Topic Tuesday // Breaking The Cycle: Addiction, Alcohol and Drugs // Tues 27th April, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

[Hello3]

@Daisydreamer 

 For many people, addiction, substance use and mental health are interrelated, and so is recovery. 

 One question that is often asked is what comes first, mental health or addiction? How are they related? 

This is often referred to as the chicken or the egg scenario, which came first? Co-occuring AOD and Mental Health conditions need to have a clear distinction between the two. Each situation should be case by case.

An example, our Peer worker advised that while he was in active addiction he is certain he would have had a mental health diagnosis due to some similiarity in symptoms. While he had been in recovery all those symptoms had disappeared.

If somebodies mental health is not effectively treated it can make it much more difficult to get into recovery and can also cause a higher risk of relapse.

Other things to note is that with AOD treatment there’s no involuntary admission compared to the MH system.

[Merry]

I would like to learn about the effect drugs have on the brain chemistry and how this can be communicated to people living with addiction

[TAB]

@Time 

he has to want not to do it I guess. I am not sure how hypnosis works

[Time]

Thank you Ill just read along with you all thanks again Tidal Turning 

Time

[Zelf]

Am i on my own , or is it just me :/?

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@Daisydreamer wrote:

Hi there SANE Community, 

This fortnight we welcome Turning Point to the SANE Forums talking about substance use, addiction, and the relationship with mental health. Turning Point are Australia's leading National Addiction treatment, education and research centre. They also help us out on the forums as Moderators 😊

Breaking The Cycle 

When it comes to substance use and substance abuse, there can be a strong link with mental health and wellbeing. Often, we hear people talking about the cyclical nature of mental health and substance use, as one impacts the other. 

Alcohol and drug use is common in Australia, alcohol more so with 79% of adults having at least one drink in a year (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).

There are also many Australians with a dual diagnosis of mental health concerns and addiction. 

One of Turning Point's addiction, drug and alcohol counsellors and their online community manager will be joining us to talk about substance use, mental health and recovery from addiction. We will explore the places you can seek help for substance use habits, or addiction, and support a loved one who might be on their recovery journey. 

Please join us here on Tuesday the 27th of April 2021 from 7:00pm-8:30pm AEST to follow this conversation. 

Want to receive a reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

New to the forums or want to get involved in this discussion? Check out the How To Guide for Topic Tuesdays.

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[TideisTurning]

WOW. Thank you so much @Merry for sharing your incredible level of insight and knowledge you've shared with us around the impacts of drugs on the brain. 

[Time]

I think he does want to do it now even though it was my idea, he has a choice and he says now he is sick of smoking so I hope he goes through with it as I see it he has nothing to loose only something to gain if it works ??

Time

[TAB]

I guess what can be done with Depression eg is limited if you are still using, guess it is relative. @Daisydreamer  I Would say treat the addiction first

[greenpea]

@Merry  Hi Merry You have me curious. I have three grown up children. Now my eldest has depression (we are thinking bipolar), second has autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy and a mild intellectual delay and the youngest has chronic depression all of them played computer games from the ages of 7. All sorts of games sure they played outside too but they loved computer games and video games. I would love to know more about the seratonin connection with young children and gaming. Are there any studies out there which you could recommend? Thanks heaps. peax

[Time]

Hello Hydrangea it is not me who has the addiction it is my son.  But thanks