How does a person develop co-occurring disorders?
There are many ways in which co-occurring disorders develop. The majority of persons with co-occurring disorders report that the symptoms of mental illness began first, and that they used alcohol or other drugs to cope with the symptoms (often known as self-medication). For example, if a person feels depressed, he or she may find that a couple of drinks or a little cocaine makes the depression lift, at least for a while. When the buzz or the high wears off, however, the person will probably feel worse. The solution may be to drink or use more. The more the person drinks or uses, the worse he or she feels, and the cycle of co-occurring disorders begins. The cycle becomes more enduring as the individual begins to experience other consequences of substance use such as family discord, employment problems, legal problems, or financial difficulties. It is interesting to note that for those who have co-occurring disorders, the median age of onset for the mental health disorder is age eleven,
