From Self-Soothing to Addiction: How Substance Use Makes Depression and Anxiety Worse

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, a time to raise awareness of the struggles many face in silence.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, according to a report published by the CDC in 2024. Unfortunately, many people turn to alcohol or pills to ease the discomfort linked to these often debilitating conditions.

After all, who doesn't want a quick escape from relentless thoughts triggered by anxiety or a heavy cloud of sadness? However, what starts as self-soothing can quietly turn into something far more damaging: addiction.

We offer an alternative at Magnolia Medical Group in Denver and Wheat Ridge, Colorado: dual diagnosis treatment for substance abuse linked to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

The slippery slope of self-medicating

People often turn to substances because they seem to work at first. Alcohol can dull anxiety, cannabis may bring a temporary calm, and stimulants might lift the fog of depression. But these effects are short-lived.

Behind the scenes, substances can disrupt brain chemistry. What began as a coping mechanism can start to hijack your mood, thinking, and personality.

Connecting substance use and mental health

Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety and substance use disorders often go hand-in-hand. Many people with a mental health disorder experience a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

Here’s why the combo is so toxic:

Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant. While it might make you feel relaxed for a moment, it lowers your mood and increases anxiety long-term.

Stimulants

Cocaine, Adderall, and other stimulants can lift your mood initially but lead to intense crashes that fuel worsening paranoia, insomnia, and anxiety.

Opioids

Opioids can temporarily numb physical and emotional pain, creating a sense of euphoria by triggering reward centers in the brain. However, opioids are highly addictive, quickly leading to dependence and worsening feelings of hopelessness.

With all these substances, the more someone uses them, the more their brain depends on them to feel "okay." This creates a cruel irony.

People often use substances to escape emotional pain, yet the aftermath brings more shame, guilt, and feelings of failure. That shame makes it even harder to ask for help, and the cycle deepens.

What healing can look like

Magnolia Medical Group has an outstanding team of mental health professionals who focus on recovery. It doesn't happen overnight, but it is possible.

One of our specialties is dual diagnosis treatment. This approach includes therapies that address substance use disorder, addiction, and underlying conditions like anxiety and depression.

Comprehensive strategies tailored to meet your needs might include:

• Therapy that helps rewire negative thought patterns (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy)
• Support groups, where you'll find people who truly get what you're going through
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Developing healthy coping strategies that help process emotions without causing harm

You deserve real peace. Self-soothing is human. It's okay to want relief, but long-term healing comes from understanding the root of your pain, not numbing it.

Need support?

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use and mental health, schedule an appointment at Magnolia Medical Group today. Call the nearest office or request a visit online.