How Does Substance Abuse Affect Your Mental Health?

11.8 million people die every year because of alcohol, smoking, and using illicit drugs. When a person is addicted to a substance, their body will react in certain ways. Some experience hallucinations and seizures, while others may deal with diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. However, another aspect of substance abuse is its effects on mental health.

Different substances will have different effects on your mental health. It’s important to understand how alcohol or certain drugs can affect the mind, especially if you are dealing with addiction and know someone who does. Although not everyone who struggles with drug addiction will necessarily deal with these mental health problems, some will. 

So, here are some ways substance abuse can affect your mental health:

1. Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause severe symptoms that have a huge impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior.  

Now, when one is addicted to substances and suffers from depression at the same time, it’s not really clear which one of the two issues comes first because they are linked. When an addict is depressed, some of the symptoms they might experience include irritability, loss of interest, lack of motivation, suicidal thoughts, sleep issues, and hopelessness, among others. 

2. Anxiety

Anxiety can be linked to substance abuse as well. This is a disorder that involves an individual perceiving danger that does not exist. An anxious person will experience mood swings, excessive worrying, insomnia, tension, agitation, restlessness, sweating, and an increased heart rate. 

Anxiety in drug abuse situations can either come from the substances themselves or from the addict trying to hide the issue from others. 

3. Feelings of Guilt

Addicts are often stuck in a loop. They usually consume alcohol or drugs to deal with serious issues in their lives. Substances bring them comfort that they couldn’t find anywhere else. However, when the person becomes sober, they feel very guilty about the substance abuse. 

Sometimes, these feelings are too difficult to deal with, forcing the individuals to go back to abusing substances for more comfort. It’s a process that is hard to escape.

4. Losing Interest

Someone who is addicted to substances will often lose interest in activities that once brought them joy. This can be a sign of depression mixed with addiction. Unfortunately, this symptom makes people think that the world has no happiness to offer, making it harder to seek help for addiction. 

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2010-2011, about 8.32% of people from Florida reported that they used illicit drugs. Drug use numbers are still high in the state, so if you’re struggling with an addiction, reaching out to a specialized facility like Centric Behavioral Health can help you get your normal life back. 

Final Thoughts

Drug abuse is a serious matter in the US. In Florida alone, every year, about 3,000 people die from drug abuse. This is why anyone who struggles with addiction should consider medical detox in South Florida. Going to detox can help you get your life back on track and escape the addiction and the negative effects it has on your mental health.