How Substance Abuse & Suicide Attempts are Related
For many people, substance abuse issues go hand-in-hand with mental health disorders. In light of Suicide Prevention Month, the experts at North Georgia Recovery Center are here to share the connection between addiction and suicide ideation.
Addiction & Unaddressed Mental Illness
When it comes to struggling with substance abuse and addiction issues, co-occurring mental health disorders are extremely common. A co-occurring disorder is a mental illness or personality disorder that has been left unaddressed and may cause the affected person to turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to cope.
Although this can provide an individual with a short-term distraction from their mental health issues, prolonged drug and alcohol abuse leads to the development of an addiction or substance use disorder. Unfortunately, this can intensify the previous symptoms of mental illness and even lead some people to take their own lives as a way to escape.
Warning Signs of Suicide Ideation
Please keep in mind that suicide is preventable. More often than not, people who have thoughts of suicide display behavioral changes that can be observed by others. Although this can vary from person to person, here are some of the most commonly reported signs of suicide ideation:
- Talking or writing about wanting to kill themselves or to die.
- Engaging in reckless behaviors.
- Having extreme mood swings.
- Looking for different ways to hurt themselves.
- Talking about being a burden.
- Expressed feelings of worthlessness.
- Self-isolating behaviors.
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
- A sudden influx in drug or alcohol use.
If you notice any of these signs in a loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text SIGNS to 741741. If you think they may hurt themselves in the near future, call 911 for emergency services.
Seeking Help for Addiction at North Georgia Recovery Center
The road to recovery starts with taking the first step. Let us walk alongside you on the path to sobriety and wellness. When you choose to get treatment at North Georgia Recovery Center, you can rest assured knowing that you will be treated by licensed therapists in our state-of-the-art facilities. Every one of our team members is certified to address and effectively treat the issues that come along with addiction.
To schedule your free consultation with our team, call (678) 940-7873 today.
