Ideally, we would be able to identify and treat all mental illnesses before any substance abuse can occur. Unfortunately, mental illnesses develop at different rates and in different ways, but there are some warning signs that there may be a problem.
Although each has a unique set of symptoms, some of the most common signs of mental illness include the following:
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- Unrealistic and intense concern with weight and appearance
- Sudden changes in sex drive
- Social avoidance or fear
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Excessive sadness
- Increased hunger or lack of appetite
- Extreme mood changes
- Intense anger
- Difficulty relating to others
- Frequent and multiple physical pains
- Suicidal thoughts
- Visual, sensory, or auditory hallucinations
It is always important to seek help, even if you’re not sure if you have a mental illness. One of the most common obstacles to people getting dual diagnosis help is denial. Often, mental illness can cause thoughts and beliefs that are contrary to reality, increasing the risk of denial, and taking appropriate steps to care for oneself.
As someone suffers from a mental illness and uses drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, substance abuse often exacerbates the mental illness. It worsens the symptoms, in which the individual takes more drugs or alcohol to medicate, thereby worsening addiction.
The cycle of mental illness and substance abuse never ends and will continue to get worse without dual diagnosis treatment.