Life can be brutal. Grief and loss are commonplace in today’s world. Stress from work and daily living can make getting to the end of the day seem nearly impossible. The never-ending news cycle can be depressing to watch, and yet many of us can’t stop putting it on or checking our phones for the latest updates. All of this combined can lead to mental health struggles.
For some, these mental health struggles are too much to bear without the use of substances. Drinking or using drugs to manage symptoms can be a dangerous habit. Even if you think that you’re in control of how often or how much of these substances you’re consuming, soon enough, this habit can become much more than occasional usage. In the short term, you may feel better after these substances, but continued use can prolong or worsen your symptoms.
While the initial intention of self-medicating is to ease or help your symptoms, it can further exacerbate your problems. Turning to drugs or alcohol can sever relationships, creating damaging relationships at home with family members or taxing ties with coworkers and friends.
What is Self-Medication?
Self-medication is the practice of treating one’s own mental health illnesses and symptoms with substances without the guidance of a doctor or other medical professional. Patients don’t have to be officially diagnosed with a mental health illness to self-medicate. People can self-medicate as a response to everyday life stressors. The individual will start taking either over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, alcohol, or unsanctioned medications to manage mental health symptoms. In the hope that their symptoms will improve, the individual may enter a cyclical, dependent pattern in which they take these medications more regularly or continuously.
In addition, because a medical professional is not involved in prescribing these medications, the individual can unknowingly misuse or overuse them. This can pose serious health risks, including worsening depressive symptoms, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, physical and emotional abuse, and more. Continued use can lead to dependence and substance abuse disorder.
If you find that you are turning to substances more regularly, such as starting to drink at lunchtime or upping your dose of over-the-counter remedies, to improve how you feel, you may be self-medicating.
What Are the Signs of Self-Medicating?
While symptoms can manifest differently for everyone, there are some common signs of self-medicating. Withdrawal from friends and family members is often the first sign, as is not participating in activities the person once enjoyed doing. Struggling in work or school, neglecting physical care or hygiene, and an increasing range of anger are other symptoms.
For those currently struggling with depression, self-medicating can trigger weight changes, physical pain, insomnia or trouble sleeping, irritability, and a continual sense of hopelessness. Problems can multiply, and stress can reach an all-time high when individuals are seeking help through substances. This can cause you to worry about your access to drugs and alcohol, thinking that you can only get through the day with a drink or with a pill. If these or other symptoms manifest, it’s important to speak up and talk to a counselor, therapist, or medical professional.
How to Stop Self-Medicating for Mental Health Struggles
Putting an end to self-medicating before it exacerbates into long-term problems and more serious conditions is important. However, doing so is much easier said than done. The first step in stopping the cycle is to recognize your patterns. If you immediately turn to substances when you wake up in the morning, it may be a sign that you’re not sleeping well enough during the night. Or if you find yourself drinking or using drugs after dark, it may be a sign of loneliness. Keeping a record of your substance use and moods for a few days or weeks can help identify patterns and subsequent triggers.
Changing your beliefs about using these substances can also be necessary. While you may think that the handful of drinks before bed is helping you sleep, it can also be disruptive to your sleep. You may rely on drugs to enhance your mood, but these substances can also alter your emotions. Alcohol is a depressant, so while a few drinks may put you in good spirits, it will eventually lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Instead of relying on these substances and falling victim to them, find healthier ways to cope. Go for a walk to increase your mood instead of relying on drugs. Add a gratitude practice to ground yourself before the day gets away from you, or listen to a meditation on your way to work. Make it a habit to go to bed earlier to get the rest that you need instead of binge-watching another series on Netflix. Eat healthier foods to influence your mood, removing overly processed, sugary foods, which can cause a blood sugar crash.
And remember, you don’t need to go through this battle alone. Reach out and find support to help you break this self-medicating pattern once and for all. Counselors, therapists, and medical professionals can help alleviate the feelings you may be currently experiencing. Getting the help you need will enable you to live a fulfilling, meaningful life.
