Can you get diagnosed with mental illnesses that are just a result of addiction?
Patricia Sullivan
Asked: 2018-12-20 01:29:59
I know someone who was addicted to methamphetamines and heroin. She has been clean for over 3 years. When she was still using, she was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. She says that now, she doesn't feel depressed at all. She truly believes that it was the fact that she was in such a dark place and using drugs. Is it possible that she actually does not have a depressive disorder and it was just a result of her drug use and living in the choices she had made for herself?
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J.J. Grand, Jr. (Guest User)
Answered: 2018-12-20 18:13:13
It's hard to tell. Is she taking medication for the depression? It could be that the medication is being effective. It could be a little bit of both - the depression developed because of the addiction and the medication is working. But yeah, to answer your question, it is possible that the individual didn't have the major depressive disorder before and it appeared because of the addiction. Addiction is a mental health disorder that exacerbates other present mental health disorders like depression. Also, an addiction with no previous mental health disorder present can generate one. Everyone's health history, genes and circumstances are different so all of these scenarios are possible for the person you're asking about.
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Bobby43 (Guest User)
Answered: 2018-12-21 00:25:10
Ah yeah, I don't think it's a chronic thing then. Sometimes you get what you call a substance induced disorder, but it's not in this case since it's not long-lasting. I think she's probably good by now.
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Samanthat T (Guest User)
Answered: 2019-02-06 17:28:02
