Many people who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol also suffer from common mental health disorders. Co-occurring disorders can make it extremely difficult to recover from an addiction. However, with the right treatment, recovery from and management of both conditions is possible. Let’s take a look at some of the most common disorders associated with addiction.
Clinical Depression
One of the most common mental health disorders is depression or depression disorder. It is a severe condition that includes a wide range of symptoms such as sadness, anger, withdrawal from daily life, or changes in sleep and behavior. When a person suffers from depression, they often exhibit noticeable problems at work, school, home, or with relationships.
Depression can be psychological, inherited, or caused by external conditions/surroundings. In worst-case scenarios, a person may have thoughts of suicide or ‘ending it all.’ Depression can affect people of all ages for various reasons. Also, depression is not always easy to identify. Some people can disguise their depression, leaving others oblivious to their condition.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorder is excessive fear, paranoia, or anxiety that continues for a long period – usually weeks or months. Someone with an anxiety disorder feels anxious for no reason at all. Disorders can range from common phobias and reactions to trauma to panic attacks and social anxiety.
In general, a person may be worried or afraid in a way that is out of proportion with a situation, person, place, or event. Anxiety can paralyze a person emotionally and mentally. They may avoid certain situations or people even when there is no reason to. Risk factors may include genetic, environmental, psychological, or developmental conditions. As one of the most common mental health disorders, anxiety is also treatable with professional help.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When a person experiences a traumatic event, you may have emotional or mental disorders linger long after the event has passed. Known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can happen as a result of abuse, death, natural disaster, or combat. A victim may experience or witness a traumatic event.
People with PTSD may have ongoing negative thoughts and feelings that are related to the event. Sometimes the emotional or mental fallout can last for years. PTSD symptoms often include anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, sadness, guilt, or detachment. It is one of the most common mental health disorders that occur after a childhood trauma.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a broad term for patterns of feelings and behaviors that a person may justify regardless of how negative or destructive they are. It is commonly associated with drug or alcohol addiction. A person may either justify their addiction or deny that it exists.
Symptoms of borderline personality disorder include inappropriate or extreme emotional reactions, impulsive behavior, or a history of failed relationships. Also, a person may experience drastic mood swings and emotional outbursts. This makes it difficult to maintain any type of a stable lifestyle, as things often get out of control.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
While ADHD is common in children, it can carry over into later years and cause numerous problems in adult life. The primary symptom of ADHD is the inability to stay attentive or focused. In addition, a person may exhibit hyperactive or impulsive behavior.
Most adults do not realize that they have ADHD. Therefore, they may go years without a diagnosis or treatment. ADHD has been linked to substance abuse or reckless behavior. There is a wide range of treatments and management strategies available for ADHD.
Get Help for Common Mental Health Disorders at AspenRidge Lakewood
If you have both a mental disorder and addiction to drugs or alcohol, there is help available. To find out more about how to get started with treatment, call AspenRidge Lakewood at 866.977.8625. We treat common mental health disorders.
