Self Medication

Psychiatric conditions and alcohol or drug addiction are very familiar and similar issues. Both are issues with the central nervous system, and both require similar cognitive treatments and therapies. Over 50% of people who abuse drugs and nearly 40% who abuse alcohol can be diagnosed with a form of mental illness. Estimated reports also show that in people diagnosed with mental illness that 30% of them also abuse alcohol, drugs or both⁽¹⁾.

People who suffer from depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorders may unfortunately turn to self medication with alcohol or depressants to numb the pains they are feeling. This is short lived suppression, and more of the drug at more frequent intervals is needed as the body builds up tolerances. People diagnosed with panic disorders and anxiety conditions are oftentimes prescribed benzodiazepine to calm them down. Many medications in the benzodiazepine family can also be addictive over time. Either way, the individual is becoming dependent on the substance to suppress or self medicate the condition.

The risk that stems from self medication is addiction. This does more than compound the problem of the psychiatric condition. It creates a dual problem with the suffering of mental illness and the behavior of chemical dependence. The body has gotten to a point where it can no longer maintain any semblance of normal function without the substance in the system. Compounding the problems of the depression or anxiety disorder with addiction is termed as a comorbid or dual diagnosis issue.

Treatment has changed in recent years due to the number of cases of co-occurring disorders. This is seen in addiction programs. Many alcohol and drug rehab facilities offer treatment for dual diagnosis. Such facilities provide psychiatric help in addition to the traditional addiction treatment programs. Similarly, recovery and 12-step programs have evolved to offer support for disorders comparable to addiction support. This approach to dual diagnosis has provided successful answers for individuals suffering from disorder and addiction.

There are other answers to mood disorders than self medication. Both mood disorders and addiction are very treatable. Early detection and appropriate action are effective means to helping the individual find this needed treatment. For those who are struggling with a dual diagnosis problem, there are facilities that can make it possible to get one's life back again. One such facility is Cirque Lodge, in Sundance Utah. Cirque Lodge is a dual diagnosis addiction treatment program. As a health care accredited facility, they can provide the very best in appropriate treatment for the psychiatric disorder and addiction problem.