Addiction rarely shows up alone. For many people, substance use becomes tangled with one or more of the most common mental health disorders—sometimes long before addiction even begins. These conditions can influence one another, feed off each other, and make life feel confusing or unmanageable when you’re trying to cope with both at the same time.

At Kasa Recovery in Los Angeles, we see how common it is for clients to walk through our doors carrying not just addiction, but also anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional challenges. This combination is known as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis, and treating both conditions together is essential for long-term recovery.

Here’s a closer look at the most common mental health disorders that most commonly co-occur with addiction and why addressing them simultaneously matters so much.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are among the most frequent companions to addiction. Whether it’s generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or panic disorder, overwhelming worry can push people toward substances that offer a fast—although temporary—sense of relief.

Alcohol, benzos, cannabis, and opioids are some of the substances people use to calm their nerves or quiet their thoughts. The problem is that while substances may dull anxiety for a moment, they also change brain chemistry in ways that make anxiety worse over time. This creates a cycle: anxiety fuels substance use, and substance use fuels anxiety.

Without treating the anxiety itself, recovery becomes an uphill battle. When the root cause remains unaddressed, cravings and emotional distress often return.

Depression

Depression can make even the simplest tasks feel heavy. When someone is dealing with persistent sadness, low motivation, fatigue, or hopelessness, substances may seem like an escape. Alcohol, stimulants, and opioids often become coping tools—ways to feel numb, energized, or momentarily uplifted.

But substance use ultimately deepens depression. The brain becomes dependent on drugs or alcohol for dopamine and endorphins, making natural regulation harder. Many people end up feeling worse emotionally than before they ever started using.

Depression can also sap the motivation needed to seek help or stick with treatment. That’s why recovery requires a supportive environment that treats both conditions with empathy and evidence-based care.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Trauma changes the brain and body in powerful ways. Whether from childhood experiences, violence, accidents, or other deeply distressing events, PTSD can leave you dealing with nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and overwhelming fear.

It’s incredibly common for people with PTSD to turn to substances to cope with those symptoms. Drugs and alcohol might feel like the only way to sleep, calm down, or disconnect from painful memories. But over time, substance use makes PTSD symptoms more unstable and unpredictable.

Trauma-informed treatment is crucial. You can’t heal addiction fully if the trauma underneath continues to impact your thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder often experience intense highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). These shifts can be confusing and intrusive, leading some to self-medicate with substances to control mood swings.

During manic episodes, impulsivity and risky behavior can increase the likelihood of substance use. During depressive episodes, drugs or alcohol might be used to try to lift mood or escape emotional pain.

However, substance use throws brain chemistry even more out of balance, often worsening bipolar symptoms and making episodes more severe or frequent. Treating bipolar disorder alongside addiction requires careful planning, stabilizing strategies, and ongoing support.

ADHD

While ADHD is often thought of as a childhood condition, many adults continue to experience symptoms like restlessness, impulsivity, trouble focusing, and difficulty organizing tasks. Those challenges can lead some individuals to misuse substances—especially stimulants, cannabis, alcohol, or prescription medications.

People with ADHD may use drugs or alcohol to calm their mind, boost productivity, or escape from the frustration of feeling scattered. But substance use typically increases impulsivity and decreases emotional regulation, making ADHD symptoms harder to manage.

A dual-diagnosis approach helps address both the neurological and behavioral aspects of ADHD while supporting recovery from addiction.

Personality Disorders

Certain personality disorders—such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)—frequently co-occur with addiction. These conditions can make emotional regulation difficult, intensify impulsivity, or create unstable relationships, all of which can contribute to substance use.

People with BPD, for example, may use substances to manage overwhelming emotions or soothe feelings of emptiness. Without treating the underlying disorder, recovery becomes unstable and relapse is more likely.

Therapy focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, and healthy interpersonal patterns is key to healing both conditions.

Why Treating Co-Occurring Disorders Matters

When addiction and mental health disorders overlap, treating one without the other rarely works. If the mental health condition remains unmanaged, it often triggers cravings or pushes someone back toward substances for relief. And if addiction isn’t addressed, its impact on mood and cognition makes mental health symptoms harder to stabilize.

Integrated treatment is the most effective approach. This means addressing both conditions simultaneously, using therapies that support emotional healing, behavior change, and long-term stability.

Finding the Right Support for Common Mental Health Disorders and Co-Occurring Conditions at Kasa Recovery

Recovery isn’t just about stopping substance use—it’s about understanding what led you there and giving you the tools to build a healthier life. At Kasa Recovery in Los Angeles, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders with a compassionate, tailored approach that supports your overall well-being.

If you’re struggling with addiction and another mental health concern, you’re not alone. Help is available, and healing is absolutely possible. Reach out to Kasa Recovery today to learn how we can support your recovery and help you take the next step forward.