Mood Disorders

What are mood disorders?
Depression, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bi-polar are all considered mood disorders.
These conditions are significant because they are directly related to substance abuse and mental health.

Many people who are alcoholic or chemically dependent also suffer from a mood disorder. When a person has both a chemical dependency and a mood disorder they are considered to have a co-occurring disorder (formerly referred to as a dual diagnosis).

Why is it so important for treatment?
Many people who are currently suffering from alcoholism or chemical dependency have some form of diagnosed or undiagnosed mood disorder. When this is the case, they are considered to be “self-medicating” their mood disorder with drugs or alcohol. This is very significant to the successful treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. Unless the co-occurring mood disorder is properly diagnosed and addressed, it will always be one of the primary reasons someone cannot maintain long term abstinence.