How Mental Health and Addiction Affect Each Other

Mental health and addiction are deeply connected. For many people, they don’t exist as separate problems—they influence, fuel, and reinforce each other in ways that are often misunderstood. Someone may start using substances to cope with anxiety or depression, while another person may develop mental health symptoms after long-term substance use. Over time, the two can become tightly intertwined.

Understanding this connection is essential for real healing. When treatment addresses only one side, recovery becomes harder. When it addresses both, people have a much better chance of long-term wellness.

Understanding the Mental Health–Addiction Connection

Mental health conditions and substance use disorders often occur together. This is known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 9.2 million U.S. adults experienced both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2022. This number shows that the overlap is not rare—it is common.

Mental health challenges don’t cause addiction in every case, and addiction doesn’t always cause mental illness. But each can increase the risk of the other.

How Mental Health Challenges Can Lead to Addiction

Using Substances to Cope With Emotional Pain

Many people turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage overwhelming emotions. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic stress can feel unbearable without support. Substances may offer temporary relief by numbing pain, slowing racing thoughts, or creating a sense of escape.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that people with mood or anxiety disorders are about twice as likely to develop a substance use disorder compared to the general population.

At first, substance use can feel like a solution. Over time, it often becomes another problem.

Trauma and Self-Medication

Trauma plays a major role in the mental health–addiction cycle. People with unresolved trauma may use substances to calm their nervous system or block painful memories.

Research published in The Journal of Traumatic Stress shows that individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significantly more likely to develop substance use disorders than those without trauma histories.

Substances don’t heal trauma. They only delay it—often making symptoms worse in the long run.

How Addiction Can Worsen Mental Health

Chemical Changes in the Brain

Drugs and alcohol directly affect brain chemistry. Many substances alter levels of dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters that regulate mood, motivation, and emotional balance.

Over time, these changes can:

• Increase depression and anxiety
• Reduce emotional regulation
• Impair decision-making
• Intensify mood swings

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), long-term substance use increases the risk of developing mood disorders, psychosis, and cognitive impairment.

The Emotional Toll of Addiction

Beyond brain chemistry, addiction often creates emotional distress through:

• Shame and guilt
• Broken relationships
• Financial stress
• Legal or work-related problems

These consequences can worsen existing mental health symptoms or trigger new ones. Many people feel trapped in a cycle where substance use causes emotional pain, and emotional pain drives more substance use.

Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Use: A Common Cycle

Anxiety and Alcohol or Benzodiazepines

Alcohol and sedative medications may initially reduce anxiety, but they often increase it over time. Rebound anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and dependence can make anxiety far worse than before.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) notes that people with anxiety disorders are two to three times more likely to misuse alcohol.

Depression and Stimulants or Opioids

Some people with depression turn to stimulants or opioids to feel energy, pleasure, or emotional relief. While these substances may temporarily lift mood, they often deepen depression with continued use.

Studies in The Lancet Psychiatry show that substance use disorders significantly increase the risk of major depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts.

Why Treating Only One Issue Often Fails

The Limits of Single-Focus Treatment

When treatment addresses addiction without addressing mental health, people often relapse because the emotional pain remains. When treatment addresses mental health without addressing substance use, symptoms may not fully improve.

SAMHSA reports that integrated treatment—care that treats mental health and addiction together—leads to better outcomes, including:

• Lower relapse rates
• Improved mental health symptoms
• Better quality of life

Healing requires seeing the whole person, not just the behavior.

The Importance of Integrated Care

Integrated treatment may include:

• Therapy for mental health and addiction
• Medication management when appropriate
• Trauma-informed care
• Coping skills and emotional regulation tools

This approach recognizes that substance use is often a response, not a moral failing.

Stigma Makes the Cycle Harder to Break

Shame Prevents People From Seeking Help

Many people feel ashamed of struggling with both mental health and addiction. They may worry about judgment or believe they should “handle it on their own.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stigma is one of the biggest barriers preventing people from accessing mental health and addiction treatment worldwide.

Shame keeps people silent. Support helps them heal.

Language Matters

When we talk about addiction as a moral issue rather than a health condition, we increase harm. Research shows that compassionate, non-judgmental care improves treatment engagement and outcomes.

Addiction and mental health conditions are not failures—they are health challenges that deserve care.

Healing Both Mental Health and Addiction Together

Learning Healthier Coping Skills

Recovery often begins with learning new ways to cope with stress, emotions, and triggers. Therapy can help people:

• Identify emotional patterns
• Build distress tolerance
• Process trauma safely
• Develop self-compassion

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed approaches are commonly used for co-occurring disorders.

The Role of Support Systems

Connection plays a powerful role in recovery. Support groups, peer recovery programs, family therapy, and community resources reduce isolation and build accountability.

Research published in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy shows that social support significantly improves recovery outcomes for people with dual diagnoses.

Medication Can Be Part of the Solution

For some people, medication helps stabilize mental health symptoms or support addiction recovery. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can reduce symptoms and cravings when used appropriately.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports medication-assisted treatment as an effective option for opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Recovery Is Possible—Even With Both Challenges

Living with both mental health struggles and addiction can feel overwhelming. But recovery is not only possible—it is common when people receive the right care.

Healing does not mean perfection. It means learning how to care for your mind and body with honesty, support, and patience.

When mental health and addiction are treated together, people don’t just survive—they rebuild lives with stability, meaning, and hope.

References

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• The Lancet Psychiatry
• Journal of Traumatic Stress
• Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy