Our society has formed an unhealthy habit of self-medicating with prescription pills, illicit drugs, or alcohol. As a result, people wrongly assume that using smaller amounts of drugs and alcohol will reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders without the risk of forming an addiction. Addiction treatment programs support men and women who have formed an addiction due to self-medicating with drugs.
At Crestview Recovery, we help men and women 18 and over who are struggling with depression or other mental health disorders and have been self-medicating to treat their symptoms. We educate our clients on the realities of drugs and alcohol abuse and how even using small amounts can lead to dependence and addiction, despite what they have heard from their friends and family. Call 866.262.0531 today for more information on recognizing the signs of self-medicating if you suspect a friend or loved one is hiding their mental health illness.
What is Self-Medicating?
What is self-medicating? Self-medicating is when men and women use drugs or alcohol to cope with depression, chronic pain, or help keep up with a busy work or school schedule. Also known as micro-dosing, self-medicating involves taking smaller amounts throughout the day to maintain a level of supposed relief. Over time, men and women will form a strong dependence on the substance they are abusing, requiring significant therapy and medication to restore their physical and mental health.
The most common drugs that people use to self-medicate include:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- ADHD medication
- Opioid medication
- Caffeine
At Crestview Recovery, we know how dangerous self-medicating with drugs can be. Therefore, we help our clients understand the physical changes they are causing. We then teach them healthy coping skills to break their addiction and begin working on resolving the issues that prompted them to begin self-medicating.
Recognizing the Signs of Self-Medicating
If you suspect a friend or family member is using drugs or alcohol to cope with their feelings, look for these signs of self-medicating:
Increasing drug or alcohol use
People will go to great lengths to hide their drug abuse while at the same time talking about how beneficial self-medicating can be. They will use enough to feel the effects without getting obviously high. Over time, self-medicating will negatively impact their physical health and can lead to weight loss and increasing sleeping problems.
Mental health symptoms increase
While the short-term effects seem to help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, over time, these problems will worsen if people continue to ignore their problems and continue self-medicating. Instead of moving on, they build a dependence on the substance until they cannot function without it.
Withdrawing from friends and family
The shame of mental health illness is very real today. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons many people turn to self-medicating. As their problems continue to worsen, they will withdraw more and more from their friends and family. In turn, this can lead to isolation, loneliness, and depression.
Growing problems at work or school
One of the biggest signs of self-medicating is increasing problems at home, work, or school. They begin to miss deadlines, show up late or disheveled, and make excuses for their poor performance and attitude.
For Compassionate and Private Portland Drug Rehab, Choose Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, we know how to recognize the signs of self-medicating and can help young men and women whose addiction is beginning to interfere with their work and personal lives. Moreover, we provide our clients with a variety of therapies and programs that include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Group and individual therapy
- Separate men’s and women’s rehab program
- Family therapy
- Recreational activities and other holistic therapies
Call 866.262.0531 today to speak with our friendly staff about enrolling in our Portland drug rehab center and begin receiving compassionate and effective care for your substance abuse or other mental health disorders.
