Developing a substance abuse problem or a psychological disorder will depend on a variety of factors being present. While neither substance abuse nor psychological disorders are effective ways of managing troubling elements in a person's life, they are often used in this way both intentionally and unintentionally. The National Alliance of Mental Illness reports that while substance abuse problems and psychological disorders can occur separate from one another, they occur together in 50 percent of people who have a mental health disorder. Even though substance abuse and psychological disorders often occur together their causal factors can be different.
Genetics
Having a family history of substance abuse problems or psychological disorders increases the chances that a person will develop the problem themselves. In order to diagnosis a person, mental health professionals will often ask about behaviors of blood relatives so that they can determine whether the disorder runs in the family.
Trauma or Abuse
Experiencing a traumatic event or falling victim to some sort of abuse can trigger the onset of a psychological disorder or substance abuse problem. Traumatic events such as rape, fire, war, witnessing violent events, being a victim of violence, and losing a child or a loved one can all be experiences that contribute to the onset of mental health problems. Both physical and emotional abuse can induce psychological disorders and substance abuse problems. Generally, a person will start abusing drugs or alcohol as a way to mask the pain from the abuse or the traumatic experience. A variety of different psychological disorders can develop, but some that tend to be triggered include anxiety disorders, depression and adjustment disorders.
Lifestyle
According to the Mayo Clinic, the environment a person is exposed to has been shown to contribute to the development of mental health problems. Children who are exposed to poverty, including a poor education, can be more likely to begin abusing drugs and alcohol. Exposing a person to the constant tensions and stress associated with poverty can induce the onset of mental health problems. The onset does not always happen right away, but can be in development over a period of time. Some of the mental health problems that develop when a person lives in an impoverished situation include, hoarding disorder, learning disorders, substance abuse or addiction, anxiety and depression.
