{"id":4780,"date":"2021-10-22T20:37:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T20:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedavisgroup.org\/?p=4780"},"modified":"2021-11-28T23:46:21","modified_gmt":"2021-11-28T23:46:21","slug":"how-substance-abuse-affects-your-mood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedavisgroup.org\/how-substance-abuse-affects-your-mood\/","title":{"rendered":"How Substance Abuse Affects Your Mood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Substance abuse can affect every area of your life. Many people turn to substances like drugs or alcohol for relief from mental health conditions, find some sense of escape from ongoing trauma, or deal with the pain of grief or another debilitating event in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in the long run, substance abuse will only worsen the issue. And substance abuse can affect your mood in your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, using a particular substance might make you feel less anxious or even blissful. But over time, your tolerance builds. Going without using can cause frustrating mood swings, but after a time, even using the substance won\u2019t provide the relief that it once did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few ways substance abuse can affect your mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over time, substance abuse can lead to depression. You might feel down for long stretches of time, especially when you don\u2019t have access to the substance you\u2019ve been using. And when the effects start to wear off, depression can hit you hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on which substance you use, your habit might affect your brain\u2019s production of mood-boosting chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Furthermore, thinking about how substance abuse has disrupted your life can also leave you feeling depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irritability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you no longer feel the effects of a substance, you can easily become irritable. This can also occur when you have to go for days or weeks without taking the substance that you\u2019ve developed a dependance on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may resent that you have to deal with the inconveniences of daily life without the numbing effects of the substance. You might snap at your loved ones or coworkers or feel a general sense of discontent throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain Fog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Substance abuse can make it hard to concentrate. Long-term usage of certain substances may have a lasting effect on your long- or short-term memory. Overall, your forgetfulness can lead to poor performance at work, in school, or other environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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