Is There A Connection Between Increased Substance Abuse And The Pandemic?

There’s no denying that the pandemic changed almost everyone’s lives in some way. 

Maybe you experienced the loss of a loved one. Maybe you became sick and had a long road to recovery. Even people who lost their jobs or had to deal with a new way of living often struggled with a sense of uncertainty. 

Outside of your personal life, the pandemic caused a lot of fear. It couldn’t be escaped, no matter which news station you turned on, and undoubtedly your friends and family were talking all about it on social media. 

Research has shown that the pandemic caused a significant spike in mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. 

And, with people isolated for so long, many had to find their own ways to cope – including drinking and drugs. Let’s take a closer look at the connection between increased substance abuse and the pandemic. 

The Link Between Substance Abuse and COVID-19

All the way back in June 2020, the CDC reported that 13% of Americans were increasing the use of substances to cope with stress or their emotions related to COVID-19. 

That trend continued throughout the pandemic, leading to a variety of negative symptoms in individuals, and even causing spikes in overdoses throughout the country. 

When people are faced with stress or emotions they feel they can’t fully process, they turn to coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, when there’s no one around to help, those coping mechanisms often come in the form of a “quick fix,” like drugs or alcohol. 

The pandemic created a sort of “perfect storm” for drug use. Factors like isolation, fear, and using drugs alone caused many people to misuse items, or become addicted quickly. When you use drugs to cope with negative emotions, the problem is that the feeling of “happiness” you get never lasts. 

That’s what eventually leads to abuse and dependency. You’ll need larger doses more frequently, and you can start to feel terrifying withdrawal symptoms if you don’t give into those needs. 

What Are the Signs of Substance Abuse?

One of the biggest problems with substance abuse is that it can be easy to ignore some of the common signs and symptoms for a while. You might be able to go on using drugs or alcohol for quite a while before you start to feel the long-term negative effects.

By that time, a substance abuse disorder could be in full swing, leading to common warning signs like: 

• Unexplained changes in mood, or mood swings

• Easily irritable

• Change in personality

• Anxious or fearful, even with no apparent reason

Often, it’s other people who will notice these red flags before you do. Depending on the type of substance you’re using, you might also experience physical symptoms, including weight changes, dental issues, skin issues, or problems sleeping. 

Ultimately, you’ll have a hard time going without your substance of choice for too long, and it will likely be the first thing you turn to when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious about anything. 

What Can You Do?

If you went through a difficult time during the pandemic, it’s understandable to want to find ways to cope. Maybe you even started out just wanting to “numb” some of the pain or fear you were experiencing. 

If things have gone too far, however, it’s not too late to change. 

The effects of the pandemic will linger for a long time. That doesn’t mean you have to keep up with the pattern of negative behaviors just to cope. 

If you’ve been using substances increasingly throughout the pandemic and you’re still using them to cope with everyday stressors, feel free to contact me. No matter the stage you’re in, it’s important to discover healthy, effective ways of coping while becoming less dependent on drugs or alcohol to get by.  Reach out to me on how I can help you with anxiety hypnotherapy.