Drug abuse does not only have an impact on the physical aspect of the body but also on someone’s mind. There are many negative outcomes brought by drug addiction and sometimes the impact may exist on the psychological realm. The following article aims to discuss how drug use affects the psychological health of an individual and how to take back control.
Connection between substance use and mental health
The use of substances is usually a way through which individuals escape the various problems that they may face emotionally or psychologically. Although when used for a short time, it might help the consumer obtain ‘high,’ long term use of the substance damages the brain and causes dreadful disorders including anxiety disorders, depression, and psychosis among others. Most people get accustomed to using drugs in order to regulate their emotions, only to experience further decline of their state.
Psychiatric Disorders Induced by Substance Dependence
- Anxiety and Panic Disorders: Some of the drugs can cause enhanced levels of anxiety and develop more frequent episodes of panic attacks such as the stimulants. The concentration of the neurotransmitters is skewed in the brain which makes the person to be restless, fearful, or paranoid.
- Depression: This is because substance misuse has an impact on the brain neurotransmitter of serotonin and dopamine thereby causing prolonged episodes of depression, hopelessness and possibly despair. The same people find themselves in a vicious cycle where they have to use drugs so as to suppress the symptoms of depression only for the condition to worsen over time.
- Psychosis: Recurrence to drugs such as methamphetamine or LSD causes psychotic episodes that expose an individual to hallucinations, delusions or even a complete withdrawal from reality. Besides, such attitudes negatively affect their vision of the world and can lead to reckless actions.
Dual Diagnosis: Co-occurring of addiction and mental illness
Dual diagnosis occurs when a person suffers from both drug dependency and mental illness, among many people. This makes the recovery process more cumbersome because the two conditions have to be managed at the same time. That is why if a person has an untreated mental health problem, they may be pulled even deeper into that substance and similarly, if there is an untreated substance addiction, it will only aggravate the mental health issue.
In such occurrences, getting assistance from a practitioner becomes relevant, and the drug rehab in Sherman Oaks is among the treatment facilities that offer dual diagnosis. However, with the right intervention, an individual is capable of escaping this cycle and regaining normalcy in their lives.
Effects on the Mental Health over the Longer Term
Recent research indicates that the longer an individual continues using, the more serious the negative effects on their mental health. Drugs should not be taken for long because its effects on the brain are permanent. Long-term users suffer from amnesia, a poor memory, short attention span, and poor decision making skills. In severe situations, substantial personality alterations may occur, or a person becomes unable to live a life on his own.
The Road to Recovery
Coping and rebuilding mental health is never easy especially where drug abuse has occurred, but it is doable. Rehabilitation centers being one such place, which helps people detox, get their therapy done, or teaches them coping mechanisms not to relapse. A combination of physical treatment together with therapy has proven to be the most effective method of attaining a complete recovery.
Conclusion
Drugs ruin a person’s mental health and lead to mental disorders that impact every aspect of life. However, early intervention is paramount to avoid the conditions worsening and becoming irreversible. In cases where an individual has a dual diagnosis, treatment from centers such as drug rehab in Sherman Oaks can bring about a positive change. This also proves that recovery is not only possible if given adequate support but also is a life transforming process.