J
jeremy
10 minutes
Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Signs
Co-occurring means two health problems at the same time. Here it means a substance use disorder and a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or bipolar disorder. This is common. Many people who have one also have the other. Some people drink or use drugs to calm fear, sadness, or bad memories. This is sometimes called self-medication. Substances can also cause or worsen mental health problems. Heavy stimulant use can bring paranoia, which is a fear that others are out to get you. Withdrawal can bring anxiety and low mood. The two share many signs, such as mood swings, poor sleep, and pulling away from others. So you often cannot tell which came first, and you do not need to. Each problem can hide or worsen the other. Treating only one often fails. Both need care, at the same time and best by the same team. Write down what you see and what the person tells you. Ask about mood and about substance use in the same calm way. If a person talks about ending their life, get help right away. In the US you can call or text 988, or call 911. After this Concept you can notice when mental illness and substance use may be present together and refer for care that treats both.