Schizophrenia and Addiction

Schizophrenia remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized illnesses today. Having a mental health condition isn’t easy. You will do whether you can to relieve the symptoms. You will do what it takes to not hear the voices in your head. Going through something lie schizophrenia can be traumatic. You want to find something that will make the voices stop.

Living with schizophrenia can feel lonely. People who have the condition may feel like they have a severed connection with people around them or like they experience something no one else understands. Some are plagued by voices that distract them or make them feel put down. The stigma today surrounding schizophrenia also makes it more difficult to live with this disorder.

When you have both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, it’s known as “concurrent disorders” or “co-occurring disorders.”  In the United States, its known as a “dual diagnosis.”

People with schizophrenia will gravitate towards substances that are affordable, easily assessable and readily available. Alcohol, cannabis and nicotine are everywhere, but people also tend to go towards tranquilizers and sleep mediations. They are easily unused. They take more than they should. They want to self-mediate or alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression.

Over time, the effects of drugs will eventually wear out and you will use more just to get the same effects. When you are an active user, symptoms of your mental health condition will get worse.

Like any other addict, someone will try and hide their addiction, they will be thinking about their next fix. They are more focused on their addiction instead of trying to get better. They will use any excuse to get their hands on drugs. One of the outcomes of addiction is that those affected often lie. They lie to others about the fact they're addicted, what they're using, how much they use, how much they spend to support their habit and where they buy their drug of choice.

When substances like pot, where it’s easy to find and anyone over the legal age can get, it becomes an easy way numb the pain. Daily smoking of high-potency marijuana can increase the chances of developing psychosis by nearly five times compared to people who have never used marijuana.

Cannabis has many chemicals that can affect the brain, including THC. This substance causes the sought-after “high” associated with marijuana. Cannabis consumption can be tempting to those with schizophrenia, but it comes with several additional risks due to THC and other compounds. Cannabis use can put one at greater risk for developing anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis – especially in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Links have also been found with cannabis use and depression, financial problems, lower life satisfaction, and other issues that people with schizophrenia are already at risk for.

Quitting cannabis use can be difficult but with the right help, it is possible. Learning to cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms of schizophrenia in a healthy way is the best avenue.

Using a strong drug like cocaine can make positive symptoms of schizophrenia worse. It can make the condition harder to treat. It’s common for someone with a cocaine addiction and schizophrenia to be required for inpatient treatment.

With mental health, you have to take it one step at a time. It’s not going to get better overnight, but standing up and advocating for yourself is the first step. Keep telling your story, don’t stop until you get the help you deserve. You are not alone even it feels like you are. Be strong. Don’t give up, keep fighting.