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While on their own, both mental health struggles and substance use and abuse are issues that affect millions of Americans; for far too many, those two issues are not distinct. For many, mental health and substance use are connected, creating a complicated web of symptoms that make it difficult to manage either issue without addressing the other.

This relationship, known as co-occurring disorder, requires integrated treatment to address both conditions simultaneously. Unfortunately, though, far too many people suffering from a co-occurring disorder don’t get the professional treatment they need. Far too often, for one reason or another, a person will turn to drugs and/or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. In some instances, they may not be aware of the existence of one of the conditions, treating only one issue while neglecting the other, leading to recurring cycles of relapse, distress, and instability.

So, what is the relationship between mental health issues and substance use? In this blog, we will take a deeper look at that by breaking down what co-occurring disorders are, how mental health and substance use influence each other, and looking at some of the more common co-occurring disorders.

What is the Relationship Between Mental Health Issues and Substance Use?

The connection between mental health and substance abuse is complex, as is anything involving the brain and how it reacts to certain things both internally and externally. Ultimately, though, mental health struggles and substance use have a bidirectional relationship.

Let’s take a look at what this means and how it relates to the relationship between the two:

Mental Illness Can Lead to Substance Use

As we mentioned in the intro, far too often, someone suffering from a mental health condition will turn to drugs or alcohol for comfort as a form of self-medication. This may be because their mental health condition is undiagnosed, or it could be the result of not wanting to seek out professional treatment for their mental health condition.

In fact, in many cases, self-medicating can bring feelings of relief and may even make the person believe that it is “fixing” them. While this relief may be effective in the short term, long-term self-medicating not only increases the risk of the development of a substance abuse issue, but it can also ultimately worsen the mental health condition.

Substance Use Can Trigger Mental Health Issues

While not quite as common, it is not unheard of for someone with a substance use issue to develop a mental health condition as a consequence of their substance use and abuse. Since drugs and alcohol alter brain chemistry, long-term use and misuse of drugs and alcohol can “wake up” a dormant mental health condition. Furthermore, it can also disrupt the brain’s ability to regulate mood, emotions, sleep, and cognition.

Some examples of this include:

  • Heavy alcohol use causes depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.
  • Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine cause paranoia, hallucinations, or anxiety.

In both of these instances, mental health conditions arose as a result of unintended side effects from regular or heavy drug and alcohol use.

Why Do Substance Use and Other Mental Disorders Occur Together?

Substance use and other mental disorders often occur together—a phenomenon known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis—for several interconnected reasons:

1. Shared Risk Factors

  • Genetics: Family history of mental illness or addiction increases the risk for both.
  • Brain chemistry: Changes or imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin may contribute to both mental illness and substance misuse.
  • Environmental stressors: Trauma, neglect, or early exposure to substance use can increase vulnerability to both types of disorders.

2. Self-Medication

  • People with mental health conditions may use substances like alcohol, opioids, or stimulants to cope with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts. Over time, this can lead to addiction.

3. Substance Use Can Trigger Mental Health Issues

  • Some substances can cause or worsen mental health symptoms. For example:

    • Marijuana or LSD may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals.
    • Methamphetamine or cocaine may lead to paranoia or mood disturbances.
    • Alcohol or benzodiazepines can worsen depression and anxiety.

4. Developmental Timing

  • Mental health disorders and substance use typically emerge during adolescence or early adulthood, a period of major brain development, increasing the likelihood that they’ll overlap.

5. One Disorder Can Mask the Other

  • Mental health symptoms may go unnoticed because they are overshadowed by substance use—or vice versa—delaying diagnosis and treatment for both.

How To Tell If You Have a Co-Occurring Disorder

Another reason why co-occurring disorders are so complex is that they are often difficult to properly recognize or diagnose due to the fact that the symptoms of mental illness and substance use often overlap. What might seem like a drug-related issue could, in fact, be rooted in untreated mental health issues. On the flip side, someone struggling with a mental health condition may not even realize that their drinking is actually making their symptoms worse.

So, how can you tell if you or a loved one is suffering from a co-occurring disorder? Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms:

You Use Substances to Manage Emotions

Do you drink to escape feelings of sadness, fear, or anger? Do you take pills to help you sleep or calm your thoughts? Does getting high feel like the only way to feel “normal”?

These may be signs that you’re using substances to mask a deeper mental health issue.

Your Mood Feels Unstable Even When Sober

If your emotions are unpredictable, your energy levels swing dramatically, or you often feel hopeless or anxious, particularly when you are sober, you may have an underlying mental health disorder that needs attention.

You Have Been Diagnosed with a Mental Illness OR a Substance Use Disorder

If you’ve previously received a diagnosis for a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or another psychiatric condition, and you have also struggled with substance use at another point in your life, there’s a strong possibility that the two are connected.

Treatment for One Condition Isn’t Working

Have you gone to therapy to address your mental health struggles, but it just isn’t working? Have you gone to rehab but found yourself relapsing almost immediately upon completion?

This may be an indication that you are suffering from a co-occurring disorder and require comprehensive treatment.

Family History or Trauma

People with a family history of addiction or mental illness, or who have experienced trauma, are at higher risk of developing a co-occurring disorder.

Common Mental Health Disorders That Co-Occur with Substance Use

While any mental illness can co-occur with substance use, some disorders more commonly co-occur with substance use and abuse. These include:

  • Depression – People with depressive disorders often turn to alcohol or other depressants to numb their emotions. Unfortunately, these substances tend to increase feelings of hopelessness and fatigue, exacerbating the cycle.
  • Anxiety Disorders – Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety, can all drive individuals to use substances to calm their nerves. However, prolonged use often leads to increased anxiety during withdrawal or sober periods.
  • Bipolar Disorder – Substance use in people with bipolar disorder often fluctuates with manic or depressive episodes. Stimulants may be used during depressive phases, while sedatives or alcohol might be used during manic episodes.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Those who have experienced trauma may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to suppress flashbacks, nightmares, or hypervigilance. However, substance use tends to worsen post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the long run.
  • Schizophrenia or Psychotic Disorders – People with psychotic disorders are especially vulnerable to the effects of certain substances. Some drugs can induce or worsen hallucinations and delusions, making it critical that individuals with these disorders receive highly specialized care.

Integrated Treatment is Essential

So, how can you or a loved one get help for a co-occurring disorder? Since both conditions are interconnected, they must be treated simultaneously. This involves a specialized treatment approach known as dual diagnosis treatment.

Co-occurring disorders require integrated treatment, addressing both the mental illness and the substance use disorder simultaneously. Treating one without the other is often ineffective and may lead to relapse or worsening symptoms.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why this form of treatment is so important:

Improved Symptom Management

Mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or trauma-related responses, can fuel substance use. At the same time, drugs or alcohol often intensify psychiatric symptoms. Integrated treatment helps individuals learn to manage emotional distress without turning to substances, reducing the chances of relapse and improving quality of life.

Stronger Therapeutic Outcomes

Research has shown that people who receive integrated treatment are more likely to stay in recovery, experience improved mental health, and avoid relapse compared to those who receive isolated or partial care.

This is especially important for individuals with more severe or chronic mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, or schizophrenia, which often require ongoing support and medication management alongside addiction recovery efforts.

Greater Long-Term Success

One of the biggest dangers of untreated co-occurring disorders is the high rate of relapse. For example, a person who quits drinking but continues to experience untreated depression may eventually return to alcohol as a form of self-medication. Integrated care addresses the root causes of substance use and teaches healthier coping mechanisms, significantly reducing the risk of relapse.

Comprehensive Support Network

Integrated programs, such as dual diagnosis treatment, typically include access to therapists, addiction counselors, psychiatrists, case managers, and peer recovery specialists, providing the person with a support network all sharing the goal of sustained recovery.

Wisconsin Recovery Institute Offers Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Fond du Lac

If you or a loved one is experiencing both mental health challenges and substance use issues, it’s important to remember that help is available.

At Wisconsin Recovery Institute in Fond du Lac, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment that addresses the full spectrum of your needs. Our experienced team understands the complicated relationship between emotional struggles and substance dependency, and we’re here to help you untangle both.

As part of our dual diagnosis treatment program, we offer:

If you or someone you love is struggling, Wisconsin Recovery Institute in Fond du Lac is here to help. Contact us today to start your journey to comprehensive healing.

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What is the Relationship Between Mental Health Issues and Substance Use?

While on their own, both mental health struggles and substance use and abuse are issues that affect millions of Americans; for far too many, those two issues are not distinct. For many, mental health and substance use are connected, creating a complicated web of symptoms that make it difficult to manage either issue without addressing the other.

This relationship, known as co-occurring disorder, requires integrated treatment to address both conditions simultaneously. Unfortunately, though, far too many people suffering from a co-occurring disorder don’t get the professional treatment they need. Far too often, for one reason or another, a person will turn to drugs and/or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. In some instances, they may not be aware of the existence of one of the conditions, treating only one issue while neglecting the other, leading to recurring cycles of relapse, distress, and instability.

So, what is the relationship between mental health issues and substance use? In this blog, we will take a deeper look at that by breaking down what co-occurring disorders are, how mental health and substance use influence each other, and looking at some of the more common co-occurring disorders.

What is the Relationship Between Mental Health Issues and Substance Use?

The connection between mental health and substance abuse is complex, as is anything involving the brain and how it reacts to certain things both internally and externally. Ultimately, though, mental health struggles and substance use have a bidirectional relationship.

Let’s take a look at what this means and how it relates to the relationship between the two:

Mental Illness Can Lead to Substance Use

As we mentioned in the intro, far too often, someone suffering from a mental health condition will turn to drugs or alcohol for comfort as a form of self-medication. This may be because their mental health condition is undiagnosed, or it could be the result of not wanting to seek out professional treatment for their mental health condition.

In fact, in many cases, self-medicating can bring feelings of relief and may even make the person believe that it is “fixing” them. While this relief may be effective in the short term, long-term self-medicating not only increases the risk of the development of a substance abuse issue, but it can also ultimately worsen the mental health condition.

Substance Use Can Trigger Mental Health Issues

While not quite as common, it is not unheard of for someone with a substance use issue to develop a mental health condition as a consequence of their substance use and abuse. Since drugs and alcohol alter brain chemistry, long-term use and misuse of drugs and alcohol can “wake up” a dormant mental health condition. Furthermore, it can also disrupt the brain’s ability to regulate mood, emotions, sleep, and cognition.

Some examples of this include:

  • Heavy alcohol use causes depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.
  • Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine cause paranoia, hallucinations, or anxiety.

In both of these instances, mental health conditions arose as a result of unintended side effects from regular or heavy drug and alcohol use.

Why Do Substance Use and Other Mental Disorders Occur Together?

Substance use and other mental disorders often occur together—a phenomenon known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis—for several interconnected reasons:

1. Shared Risk Factors

  • Genetics: Family history of mental illness or addiction increases the risk for both.
  • Brain chemistry: Changes or imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin may contribute to both mental illness and substance misuse.
  • Environmental stressors: Trauma, neglect, or early exposure to substance use can increase vulnerability to both types of disorders.

2. Self-Medication

  • People with mental health conditions may use substances like alcohol, opioids, or stimulants to cope with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts. Over time, this can lead to addiction.

3. Substance Use Can Trigger Mental Health Issues

  • Some substances can cause or worsen mental health symptoms. For example:

    • Marijuana or LSD may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals.
    • Methamphetamine or cocaine may lead to paranoia or mood disturbances.
    • Alcohol or benzodiazepines can worsen depression and anxiety.

4. Developmental Timing

  • Mental health disorders and substance use typically emerge during adolescence or early adulthood, a period of major brain development, increasing the likelihood that they’ll overlap.

5. One Disorder Can Mask the Other

  • Mental health symptoms may go unnoticed because they are overshadowed by substance use—or vice versa—delaying diagnosis and treatment for both.

How To Tell If You Have a Co-Occurring Disorder

Another reason why co-occurring disorders are so complex is that they are often difficult to properly recognize or diagnose due to the fact that the symptoms of mental illness and substance use often overlap. What might seem like a drug-related issue could, in fact, be rooted in untreated mental health issues. On the flip side, someone struggling with a mental health condition may not even realize that their drinking is actually making their symptoms worse.

So, how can you tell if you or a loved one is suffering from a co-occurring disorder? Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms:

You Use Substances to Manage Emotions

Do you drink to escape feelings of sadness, fear, or anger? Do you take pills to help you sleep or calm your thoughts? Does getting high feel like the only way to feel "normal"?

These may be signs that you’re using substances to mask a deeper mental health issue.

Your Mood Feels Unstable Even When Sober

If your emotions are unpredictable, your energy levels swing dramatically, or you often feel hopeless or anxious, particularly when you are sober, you may have an underlying mental health disorder that needs attention.

You Have Been Diagnosed with a Mental Illness OR a Substance Use Disorder

If you’ve previously received a diagnosis for a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or another psychiatric condition, and you have also struggled with substance use at another point in your life, there’s a strong possibility that the two are connected.

Treatment for One Condition Isn’t Working

Have you gone to therapy to address your mental health struggles, but it just isn’t working? Have you gone to rehab but found yourself relapsing almost immediately upon completion?

This may be an indication that you are suffering from a co-occurring disorder and require comprehensive treatment.

Family History or Trauma

People with a family history of addiction or mental illness, or who have experienced trauma, are at higher risk of developing a co-occurring disorder.

Common Mental Health Disorders That Co-Occur with Substance Use

While any mental illness can co-occur with substance use, some disorders more commonly co-occur with substance use and abuse. These include:

  • Depression - People with depressive disorders often turn to alcohol or other depressants to numb their emotions. Unfortunately, these substances tend to increase feelings of hopelessness and fatigue, exacerbating the cycle.
  • Anxiety Disorders - Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety, can all drive individuals to use substances to calm their nerves. However, prolonged use often leads to increased anxiety during withdrawal or sober periods.
  • Bipolar Disorder - Substance use in people with bipolar disorder often fluctuates with manic or depressive episodes. Stimulants may be used during depressive phases, while sedatives or alcohol might be used during manic episodes.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Those who have experienced trauma may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to suppress flashbacks, nightmares, or hypervigilance. However, substance use tends to worsen post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the long run.
  • Schizophrenia or Psychotic Disorders - People with psychotic disorders are especially vulnerable to the effects of certain substances. Some drugs can induce or worsen hallucinations and delusions, making it critical that individuals with these disorders receive highly specialized care.

Integrated Treatment is Essential

So, how can you or a loved one get help for a co-occurring disorder? Since both conditions are interconnected, they must be treated simultaneously. This involves a specialized treatment approach known as dual diagnosis treatment.

Co-occurring disorders require integrated treatment, addressing both the mental illness and the substance use disorder simultaneously. Treating one without the other is often ineffective and may lead to relapse or worsening symptoms.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why this form of treatment is so important:

Improved Symptom Management

Mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or trauma-related responses, can fuel substance use. At the same time, drugs or alcohol often intensify psychiatric symptoms. Integrated treatment helps individuals learn to manage emotional distress without turning to substances, reducing the chances of relapse and improving quality of life.

Stronger Therapeutic Outcomes

Research has shown that people who receive integrated treatment are more likely to stay in recovery, experience improved mental health, and avoid relapse compared to those who receive isolated or partial care.

This is especially important for individuals with more severe or chronic mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, or schizophrenia, which often require ongoing support and medication management alongside addiction recovery efforts.

Greater Long-Term Success

One of the biggest dangers of untreated co-occurring disorders is the high rate of relapse. For example, a person who quits drinking but continues to experience untreated depression may eventually return to alcohol as a form of self-medication. Integrated care addresses the root causes of substance use and teaches healthier coping mechanisms, significantly reducing the risk of relapse.

Comprehensive Support Network

Integrated programs, such as dual diagnosis treatment, typically include access to therapists, addiction counselors, psychiatrists, case managers, and peer recovery specialists, providing the person with a support network all sharing the goal of sustained recovery.

Wisconsin Recovery Institute Offers Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Fond du Lac

If you or a loved one is experiencing both mental health challenges and substance use issues, it’s important to remember that help is available.

At Wisconsin Recovery Institute in Fond du Lac, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment that addresses the full spectrum of your needs. Our experienced team understands the complicated relationship between emotional struggles and substance dependency, and we’re here to help you untangle both.

As part of our dual diagnosis treatment program, we offer:

If you or someone you love is struggling, Wisconsin Recovery Institute in Fond du Lac is here to help. Contact us today to start your journey to comprehensive healing.

Wisconsin Recovery Institute

We Help You Up!

You and your life-long recovery are our priority at Wisconsin Recovery Institute. Contact us today to discuss your personalized treatment plan toward sobriety.

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