Is mental illness linked to drug addiction

[Claudius]

I suffer from schizophrenia. It began when I was 18 in the form of parasitosis, something you do not want, trust me. I’m wondering if the mental illness is directly related to the drug addiction. I am certain it is indirectly related but I have met many ill people that do not suffer from drug addiction..so either it must only be indirectly related or a phenomena that occurs with a particular flavor of mental illness.

I basically broke down after seven years of complete madness going undiagnosed. Believe me it is not pretty. I do so many crazy things based on a notion that is simply not a reality and it is often very difficult these days to distinguish what is really happening and what is my mind. Somehow it’s deeply connected to my emotions and stress is a major activator and thus the opiate consumption. Reduce the stress you reduce the illness. Do you guys think I am just rationalizing or is the mental illness causing me to consume? I actually hope not because that would mean that there is no cure for either. I really don’t see the point in all of it but I suppose most ask “why me.”

[ClayTheScribe]

Claudius, my heart goes out to you. I have major depression, but I can't comprehend the madness and pain and confusion you've suffered as a schizophrenic person.

To answer your question, yes, there is a link. There's a link in that many of us people with mental disorders try to help reduce the pain and frustration of our illness by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. Your rationalization is common among people with addiction, to me, that's the addiction talking. Self-medicating when you have a mental illness, no matter how hard you try doesn't help or cure or save you. In fact, the addiction gets worse and you can die from an overdose. I don't know how much you take, but I would consider getting into rehab ASAP. But first talk to your doctor.

I did just that, self-medicating, for about 3 years with pot and alcohol. Now 4 months sober, it seems illogical I would self-medicate because while pot and alcohol were fun and a distraction from my emotional problems at first, they in the end did more damage than good. I hope you've come to that conclusion by now about your opiate addiction. Alcohol and pot basically made it so my psych medicines didn't work as effectively, thus I'd get really anxious, agitated and depressed the next day--or when I was coming off the high--, and toward the end, the moment I stopped drinking. Pot turned me into a nervous wreck for the last 3 years, or so and alcohol made me depressed. On those days after drinking or smoking, my depression would get so severe my feelings of self-hatred would boil up inside of me and I would cut myself, and sometimes burn. Those scars will never go away, and perhaps they shouldn't to serve as a reminder of what alcohol and drugs can to me. Pot and alcohol cost me a good scholarship, the respect of some teachers, a good friend and roommate and delayed my graduation by 2 years

Drinking and using drugs can not only perpetuate mental illness, but bring on depression or switch on a latent mental illness for which someone might self-medicate, perpetuating the disorder, and around you go on the vicious cycle of dual diagnosis.

But there is hope.

In April, my therapist I had been seeing for 3 years told me she could no longer treat me because she wasn't qualified to treat addiction. So I had to seek out a therapist that treats dual diagnosis--addiction and mental illness--and I'm seeing a new one in a week. You may want to find such a professional yourself as this person can help answer your mental health and addiction questions probably better than I can. You also might want to read Zencat's DRA (Dual Recovery Anonymous) thread about a group that focuses on mental illness and addiction together and google it to find a meeting if that interests you. If you're not on medication, you may want to get help for your addiction and consider, with a psychiatrist, about getting on some psych meds. If you're already taking meds, then talk to your doctor about treating your addiction because the opiates and the meds won't work together. And sometimes I have to tweak my drugs with my psychiatrist to get on the right cocktail. No doctor or scientist has found the cure for any mental illness, yet. But they can be treated and managed and you can live a healthy life.

There is also a hotly debated genetic component to addiction, but I think anyone can become an addict, regardless of genetics. There's no such thing as an addictive personality because anyone, no matter how revered, rich or poor, can fall prey to using. It just so happens so many of us with mental illness reach for the bottle, or the pills, or the pipe or the syringe to calm the fury raging inside of our heads. I've learned it only makes things worse and robs you of time you could've spent getting better.

Keep in mind I am not a doctor, so before you do anything in regard to either your schizophrenia or addiction, see a doctor or a psychiatrist.

Addiction and mental illness are a vicious cycle, but you can break it.

Good luck on breaking free.

[Claudius]

Originally Posted by ClayTheScribe

Claudius, my heart goes out to you. I have major depression, but I can't comprehend the madness and pain and confusion you've suffered as a schizophrenic person.

...

I did just that, self-medicating, for about 3 years with pot and alcohol. Now 4 months sober, it seems illogical I would self-medicate because while pot and alcohol were fun and a distraction from my emotional problems at first, they in the end did more damage than good. I hope you've come to that conclusion by now about your opiate addiction. Alcohol and pot basically made it so my psych medicines didn't work as effectively, thus I'd get really anxious, agitated and depressed the next day--or when I was coming off the high--, and toward the end, the moment I stopped drinking. Pot turned me into a nervous wreck for the last 3 years, or so and alcohol made me depressed. On those days after drinking or smoking, my depression would get so severe my feelings of self-hatred would boil up inside of me and I would cut myself, and sometimes burn. Those scars will never go away, and perhaps they shouldn't to serve as a reminder of what alcohol and drugs can to me. Pot and alcohol cost me a good scholarship, the respect of some teachers, a good friend and roommate and delayed my graduation by 2 years

It’s interesting and tragic that both you and I are presently gravitating to the worst possible drugs in regards to our mental afflictions. Alcohol and pot will most definitely increase exponentially your depression symptoms and like for me: the cocaine amplifies my schizophrenia….for hours I am 100% psychotic with hallucinations and audible delusions. I do not have visual hallucinations when I am not taking cocaine only audible delusions which is bad enough. The initial drug of preference, for me, was opiates due to the fact that I had already served seven years of schizophrenia by that time, when I was twenty four. Though for some reason, now that I have been off the opiates in the form of Suboxone substitution for a year now I began gravitating towards cocaine.

Originally Posted by ClayTheScribe

But there is hope.

In April, my therapist I had been seeing for 3 years told me she could no longer treat me because she wasn't qualified to treat addiction. So I had to seek out a therapist that treats dual diagnosis--addiction and mental illness--and I'm seeing a new one in a week. You may want to find such a professional yourself as this person can help answer your mental health and addiction questions probably better than I can. You also might want to read Zencat's DRA (Dual Recovery Anonymous) thread about a group that focuses on mental illness and addiction together and google it to find a meeting if that interests you. If you're not on medication, you may want to get help for your addiction and consider, with a psychiatrist, about getting on some psych meds. If you're already taking meds, then talk to your doctor about treating your addiction because the opiates and the meds won't work together. And sometimes I have to tweak my drugs with my psychiatrist to get on the right cocktail. No doctor or scientist has found the cure for any mental illness, yet. But they can be treated and managed and you can live a healthy life.

I did attend a dual clinic for three years but when I tried to go back to work, when I did go back to work, it was under a different insurance (Blue Cross & Blue Shield) and proper care was unattainable to obtain therapy because my new insurance would not cover. Private from public, no longer would pay. I prey to the gods daily and write our representatives to pass the public option bill. To make a long story short without proper medication I fell to the dark side and yet again lost everything. Getting kind of old.

[Bamboozle]

(((Claudius)))

Is there any assistance you can get from the state now? Find anyone who will treat on a sliding scale? I don't make much money, but I'm going to be seeing a psychiatrist for free later this month b/c I qualify for free mental health care at a state-funded facility. I pay for my therapy out-of-pocket at a different place (it's an amount I can afford).

I don't have health insurance, but I use whatever programs/options are available to me. I hope you can find some help soon.

[Claudius]

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

(((Claudius)))

Is there any assistance you can get from the state now? Find anyone who will treat on a sliding scale? I don't make much money, but I'm going to be seeing a psychiatrist for free later this month b/c I qualify for free mental health care at a state-funded facility. I pay for my therapy out-of-pocket at a different place (it's an amount I can afford).

I don't have health insurance, but I use whatever programs/options are available to me. I hope you can find some help soon.

What seems to be the main issue is the drug addiction since I have an addiction problem as well as a mental health issue (even though the mental health issue was pre-addiction) they wont see me less I go to the dual therapy stated above which are ALL clinics. I remember when I was young I could actually speak with a doctor and now all I can do is speak with councelors. The sliding pay scale and NO prescriptions is unattainable for me because I pay $400-$700 a month paying for the suboxone treatment which is a priority to me. When they calculate the sliding pay scale they do not adjust due to medical expenses...at least not the service I called which was catholic charities. Even forty dollars is the difference between eating and not eating for like a week. Ive been out of work for for almost a year now and recieving SS and have medicare which also seems not to pay for much (the dual clinic would not except at all,) specifically the prescriptions and the meds they do pay for is such a convoluted system that in the end I end up paying anyway's ($1000 cap.) The meds I took previously is very expensive at like $25 per pill (30 per month=$750 Risperidol, Giodon (one which works best,) etc.... To make a long story short it's very difficult and full of red-tape BS.

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by Claudius

Ive been out of work for for almost a year now and recieving SS and have medicare

That right there should qualify you for some much needed help.

I got free care at a Catholic hospital where I live...even though I don't qualify for Medicare, I live at home with my parents, and I have a job. On the form I filled out it asked about other expenses...especially medical expenses. I couldn’t believe it when they told me I qualified. I’m glad I filled out the form…it saved me a couple thousand.

I understand that not all places operate this way.

I live in a very small populated area...somewhere in the northern panhandle of WV. Do you live in a mid-sized or large city? Where I live there are few options but I’m managing to get by. I only have depression and alcoholism to deal with, but I’ve been fortunate enough to take advantage of free care around here.

Keep looking for help. Please….even if you have to utilize several different places to get everything you need. I go through my doctor, my therapist, and a mental health care center…and none of those are at the same places in town.