Co-Occurring Disorders: Substance Use as a Coping Mechanism
Living with mental health challenges like PTSD, depression, or anxiety can be exhausting. Many who face these difficulties also find themselves grappling with substance use. When substances become a way to cope with the pain of mental health struggles, it can create a vicious cycle that intensifies both the mental health symptoms and the level of substance use required to cope. It is important to understand how this happens and how therapy can help heal from co-occurring disorders.
Why do substances become a coping mechanism?
When someone experiences traumatic events or strong, unpleasant emotions, substance use can be a way to manage those emotions or numb their pain. Substances effectively allow one to escape their emotions in the short-term, but like other avoidance strategies, use of substances often leads to more problems in the long run. Substance use exacerbates mental health struggles and makes it more difficult to cope in the future. Additionally, reliance on substances as a coping mechanism can reduce use of healthier alternative coping skills.
The Role of Therapy in Recovery:
Therapy plays a vital role in helping individuals overcome their struggles with mental health issues and substance use. Here are a few of the ways that therapy can facilitate healing:
A skilled therapist can help identify triggers that lead to substance use or worsen mental health symptoms. Understanding these triggers can empower individuals to manage them more effectively.
Therapy provides tools and techniques to cope with distressing emotions or traumatic experiences without turning to substances. Healthy coping strategies can help navigate challenging situations in the short-term without compromising your long-term wellbeing.
Dual-diagnosis treatment is an approach that recognizes the interrelated nature of mental health challenges and substance use. A therapist with knowledge of this dynamic can work with you to addresses both of these concerns simultaneously.
Therapy offers a safe space to talk openly about struggles, fears, and experiences. It is a setting in which you can work with a professional to find strategies that work best for your unique situation. The ability to work through challenges without fear of judgment makes the journey to recovery more efficient and less overwhelming.
You may choose to use therapy to work on building a strong support system, involving friends, family, or support groups that can help you make and maintain positive changes.
Conclusion:
Facing co-occurring disorders can be difficult without the right support. Therapy offers hope by equipping individuals with the practical strategies needed to independently manage mental health and substance use difficulties, paving the way toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. If you are struggling to maintain your mental health and find yourself reaching for substances as a way to cope, I would be glad to connect and talk about how therapy can move you toward your goals.
