The importance of mental health for people struggling with any type of addiction is definitely something that isn’t talked about enough online. Whether it’s alcohol or even a coffee supplement, these harmful and unwanted habits can have consequences of incredible proportions on our mental health.
Top 5 Impacts of Addiction on Mental Health
It is time to break the cycle and investigate how we can overcome these difficult times and work on our well-being. In today’s article we will delve into the delicate topic of the impact that addiction has on mental health.
and some tips on how to take the first steps toward healing.
Low self-esteem
Although many people take different substances to increase their self-esteem, the line between helping and harming their health is extremely thin. Take alcohol addiction as an example. You probably know someone who started drinking alcohol to relax in the crowd and be more cheerful and fun with people.
Before you know it, this can become a serious addiction, leading to the inevitable. alcohol rehab. Once someone reaches this point, there is no turning back. And the duration of this treatment depends on the severity of the case. The individual could spend 30, 60, 90 or more days in the program. Without a doubt, the self-esteem of people who consume any addictive substance will be even lower. They may start to feel even worse than when they started: their mental health will deteriorate and they will start to feel ashamed of having to take it in the first place. It is truly a vicious circle.
Anxiety and depression
At least 31% of people worldwide have experienced anxiety at least once in their lives. Extreme depressive episodes affect nearly 17 million American adults. For starters, these are huge numbers, and we can all agree on that. Addictions play a major role in increasing the chances of developing anxiety and depression. For example, constant consumption of alcohol and drugs are the two most prominent addictions that will not only increase but accelerate the process of developing serious mental health problems.
Although people take these substances to “elevate their mood,” the result is quite the opposite. The most visible and common symptoms of anxiety are feeling restless, stressed all the time, shaking, sweating, etc. Anxious people will also have a lot of trouble focusing on a task.
As for depression, the most notable symptoms are extreme feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, being on the verge of tears most of the time, etc.
Suicidal thoughts
The combination of alcohol and depression contributes significantly to the development of suicidal thoughts. In research conducted in 2021, 12.3 million American adults expressed suicidal thoughts. This is a sensitive topic that cannot be emphasized enough.
People who have been struggling with addiction for some time have had suicidal thoughts at least once and have shared their experience with someone or not. Either way, these extreme cases should be discussed more among people, and healthcare facilities and professionals should spend more time helping people get through these difficult times.
Isolation
People who have been dealing with some type of addiction throughout their lives are more prone to isolation than those who have not. This is because addiction creates a whole new world and the individual no longer feels safe or comfortable with people in their daily life.
It is important to mention that self-isolation can be extremely harmful and detrimental to your physical and mental health. This can contribute to the development of suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and increased feelings of loneliness.
Impulsive behavior
Different additions have different effects and consequences; However, one thing is certain: they all contribute to impulsive behavior. People who have problems with addictive substances are more likely to get involved in miscalculated situations that could harm them physically or mentally. The result of this is usually a long-term injury. For example, excessive use of cannabis, opiates and cocaine promotes an extremely impulsive attitude.
behavior between individuals.
Psychosis
Last but not least, people struggling with addiction may experience intense episodes of hallucinations, delusions, and thinking problems. This can certainly have a detrimental impact on a person’s physical and mental health.
Incorrect and uncontrolled use of sleeping pills, antidepressants, and even muscle relaxants can cause common hallucinations. The more common the episodes, the worse the mental health.
In conclusion, it would be fair to say that there are several unwanted effects that addictions can have on
An individual. Decreased self-esteem, anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, isolation, impulsive behavior and psychosis are caused by different addictive substances. All of this has a tremendous impact on an individual’s daily life and can significantly deteriorate their health, both physical and mental.
However, as long as they talk to each other and raise awareness, there will be hope.
