Self-Medicating to Deal with Depression and Anxiety

Mental health and substance abuse are often interlinked. In fact, according to survey results, 35% of mentally ill adults in the United States also struggle with substance abuse. Instead of seeking professional help, many people turn to self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. This may provide temporary relief, but the resulting addiction often has catastrophic effects on their job, relationships, health and finances.

Signs of Self-Medicating

The risks associated with untreated depression include worsening symptoms, suicidal thoughts and the urge to turn to drugs to cope. Unfortunately, if you’re self-medicating, you may not realize you have a problem. These are signs you might be self-medicating instead of seeking medical or psychiatric care:

The Dangers of Self-Medicating

Health issues are one of the biggest risks of self-medicating. Drug and alcohol use could result in asthma, brain damage, infections, cancer, heart disease, strokes and accidental overdoses, which may quickly lead to death. You could also contract HIV from reusing needles. Mental health symptoms may include paranoia, aggression, confusion and anxiety. The related stress can exacerbate your mental illness, leading you to consume more until you have a full-blown addiction.

Self-medicating could also ruin your relationships with family and friends. People who self-medicate tend to isolate themselves as they crave more of the drug. They turn down invitations to parties, get-togethers and family events, sometimes lying about their whereabouts. Individuals may end up losing their jobs or custody of their children. Romantic relationships could fall apart as partners become frustrated and eventually walk out the door.

Types of Self-Medication

There are various ways an individual can self-medicate for anxiety and depression. Some of the most common methods are:

• Self-Medicating With Food
  Occasionally referred to as “emotional eaters,” individuals who self-medicate with food use it as a means of suppressing or soothing negative emotions. This can result in episodes of binge eating, or eating excessively. While eating comfort foods occasionally to treat mild symptoms of emotional upset can be relatively harmless, binge eating to treat depression is unhealthy and can potentially worsen the symptoms of existing mental illness.
• Self-Medicating With Psychostimulants
  Psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines are frequently abused because of the temporary feelings of euphoria the substances can create. These drugs are very addictive and can worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Psychostimulants are also life-threatening and cause major damage to the body’s cardiovascular system. Cocaine-related deaths frequently occur as a result of sudden heart failure, and amphetamines speed up the heart’s functioning, which can increase the risk of stroke. While the highs from such substances may temporarily distract from depression, the lows that occur once the high has diminished may worsen existing symptoms.
• Self-Medicating With Opioids/Opiates
  Opioids are derived from the poppy plant and include codeine and morphine. Drugs designed to mimic the effects of these opioids are known as opiates. Drugs in the opiate category include heroin, methadone and oxycodone. Depression combined with abuse of these drugs is surprisingly common, and the results can be deadly.
• Self-Medication With Alcohol
  Drinking once in a while may be seen as relatively harmless, but using alcohol to treat anxiety or depression will more than likely lead to alcoholism, which can worsen symptoms of both disorders. Moreover, alcoholism is a debilitating disease that requires time and dedication to recover from and can be difficult to overcome in conjunction with other existing disorders.
• Self-Medicating With Marijuana/Cannabis
  Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance among those with depressive disorders. Excessive use of the drug can worsen symptoms of depression. Plus, using marijuana can have legal consequences. Recreational and even medicinal use of the drug is a controversial subject across the United States, and marijuana use is still illegal in many places.
• Self-Medicating With Caffeine
  Caffeine is a stimulant, meaning it raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body. While consuming coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks can perk a person up if they’re tired, the effect of the caffeine they contain is only temporary. Once the high produced by caffeine dissipates, the body’s insulin level drops, which can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety or feelings of confusion.

How Do You Avoid Self-Medicating?

Understanding the link between mental health and substance abuse can help you turn to healthier coping mechanisms. When you feel stressed, try writing in a journal or discussing your feelings with a friend or loved one. Talking about the issue could provide some relief and help you look at the situation from different angles. This may offer solutions you hadn’t considered.

Meditation is another popular alternative to self-medicating. Once a day, set aside time to sit in a quiet space, gather your thoughts and simply focus on the present moment. You don’t have to achieve enlightenment; just relaxing for 10–20 minutes is enough to relieve stress and anxiety. Taking this time can also give you a break from daily stressors. Afterward, insurmountable struggles might seem like achievable goals.

Art therapy provides another outlet for your emotions. Think about your biggest challenges, then channel these feelings into a drawing, painting, sculpture, song, poem or short story. Creating something encourages you to hyper-focus, putting the cravings out of your mind.

When the weather is nice, try hiking, taking a walk or going for a swim. You could also hit the gym to build muscle and core strength. Exercise can ease your stress and improve your physical health, and you’ll have opportunities to set goals along the way.

Talk About Mental Health and Substance Abuse

FHE Health has the tools and programs you need to get help for substance abuse. If you or a loved one is self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, contact us to learn about your available treatment options. Our caring representatives are standing by to answer your questions.