The Self-Medication Hypothesis: A Better Understanding of PTSD?

 

I’m definitely not the boy I was when my war started. It built me into a Man…… sent me home a Demon - Myself

The Self Medication Hypothesis was a theory written by Dr. Khantzian, Edward of Harvard University in 1985. What he proposes is a direct link to Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) and Mental Illness and with clinical evidence was able to do not just that, but vice versa, as in one causes the other, and tell you which substance you are using from your diagnosed mental illness. In his reconsideration article he states that the substance user does NOT take their “substance of choice” for pleasure, but for relief from severe mental and emotional pain and sometimes physical.

People Sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - Orwell 

Veterans, Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, and PTSD

• 1-15 veterans have SUD

  • 65% alcohol

  • 11% heroin

  • 6% marijuana

  • 6% cocaine

• 1-4 admissions are homeless veterans

• 37-50% of veterans returned from deployment meet criteria for SUD

  • 63% of the returned meet criteria for PTSD

• 30-50% of claims are for PTSD

  • Those disabled with PTSD are five times more likely to meet criteria for SUD

Veterans hold 20% of the nations suicides. The official number is 20 per day, but its estimated to set at 24-25 putting it at a heart breaking 9,000 per year. If you, a loved one, or somebody mentions a person thinking of suicide, homicide, or the ideations, heres some numbers to contact.

• VA Suicide Hotline- 800-273-8255

• National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Stop Soldier Suicide-  1-800-273-8255 #1

“When you are suffering, just remember. YOU are one bad motherf***er because nothing is more terrifying than battling ones self!” 

Causes of these Coexisting Disorders

2/3 of Veterans report severe pain due to Mental Illness. Coexisting with SUD and Mental Illness places you at high risk of:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Suicide

• Legal Trouble

• Relationship Issues

• Inpatient Treatment

• Homelessness

• Click the hyperlink above for resources.

  You are at high risk of this coexistence due to:

  • Deployment

  • Combat Exposure

  • Post Deployment Reintegration

  • Sexual Trauma

  • Repeated Abuse

  • Prior Childhood Trama

  First time care seekers make up 11% of Coexisters. This doesn’t seem to place a high number at risk but this is just the first timers. Not all the Veteran’s currently receiving treatment. Its estimated that a large number of veterans with mental and substance disorders are not receiving treatment. Its been noted that Active Duty Service Members do not seek treatments because they think it will injure their career and this carries over to retired and end of service veterans. How long is too late? Never. You can always walk into your local VA for a mental health evaluation and if you can’t wait that long, go ahead and call 911. Everyone reading this should look into and even review the resources the VA and other veteran friendly services have to offer.

  

  “When I sleep, I dream of death and war. When I’m awake I feel the pain of war. In the end I guess it doesn’t matter. This war will never end” - Unknown

  
  

  
  
  

  Look out for these substances

  
  
  

  • Marijuana, Alcohol, “downer”

    • Ego Solvent

    • Stops anxiety, isolation, emptiness

    • False sense of confidence

  • Opiotes, Heroin, Pills

    • Calming

    • “Normalizes” anger

    • Suppresses anger

  • Stimulants, Meth, Cocaine, Molly

    • Takes away fatigue of

      • Depression

  • Emotional drains

  • Counters hypomanic disorders

  • ADHD

  • Bipolar

  • Narcissist

  • Borderline personality

  • Anti Social

  Its been concluded that SUD and Mental Disorders that are treated with self medication are cause by brand new, unknown, horrific and severe pain that need the attention of rehabilitation, less incarceration, and battled with structure, reassurance, and love. Let’s not forget about the professionals.