Chickens are at the heart of at least two deep mysteries.
First, there is the eternal question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
We must admit we do not have any particular insight into the motivations of chickens when they arrive at the side of a road. So, let’s turn our attention to the other chicken-centric question that has engaged philosophers, scientists, and everyday individuals for a long, long time:
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
To be honest, we are happy to leave that question to others, too. But the question of which came first can also apply in another area in which we do have expertise. That question can be formulated this way:
Which came first, the mental health disorder or the substance use disorder?
Here is our definitive answer: It does not matter at all.
Still, it is worth delving into the entanglement of these two kinds of disorders.
Dual Disorders Are Unsurprisingly Common
Here is something true that is also fairly easy to understand: Mental health disorders and substance use disorders are often intertwined. Or to look at it the other way around, good mental health and a lasting recovery are often intertwined.
Why would that be? Well, a person struggling with a mental health disorder—whether it is one of the various kinds of depression, an anxiety or panic issue, a condition brought on by traumatic experiences, or something else—may find themselves turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to “self-medicate.” They may hope that the substances they take will make it easier to deal with the symptoms of a mental health disorder. But, of course, that path often leads to the development of a substance use disorder.
And the reverse can also be true. A person under the ongoing influence of drugs or alcohol will inevitably find their health—both physical and mental—deteriorating. As substance use chips away at a person’s mental well-being, they may start to experience various symptoms associated with mental health disorders of one kind or another. (More details about the various kinds of mental health disorders can be found in this blog post.)
So the path to what is called a dual diagnosis allows “traffic” in both directions. A mental health disorder might lead to a substance use disorder. A substance use disorder might lead to a mental health disorder. In the end, however, it simply does not matter which kind of disorder arose first.
What does matter is what you do when you are facing both kinds of disorders (or even just one kind of disorder). What you should do is get treatment.
Treating Two Disorders in One Place
The good news for those struggling with both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder is that treatment for both is offered at many recovery centers (including French Creek Recovery Center).
The first part of treatment is detoxification, and it is focused on addressing your substance use disorder. Medically supervised detoxification provides a safe environment that is free from temptations so that an individual can get the drugs or alcohol out of their system without succumbing to withdrawal symptoms.
The next part of treatment is rehabilitation, and it is here that both substance use disorders and mental health disorders can be addressed. A robust rehabilitation program is built around individual and group therapy sessions. These sessions include time spent thinking through the potential challenges of the recovery journey and how best to address them. For a person struggling with a mental health disorder, therapy can also include evidence-based approaches to treatment that can help a person improve their mental wellbeing and learn to maintain those improvements over time.
A quality recovery center’s aftercare program will include ongoing support in both areas so that you can sustain your recovery and your improved mental health. Keeping an eye out for mental health disorder symptoms is a key part of your project to prevent a relapse. Ongoing treatment for mental health—which may include both therapy and medication—is an excellent idea for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder.
Do This First: Get the Help You Need
We have been clear that it does not matter whether a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder develops first. What matters is the first thing you do when you realize you have developed a problem. That first thing should be seeking out the help you need to put drugs and alcohol behind you and to improve your mental health.
At French Creek Recovery Center, located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, we provide personalized treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. Our work is grounded in evidence-based practices supported by our expertise, experience, and empathy. We are committed to treating you with the respect you deserve and to providing you with the support and resources you will need as your recovery journey gets underway.
We cannot emphasize this enough: It does not matter which disorder you developed first. What does matter is that you pursue treatment so that you can reclaim and rebuild your life.