#shawleveryday2019 Day 84
Many people experience both mental illness and addiction. People with a mental health condition are twice as likely to suffer from a substance use disorder, and people who abuse alcohol or other drugs are more likely to to have a co-occurring mental illness. The two conditions are definitely linked, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
It's important to remember that addiction is not a personal weakness. It is a complex, chronic condition caused by a variety of genetic, environmental, psychological and social factors, and it is rooted in changes in the brain that affect judgment, decision making, and self-control.
When a person consumes a substance such as alcohol or other drugs, their brain produces large amounts of dopamine, which triggers the brain’s reward system. After repeated drug use, the brain is unable to produce normal amounts of dopamine on its own. This lack of dopamine means that the person may struggle with having positive feelings unless they are are under the influence of the substance. These brain changes also help explain why some people are able to control their substance use, but some cannot.
People who have co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder should be treated for both at the same time in order to have the greatest chance of success. If a person is treated for one condition, but not the other, it can be hard to achieve the desired results for either one. Both mental illness and addiction are things that will require persistent treatment and it can be really hard, but recovery is possible.
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