When you get into the world of addiction there are a lot of words and phrases that get thrown around. 

Some phrases sound intuitive to define, like dual diagnosis, but it’s important to truly know the meaning in order to understand you or your loved ones’ diagnosis better. 

Dual diagnosis does not mean that you are diagnosed with two addictions to two different substances or have been diagnosed with two or more mental health conditions. Instead, it’s a combination of those two ideas, and what it comes down to is that you have a substance use disorder that co-occurs with a mental health condition. 

Dual diagnosis is more common than you may think, as one often comes as a packaged deal with the other. This is why many people with depression or anxiety disorders end up addicted to alcohol or marijuana. The substance you end up using might help to suppress some of the effects of the mental health disorder on your mind and body, giving you only a brief relief. 

Understanding Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is common, meaning if you or a loved one are suffering from multiple ailments, you are not alone. 

Many people that suffer from mental illness will find relief from their symptoms through substances. No matter which substance it is that is negatively affecting your life, by finding treatment that takes both your mental health and substance use disorder into consideration, you are more likely to find recovery and proper care to treat your conditions. 

When it comes to treatment, you cannot treat one condition that the other. In the case of dual diagnosis, you must figure out a treatment plan that works towards treating both concurrently. This is the most effective way to see positive changes being made in your life, and there are so many resources that can help you. 

People suffering from dual diagnosis would want to consider inpatient or intensive outpatient care at a recovery center like Soba’s. With in-person treatment, you are able to conquer all of your battles with trained medical professionals who are there to support and assist you in your recovery journey. 

How Does It Differ From Cross Addiction?

Often, dual diagnosis might be confused with the term “cross addiction”. Cross addiction is referring to when someone has two or more addictions in their lifetime. 

It can range from a variety of substances, like alcohol, heroin, or cocaine, to having a gambling addiction, or even a sex addiction. One addiction may lead to another, or in many cases, you may be in recovery from one addiction when you develop another one. 

Mental Health Issues and Addiction

If you are struggling with a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, you should seek out treatment to better find ways to treat both conditions at once. 

Several disorders are more common to have a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder with, and they end up being one of the main underlying causes of substance use. It’s not that all people who have mental illness are also substance users, but it’s always important to look deeper into what role your use of substances plays on your mental health.  

Depression

Depression is one of the most commonly reported mental health disorders that people in the United States suffer from. Because depression is also often under-reported, those not getting proper treatment can turn to self-medication to treat their symptoms. 

Certain substances’ effects on the body and brain can trick a person into thinking it’s helping them. Dependencies form, and soon, it’s hard to feel better without the assistance of drugs or alcohol. 

Borderline Personality Disorder

Studies have shown that the link between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance use is very high and that over two-thirds of people with BPD have used substances before to aid their symptoms. When you are suffering from BPD and are not getting the proper treatment for it, you might turn to self-medication as a way to cope. 

Schizophrenia

What is challenging about using substances when also schizophrenic is that some of the side effects overlap, and it can be difficult to distinguish what is affecting the symptoms. 

For instance, certain substances might cause hallucinations, but so might the side effects of schizophrenia. When someone with schizophrenia uses substances, they are putting themselves at greater risk, as it may become more difficult to decipher reality from their condition.

Eating Disorders

When you struggle with an eating disorder, it’s often challenging to control what you are consuming. You want to find ways to suppress your hunger, or maybe you want to boost your hunger just to binge eat for a night. Certain substances, like MDMA, work to limit your appetite, whereas drugs like cannabis might increase your hunger drive. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Someone who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has undergone some type of event that has altered the way their brain functions and creates trauma that reappears, sometimes randomly or after being triggered. 

At the same time, a person struggling with PTSD will have fewer endorphins being produced in their brains. This means that it will be more difficult for those people to feel happy or good about themselves and their situation. Many people will turn to drugs or alcohol to bridge this gap in their brains. It can help make the trauma seem lighter, or it can sometimes help to erase the memories altogether (for only a little while).  

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It’s thought that people who struggle with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely than others to use drugs or alcohol as a way to combat their symptoms. People with ADHD usually get prescribed a stimulant to help them focus and stay on task, but improperly using this drug can lead to bad habits, which can develop into addictions. 

While these stimulants can be very helpful to the person struggling with ADHD, you have to take into account your own genetics, your family’s history with drugs and alcohol, and your personality to stay as safe and healthy as possible.

Factors for Dual Diagnosis

Many factors play a role in your dual diagnosis. Whether environmentally or genetically, there are things that can truly change the trajectory of your life and influence your decisions: 

• Brain Response: How your brain responds to illicit drugs that you take could impact how you and society views you. You might take drugs that have symptoms similar to paranoia or hallucinations, which could eventually lead you to develop a mental disorder.
  The way that your brain responds to the drugs is a good indicator of what kind of effect they will have on you in the long run.
• Genetics: Depending on your genetics, you might be predisposed to mental illness, especially if family members have struggled before. Genetically speaking, you could also be more predisposed to develop an addiction. Being predisposed to either can later affect how the other materializes in your brain.
  
• Environment: People who struggle with chronic stress, undergo traumatic events, or even experience neglect are likely to be influenced by their environment. When the environment around someone is not safe or healthy, it can kickstart a mental health disorder or addiction.
  If you are around people who are constantly drinking or using drugs, it might influence you to participate more, especially as a means for survival.
• Exposure: People who have seen firsthand how drugs and alcohol can impact someone may either turn away from it altogether to find themselves a better life, but sometimes, this is not the case. Being exposed to drugs or alcohol can cause you to seek them out for yourself at a young age.
  People that experiment at a younger age are more likely to impact the structure and functioning of their brain, which can lead to developing mental health conditions earlier on in life.

Getting Help at Soba Recovery Centers

While we often want to turn away from our problems, the easiest path to recovery comes when you face your problems head-on. You can’t treat one condition without treating the other, and you won’t see proper results unless you are getting help for both. 

With Soba Recovery Center, we understand how it all works together. We want you to find comfort and safety when dealing with your mental health disorders, but that’s hard to do when you are struggling with addiction. Soba’s Recovery Centers allow you to create a personalized treatment plan that puts your mental health and addiction at the forefront. 

If you think that you or a loved one could benefit from this kind of treatment, contact a Soba representative to discuss how to help. It’s never too late to put yourself first. 

 

Sources:

What is Cross Addiction? | American Addiction Centers 

Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness | NIDA

Borderline Personality Disorder And Substance Use Disorders: An Updated Review | NCBI

If you or a loved one struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you already know how difficult it can be to adapt and cope with your issues. Having PTSD is not just something that military veterans come home with; it’s something that people worldwide struggle with and often have a hard time explaining to others. 

Unfortunately, with all the other struggles that a person with PTSD endures, many will also have to battle a substance use disorder. 

Knowing the signs and understanding how the two work together can help you to find positive coping methods and learn how to control your emotions and triggers to live a more successful and fulfilled life. 

At Soba Recovery, understand that dealing with addiction is hard on its own, and when you have other factors impacting your mental health, it can feel isolating and never-ending. Read on to learn more about the relationship between PTSD and addiction. 

What Is Addiction?

Addiction, or substance use disorder (SUD), is a complex condition that changes the way your brain functions. It makes you believe you need the substance to survive. It messes with your perception of reality and can make you act out in ways you normally wouldn’t. When dealing with addiction, you are often trying to escape the reality you are living in due to personal trauma. 

When you are addicted to a substance, you cannot control your urges to use the substance and make poor decisions in favor of the substance. As soon as a substance you are using disrupts your daily activities and you can’t function without it, you have reached dangerous and concerning levels of your substance use. 

Signs of Addiction

Some signs that you or a loved one is struggling with addiction are:

• Having a disregard for harmful situations, they put themselves or others into.
• Not being able to go a day without the substance.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
• Becoming easily angered or upset.
• Inability to sleep or keep up hygiene.

Calling out signs of addiction with your loved ones can be difficult, but having a conversation about your concerns only shows them that someone is willing to help.

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that individuals get diagnosed with after a traumatic experience. People with PTSD might struggle with flashbacks and bad dreams about the event that happened to them, causing them to revert to experience the emotions they had at that moment. It can be debilitating for many and cause severe issues in daily life. 

Things that can cause PTSD are:

• Military combat
• Abusive relationships
• Sexual Assault 
• Natural disasters
• Childhood trauma
• Car accident
• Death of a loved one
• Being physically attacked

Often, people with PTSD will avoid certain places, things, songs, and even people to avoid any thoughts or flashbacks. Many people have to fully adapt their lives to live without being reminded of the event, and many have a difficult time coping as it’s like reliving a nightmare over and over. 

People with PTSD can have a hard time separating what’s happening currently with memories, and how their environment is around them in one moment could place them back at the moment they experienced trauma. 

You might notice that someone with PTSD will stare blankly for a while, which can be them rewatching a negative memory unfold and then suddenly snap out of it. 

If left untreated by a treatment program that may include medications and behavioral therapies, occurring PTSD can affect you for a lifetime. 

Symptoms of PTSD

There are a few PTSD symptoms to be on the lookout for; here are some to consider:

• Having difficulty sleeping due to nightmares or intrusive thoughts.
• Reliving trauma and experiencing flashbacks and bad memories.
• Becoming easily irritated or upset.
• Constant blame on oneself.
• Feelings of guilt.
• Feelings of irritability. 
• Suddenly having a blank look in their eyes as they stare off.
• Avoiding certain people and places or having visceral reactions to objects, sounds, or names.
• Drug use or they may abuse alcohol.

If you notice someone is dealing with PTSD, the best plan of action is to try to get them help so that they can learn how to cope appropriately. This can be difficult to discuss, but it’s so important and helpful!

How PTSD and Addiction Are Connected

It is actually widespread for someone with PTSD also to have substance use issues. 50% of people who have been diagnosed with PTSD will be diagnosed with substance use disorder. 

People with PTSD often self-medicate because of how frequent and debilitating their symptoms are. Drugs and alcohol might subdue the pain by making you forget the trauma and feel outside of your body for a brief moment, but this is not a good way to cope overall. 

PTSD alters your brain chemistry similarly to addiction, but they work together to justify the behavior. After experiencing a traumatic event, your brain will produce fewer endorphins, and so the way for people to experience those feelings of happiness is through mood-enhancing substances. 

There are many triggers that people with PTSD have that could use substances to combat that feeling.

Both addiction and PTSD are occurring disorders that affect a person’s memory, and when they are combined, they intensify the feelings that one might feel in a situation. Substance use gives people the ability to forget memories that bring them pain, but with the right help, you can find better ways to cope with your trauma. 

Signs of Substance Use In People With PTSD

It can often be hard to see when people with PTSD struggle with substance use because some of the signs are very similar from an outside perspective. Some examples of substance abuse include alcohol and drug abuse. 

There are a few ways you can tell when someone is using drugs or alcohol to a dangerous extent to help cope with their PTSD:

• If while intoxicated, the person is extremely withdrawn.
• They experience more depression and anxiety.
• They might be extremely nervous until they have used a substance.
• If they are using substances more frequently throughout the day.
• If they become secretive about what they spend their time doing and withdraw themselves from situations, they are used to. 
• Arousal and reactivity.

For those dealing with PTSD and substance abuse like drug use or alcohol use disorder, substance abuse treatment, addiction treatment, and counseling may be helpful for your road to recovery. Substance abuse treatments will have you go through a detox period to help you get one step closer to sobriety. While relapse may be a fear, it is less likely to occur with the right program and support. 

Getting Help At Soba Recovery Centers

When it comes to struggling with addiction and PTSD, you are not alone. Soba Recovery is here to assist you through your recovery and set you up for success upon your return to the community. 

Soba Recovery focuses on the individual’s needs, and so for those who have PTSD and addiction, the sessions you attend will be geared towards treating your PTSD as well. We understand that you can’t treat one without treating the other and that success does not happen if you don’t care for all of your needs. 

By evaluating how the two work together for your specific case, we can help to create positive coping methods to practice when experiencing stress. 

Soba Recovery Centers are located in two treatment facilities: San Antonio, TX, and Mesa, AZ; we offer various services, like inpatient, outpatient, and sober living to help assist you through these darker times. You will leave out facilities with confidence that will help you fight back against your addiction and know how to prepare for PTSD episodes. 

There is a treatment option for everyone, no matter what your diagnosis is. Treatment outcomes will vary upon the person and treatment program.

If you have other questions about the services we offer, please reach out to a Soba Recovery Center representative; we are happy to help! 

 

Sources:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders: Advances in Assessment and Treatment | NCBI

What Is Addiction? | American Psychiatric Association 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Addiction | Dual Diagnosis 

When you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, it can be overwhelming to navigate the multiple kinds of treatment services that rehab facilities offer. If you aren’t familiar with rehabilitation facilities and their processes, you might leave your search feeling more discouraged than you anticipated. 

When it comes to finding what you need at a trusted rehabilitation center, the main thing to know is that they will offer two primary services: inpatient and outpatient.

No matter what services you end up signing up for, know that you are completing one of the hardest parts, and that’s asking for help.  

The Main Similarities

The main similarity between both inpatient and outpatient care is behind their intentions. Both treatments are there to help you or your loved ones become healthier and overcome their addiction. 

In many cases, inpatient and outpatient services will be recommended for you to partake in, with outpatient coming after you have participated in inpatient. This has to do with the severity of the substance use that is being treated. 

Both inpatient and outpatient treatments offer multiple services, from personalized therapy, group therapy, detoxification, or medication; all are meant to help overcome addiction. When it comes down to it, the main difference between the two is that you are admitted into a stay at the facility with an inpatient. With outpatient, you will be traveling from your home or sober living situation into the center for care. 

Knowing the differences between inpatient and outpatient makes it a lot easier to decide which form of care would be best for you. As always, if you are not sure and want to speak to a medical professional more about your specific situation, call someone at Soba Recovery Centers to learn more.

Inpatient Care

When you decide on inpatient care, a huge team of supporters might be behind you that helped you get to this decision. It’s not easy to get up and press pause on the life that you live to focus on your health. Inpatient care means that you take a step back from your responsibilities to focus on recovery fully. 

With inpatient care, you are provided around-the-clock close monitoring because it will benefit you the most. The path to recovery is best done with support and care. 

Inpatient care will provide you with round-the-clock care from highly trained medical professionals who, trust us, know what they are doing! While you are undergoing care, you can feel safe knowing that the people taking care of you are trained to do so. Allowing yourself to be taken care of and helped is essential in the recovery process!

The last thing you want to do is relapse, and what goes hand-in-hand with relapse is a lack of self-care and focus. Being inside a recovery center whose main goal is to get you better, you have your full focus directed on yourself and your needs. 

We get that being a spouse, sibling, parent, employee, caretaker, whatever it may be, can be emotionally and physically taxing. You need to focus on yourself to move forward in your recovery, and inpatient care is there to help.   

How To Prepare

When you are preparing to enter an inpatient treatment facility, you should understand that you will be putting your life on pause. You have to make arrangements for anyone you care for, whether it be children or pets, to be taken care of. 

Anything that you are in charge of, you need to find someone to cover for you so that when you come back from the center, you aren’t placed directly back into chaos, expecting to take care of yourself and all your overdue tasks.

It can be difficult, but communicating with the people around you about your situation can help you prepare. You can release some of the stress you build up by simply telling people where you will be and what your goals are. This can help get some additional support from those around you, so they know why you might be asking for a bit more help. 

Some things you should add to your to-do list to prepare for inpatient care:

• Make sure that children and pets have someone to take care of them.
• Consider the price you will have to pay for the treatment and talk with providers to understand the financial obligations.
• Speak with your employer about your situation and being off work while you are in the facility.
• Pay any bills or meet due dates before entering the facility. 
• Know what you can and can’t take with you to your rehab facility.
• Know the rough estimate of how many days you will be away.
• Find someone that can take you to and from the recovery center.
• Make sure you give contact information to your family so they can reach out to you at the center and vice versa.
• Bring a journal or pad to write in; it can help the time go by when you are without your loved ones. 

Everyone will have a different experience when it comes to their recovery and the treatment they undergo. Inpatient is meant to curate a recovery plan specific to your needs so that you will be successful. Not everyone will benefit from the same activities, procedures, medications, etc. 

While all treatment plans usually become individual as you make changes and adapt to your own needs, inpatient care wants to prioritize you from the start so that you have the full support needed to overcome addiction. 

What To Expect

When you arrive at inpatient treatment, there are a few things that you might expect to see: all white everything, sterile labs, metal beds, people in hospital bed gowns, and very harsh lighting coming from the ceiling. 

Wrong! An inpatient treatment facility is nothing like that of a horror movie hospital. Most facilities want to capture the feeling that you’re at your home-away-from-home. You should be comfortable at your inpatient facility because the goal is to provide professional treatment that will help you get out and live your best life. 

You should expect to be on a strict schedule, with around-the-clock care. That means that no matter what kind of care you need—physical, emotional, or psychological—you can get it at any point. You won’t be left alone if you don’t want to be. The staff is trained to work with your needs to make a recovery as easy as possible. 

Things you should be prepared for when at inpatient treatment are:

• A strict schedule: Most of your days might seem rigid, but staying occupied can help when trying to overcome a substance use disorder. 
• Daily, if not multiple, visits from professionals: Whether it be in individual or group therapy, you will see psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors throughout your day to monitor your progress and assist you in any way you need emotionally and mentally. Everyone serves a different purpose, and collectively they are essential in your recovery process. 
• Medically assisted detoxification: The process of detoxing from a substance can be terrifying to think about going through alone, but with inpatient care, you are monitored and taken care of throughout the process. This helps to alleviate stress and make sure that you stay safe. 
• Speaking with your loved ones: When you go to inpatient treatment, you aren’t cut off from your loved ones. You can carve out time to talk with them and see them (especially if you are there for long periods).

How Long It Will Last

Depending on your individual needs, you could be at inpatient treatment anywhere from several days to six months. The severity of your substance use disorder will affect how long you stay. 

Everyone’s journey is different. It’s hard to say exactly how long you will be there, so that’s why planning is important!

Outpatient Care

Outpatient care is often the next step you take after completing inpatient care. Hopefully, the rehab center (like here at Soba) you are coming from after inpatient will have outpatient services, so it’s easier to make the transition. Outpatient services don’t require you to be at the facility but allow you to come back onto the campus and receive continued care during your recovery.

This way, your transition back into the community isn’t abrupt and harsh. Going back into an environment that you relate to your addiction can be challenging and triggering. Having the ability to go to and from your recovery center for services allows you to hold yourself accountable while also understanding that recovery is hard and the urges will be there. Having somewhere that you feel safe going back to will be essential in your recovery.

For some, though, going into outpatient care does not come as a result of finishing inpatient treatment and is the first step that someone takes in their path to recovery. Typically outpatient services are more affordable while still offering professional and good quality treatment. 

Suppose you can’t stop working altogether or don’t have the ability to have your children watched for weeks. In that case, outpatient allows you to take the time to better yourself while also allowing you to maintain everything you need at home. We want you to succeed in all aspects of life, and these services may help you achieve your goals!  

Preparing For Departure From Inpatient

If you are coming to the end of your stay at an inpatient treatment facility, you might still feel like you aren’t ready to dive back into normalcy. Having somewhat of a buffer between leaving the facility and being on your own can help you build better habits with the help of counselors and psychologists. 

This kind of treatment is less time-consuming than inpatient, but you should still expect to see somewhat of a schedule and have a time commitment to it. Sometimes you can reach between 10-15 hours a week spent at the facility, not including time traveled to get there. 

Outpatient treatment does not offer 24-hour support and assistance, so you must have other people, whether a trusted loved one or a sponsor, available to you when you need help. Being monitored closely to having free will is sometimes enough to trigger a relapse, so outpatient helps monitor your progress and sobriety. 

Starting Off With Outpatient Care

If you have finally decided to seek help with your addiction, outpatient care can help by providing monitored detoxification, group and individual therapy sessions, and planning. 

You might be nervous to show up, but you take a step towards your recovery each day that you do. Outpatient care staff are trained professionals who show up every day to help you throughout your recovery, so take advantage of all the support you can get from us!

What To Expect

When you begin the outpatient treatment, you learn ways to cope with your addiction. We know that we are sending you back off into the community at the end of our sessions, where we can’t keep an eye on you. Outpatient services often offer various learning opportunities surrounding addiction, relapsing, coping mechanisms, and more so that you are better equipped to be on your own afterward.

With outpatient services, you can maintain your normal lifestyle of spending time with your family, attending work or going to school. You can learn ways to incorporate what you’ve learned at outpatient into your everyday life in what some might feel is a more organic way. You are never entirely taken out of your life and placed in a facility. Therefore you still have to take care of your everyday obligations. 

With outpatient services, you should also accept early mornings or late nights. Many of the meetings and events will happen at “off” times to accommodate work and school schedules. Staying committed and having the support of those around you can help you to be successful throughout your outpatient services

Comparing the Two

With both outpatient and inpatient services, you will find personal advantages and disadvantages that you may find. It’s good to understand how they compare so you can figure out which service will benefit you most. 

Of course, speaking to a professional who works at one of these recovery centers, like Soba Recovery Centers, is another way for you to gauge if inpatient or outpatient treatment is right for you.

Advantages

There are many advantages to both inpatient and outpatient, but if you are someone who likes to see it spelled out clearly in a listicle, this is for you:

Inpatient Treatment

• 24-hour professional assistance.
• Set a schedule for activities and sessions.
• Ability to see your family and speak to them frequently.
• Personalized treatment that can be monitored.

Outpatient Treatment

• Less of a time commitment.
• Can be more affordable.
• Ability to stay at home and work while in treatment.
• Teaches coping and integration through your current experiences.

Disadvantages

Like all services, you might find that some advantages are disadvantages, and that’s okay. You must do what’s best for you, so understanding what you want from your treatment can help to make that decision easier. 

Inpatient Treatment

• Being away from your family and friends for long periods.
• Explaining your absence to your employer, which can be very stressful.
• It can become expensive.
• Often encourages outpatient treatment services after the fact to help with transitioning back to normalcy.

Outpatient Treatment

• You have times where you aren’t being monitored, which can cause anxiety for some.
• Your home life might not be helpful in your recovery as it could be triggering.

Get Help At Soba Recovery

The first step towards recovery is asking for help. We know how hard it can be to get there, and we here at Soba Recovery Centers want to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for you to get the help you deserve.

We offer inpatient services and intensive outpatient and outpatient services in San Antonio, TX, and Mesa, AZ. Our staff are trained professionals who want to help you, so don’t be afraid to give us a call with any questions.

No matter which services you end up taking part in at Soba, you can feel good knowing you’re in the right hands.

 

Sources:

Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Four Treatment Modalities for Substance Disorders: A Propensity Score Analysis | NCBI

Types of Treatment Programs | National Institute on Drug Abuse

Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Programs: Assessing the Evidence | NCBI

Whether undiagnosed or not, those dealing with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can find it difficult to find a way to cope with the symptoms properly. This especially happens for those who are not on medication for their ADHD and can result in self-medication or drug abuse by using substances such as marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine. 

ADHD is considered a mental health disorder that can be diagnosed as childhood ADHD or adult ADHD. Some kids and teens with ADHD can be diagnosed at an early age, while some people, including young adults, won’t be diagnosed until full-on adulthood. Depending on ADHD symptoms, some can be harder to diagnose than others.

People with ADHD are more likely than others to develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives since there is an increased risk of substance abuse.  Some believe that using substances will help subdue some of the side effects of having ADHD, so it’s their way to cope with their unwanted symptoms. So what exactly links ADHD to addictive behaviors? Read on to learn more! 

Overview of Addiction

A person struggling with addictive behaviors is no longer consciously choosing to give in to their addiction. They are past the point where it’s a choice and instead rely on the substance to function. Addiction is a complex disease that alters your brain and makes it difficult to quit, regardless of the negative consequences it brings to your life.

Those dealing with addiction often struggle with mental illness, are dealing with personal and familial stressors, or have undergone intense trauma in their life that has led to using substances. Addiction can also be related to addictive behaviors such as gambling or betting. Regardless of what it is you are addicted to, the effects of substance abuse can be detrimental to both your health and your relationships.

What Is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a very common mental disorder that affects people’s focus, activity levels, and impulsivity. It’s often diagnosed as one of three kinds of ADHD: inattentive type, hyperactive or impulsive type, or a combination of the two types.

Some of the symptoms of ADHD that are considered inattentive include trouble paying attention, difficulty listening, can’t stay focused during school or work, having a difficult time organizing tasks, and being very forgetful or losing things frequently. Hyperactive or impulsive ADHD is diagnosed when a person has difficulty staying still, talks a lot, often interrupting others and finishing their sentences, and fidgets frequently. These types of ADHD can be extremely difficult to cope with, especially when they go undiagnosed. 

There is no direct test you can take to know if you have ADHD; it takes filling out checklists, letters from teachers and close friends, medical evaluations, and blood work to complete a diagnosis. For many, obtaining a diagnosis requires a lot of time and money, making it inaccessible to everyone. If people can’t get medication or proper therapy treatment to help with their symptoms, turning to substances that are easier to get a hold of is the next step. 

What’s the Link to Addictive Behaviors?

People struggling with ADHD have an influx of impulsivity and activity which can lead to boredom, restlessness, and anxiety. People with ADHD have problems regulating dopamine and norepinephrine, so it’s possible that turning to substances is a result of that. Seeking out substances as a way to self-medicate and subdue some of the symptoms is typical, especially for those who have undiagnosed ADHD. 

When you mix self-medicating with boredom, this is where addiction can become an issue. For those with ADHD, finding themselves to be bored can be highly anxiety-inducing, and using substances is one way to calm the nerves and become distracted. Over time, a person’s body will not function without the substance, and the addiction will become an issue. 

ADHD and substance use disorder tend to run in families, so if there are others in your family with either of the disorders, you are more likely to develop one of the two in your lifetime. 

On top of genetics, the medication prescribed for many people with ADHD is thought to have an additive effect on people because it is a stimulant. If you take ADHD medication as it is prescribed, you should have no problems developing an addiction. It becomes a problem when you are taking more prescribed medication, if you are using these drugs and do not have ADHD, or are taking them in ways that don’t involve orally swallowing them. People have been known to abuse the commonly prescribed ADHD medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin. 

If you are someone who needs to be treated for ADHD, know that taking these medications as they are prescribed can only help you. Don’t be afraid of talking with your doctor about what it would take to get prescribed medication!

How To Avoid Developing Addiction

The main thing to understand about developing an addiction is that it happens once you no longer control what your body thinks it needs to survive. If you have been prescribed medication for ADHD, the best thing to do is take it correctly. This will allow for the effects of the medication to successfully work for you without feeling the urge and need for substances. Some examples of prescriptions for ADHD include amphetamine, atomoxetine, methylphenidate,  among many others.

Making sure that you communicate with your doctor and loved ones about how you are doing helps hold yourself accountable. Going to regular check-ups with your doctor can help to keep you on track.

The most clearcut way to avoid developing substance abuse as someone with ADHD is to access treatment as early as possible. If you are receiving proper care for your ADHD, you’re less likely to develop substance abuse because you will be less likely to experiment with substances at a young age. Making sure that someone can adequately medicate can help to steer clear of self-medicating later on in life. 

Get Help With Soba Recovery

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we at Soba Recovery Center want to help you. We understand that there are layers to recovery, and making sure that your physical, mental, and emotional health are in a good place makes all the difference in your path to recovery. Whether you want to help treat ADHD or stop alcohol abuse, we can help with it all. By seeking help, you can also prevent later substance abuse.

While there are other treatment options and resources out there, include stimulant medications, interventions, stimulant treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and counseling; Soba Recovery Centers has everything you need when it comes to your recovery journey. 

Soba Recovery Centers offer several treatment services, like detoxification, inpatient, sober living, and group therapy sessions. We have two locations in the United States, one in Mesa, Arizona, and the other in San Antonio, Texas. Both are equally qualified in treating your addiction and helping you recover.

To become sober, you need to make sure that you are dealing with your individual needs. For those with multiple disorders combined, like ADHD and addiction, you cannot work on one without working on the other. Whether with intense group therapy, medication, or inpatient services, we want to make sure that you find what works best for you. 

Reach out to one of our representatives to see how we can help you through these times. Your addiction is not the end of your life. You deserve a second chance, and we want to give you that! 

 

Sources:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Relation to Addictive Behaviors: A Moderated-Mediation Analysis of Personality-Risk Factors and Sex | NCBI 

What Is ADHD? | American Psychiatric Association

The Complicated Relationship Between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorders | NCBI