Amber HollingsworthRecovery Conversation Simulator, Amber's Recovery Practice Lab · Interactive learning tool trained on Amber methodoloy

Why People Self-Medicate With Drugs/Alcohol

26 Jun 2023 · 1 min

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Amber Hollingsworth explains why many people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol: substances often appear to 'fix' or relieve problems (e.g., stress, anxiety, inability to wind down) and can be used to sustain productivity or calm at the end of a high-pressure day. She notes trauma can be a factor for some, but emphasizes people commonly use substances because they feel it provides needed relief or energy.

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For most anyone that develops an addiction, it does feel like it does something for them. It fixes something that they want fixed. So sometimes that's handling stress. Other times it's not so much that they're hiding from trauma, although, you know, that can be the case sometimes, like childhood stuff. But it's like they push themselves so hard. So they might develop an addiction to opioids, because opioids make you feel like you have more energy and you're more productive, and it tampers down that anxiety so you can get more done. Or stimulants, or you just push yourself so hard all day you can't wind down. So you start drinking in the evening. Want that to calm down. So maybe, maybe you're just drinking to do that. But nonetheless, it's like feeling some kind of peace inside. And because you feel like you need it, you start doing it more than someone else would do it.