on, utilizing breathing techniques, or even walking away are all great ways to relieve anxiety when a situation has caused it.

3.   Seek Professional Help

A doctor’s opinion is always worth seeking. If you are struggling with substance abuse and mental health, a medical professional will work with you to get the help you need. They are there to assist you, so rest assured you’re doing the right thing when seeing a doctor.

Therapy is an excellent option for those with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Women who have experienced trauma are more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder. Finding a therapist who can help you address the feelings associated with these things might be very beneficial. Just know you’re not going through this alone – there are people out there who want to see you get better.

The Link Between Substance Abuse and Mood Disorders

There are clear links between these two neurological issues. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please seek care. No one should have to fight these alone, and the help could be the very thing that changes your life for the better.

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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.