It’s normal to use substances to get pleasure. Whether it’s our favourite chocolate, a glass of wine with dinner, or prescription medication to treat an injury, substance use is normal.
There isn’t anything wrong with consuming such substances in moderation; problems arise when we consume them in excess: binge drinking on the weekend, using medication long after the injury has healed, and even consuming illicit drugs at parties.
Abusing these substances can be a result of multiple factors, but if you do so while dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mood disorder, you might be self medicating. Self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to dull or numb your emotional pain and stress is dangerous: it can lead to addiction and even worsen your mental health issues.
In fact, according to WebMD, it’s not uncommon for those with depression to have problems with substance abuse:
Nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem. Often, the depression comes first. Research shows that depressed kids are more likely to have problems with alcohol a few years down the road. Also, teens who’ve had a bout of major depression are twice as likely to start drinking as those who haven’t.
Drugs and alcohol won’t make your depression go away.
If you’re dealing with a mental health challenge, such as depression or anxiety, avoid habit-forming substance like alcohol and drugs. If you think might already be addicted, talk to your healthcare provider for help.