Addiction Psychiatry: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders

A psychiatrist can help a patient suffering from substance abuse and mental health problems. The treatment will focus on both issues. It is common for addiction and mental disorders to occur. Understanding more about this occurrence can help prepare you for your coming treatment. If you want to know more about addiction psychiatry, here are the details from a psychiatrist.

Why mental illness and substance abuse happen

Many people suffer from both addiction and mental ailments. Even so, it does not mean that one caused the other. The psychiatrist will consider factors that contribute to the onset of these conditions. Below are some of these factors:

• Some people use substances to improve a symptom or two of a mental condition.
• Substance abuse can trigger at least one symptom of a mental ailment.

Studies show that mental conditions and addictions are due to genetics as well as early trauma and lack of brain function. Research says that many aspects of human genes have a connection with mental illness and substance abuse. The age at which the individual experiences the onset of mental problems and addiction is also a factor. Adolescence is a stage when the body is still developing. A teenager’s brain goes through changes that make teens prone to impulsiveness. That is why many people start experiencing mental illness and addiction symptoms during this age.

Individuals who have experienced emotional or physical trauma are prone to substance abuse. This is a critical matter for veterans. Most of them develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Veterans with this condition often self-medicate with different substances until addiction sets in.

Difficulty in diagnosing these conditions

Substance abuse and mental illness occurring at the same time may be challenging to diagnose. Sometimes, the symptoms are varied and complicated. This often results in one diagnosis. The other disorder continues to be present without treatment.

In other cases, the symptoms of both conditions tend to overlap. Mental issues and substance abuse can have the same components. These similarities can make the diagnosis incomplete. Inadequate screening or training can make things worse. This can lead to consequences, such as homelessness or even suicide.

It can be more difficult for the psychiatrist to control the symptoms of people who are suffering from both addiction and mental illness. These patients tend to be more prone to violent or impulsive acts. This could end up in legal consequences. Achieving sobriety is also a terrible challenge for these patients.

How substances can affect mental health

People consume substances for different reasons. Even if the reason is understandable, the long-term effects on the patient are often destructive. This often makes things more complicated. Below are the common long-term effects of substance abuse and mental illness:

• Mood changes
• Taking more substances to achieve the same effects
• Negative mindset
• Cancer
• Difficulty having orgasms
• Dependency
• Difficulty having and maintaining an erection
• Loss of motivation
• Anxiety
• Being secretive
• Depression
• Problems with the pancreas and liver

Using substances for a long time can lead to more complicated health and well-being problems. Substances tend to make the individual sicker. Studies show that taking specific drugs can trigger the onset of mental illness. Serious issues could arise. A psychiatrist tends to focus on the patient more because the symptoms could lead the individual to commit self-harm.