You have almost certainly heard that old head-scratcher: Which came first: the chicken or the egg?
It is quite a conundrum, right? After all, you need a chicken to get an egg. But on the other hand, you need an egg in order to get a chicken. It is a circular investigation that can have you wondering how this question can possibly be resolved.
Well, there is a scientific answer that suggests the chicken egg preceded the chicken. Some religious traditions, however, would suggest that the chicken came first. Either way, it is a fun riddle to puzzle over.
Here is a variation on that classic question about the chicken and the egg: Which came first: the mental health disorder or the substance use disorder?
The two kinds of disorders are often entangled. Sometimes, a mental health disorder underpins the development of a substance use disorder. Other times, a substance use disorder leads to the development of a mental health disorder. And oftentimes, it is difficult to determine which came first.
But here’s the thing: It does not matter which came first.
What matters is that you get effective, personalized treatment for both kinds of disorders so that you can reclaim your life, start your recovery, and move forward with confidence.
We are serious when we say it doesn’t matter which disorder came first, but we can only really talk about them one at a time. We are going to start with mental health disorders.
Mental Health: A Variety of Disorders Causing a Variety of Problems
You probably do not give much thought to just how many mental health disorders there are, but it turns out that there are many. You might, for example, think of depression as a mental health disorder, but you may have never thought much about the various kinds of depression—of which there are many. Similarly, there are various kinds of anxiety and panic disorders, as well as various disorders that develop in the shadow of traumatic events. We have come nowhere near listing all the varieties of mental health disorders that people experience.
Substance Use: A Practice that Inevitably Leads to Problems
When a person first starts drinking or using drugs, there is a good chance that they are not thinking about addiction at all. In fact, many drug or alcohol users are quite skilled at convincing themselves that they do not have a substance use problem at all—or at least not one that requires any treatment. But the longer you let a substance use disorder develop and define your life, the more negative impacts you will experience—including health issues, relationship issues, financial issues, and more.
How the Disorders Can Interact
One way a mental health disorder might lead to a substance use disorder is that a person might try to use drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate to try to relieve the symptoms of, for example, depression. Soon enough, that self-medication can become a significant problem.
On the flip side, a mental health disorder might develop from a substance use disorder as drugs or alcohol chip away at a person’s physical and mental wellness. In this case, far from easing the symptoms of a mental health disorder, the substance use disorder is causing those symptoms.
Of course, it is also possible that a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder can develop side-by-side without one necessarily causing or worsening the other.
Any of these scenarios is possible—but as we said at the top of this blog entry, it does not really matter how a person ends up struggling with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. What matters is that an individual in this situation gets the help they need.
One place to find exceptional treatment for both mental health and substance use disorders is Bel Aire Recovery Center. We are in the business of kickstarting and supporting life-changing transformations via our commitment to evidence-based practices, our extensive experience, our ever-developing expertise, and our spirit of empathy. When you take that first step to get the help you require, we can help you take each subsequent step toward life.
We Can Help You Deal With a Dual Diagnosis
Located near Wichita, Kansas, Bel Aire Recovery Center is equipped to effectively treat co-occurring disorders. Our medically supervised detoxification program is a proven way to help an individual weather the storms of withdrawal as they get the drugs or alcohol out of their system. Our rehabilitation program—built around group and individual therapy sessions—provides strategies and resources for maintaining your recovery while also providing treatment for mental health disorders for those who need it. And our commitment to a continuum of care means you will receive ongoing support as you work to maintain your recovery and your improved mental health.
When you are ready to transform your life for the better, we are ready to help you accomplish your recovery and mental health goals.