There's this thing in the addiction community called the chicken or the egg theory. We talk about this when we talk about co occurring disorders. A co occurring disorder is when someone is diagnosed with a mental health disorder, as well as a substance use disorder. The reason we call it the chicken or the egg theories, because many times we don't know what came first. So think about this for a moment. Did you start using cocaine to escape from something or to bandaid a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, or did using cocaine cause you to struggle with a mental health related problem?

If you were already struggling with a mental health disorder, then it's important that you treat that at the same time, you're going to need the help of a mental health professional. If you're cocaine use caused you to have a mental health disorder, then it's possible that it would resolve itself once you stop the cocaine use. However, It's still important to address this at the same time. While this course is about treating your cocaine use, it's not a substitute for mental health care. If you suspect you're struggling or if you know you have a mental health disorder, then you should call and make an appointment to see a mental health professional such as a counselor or a therapist right away. Please don't think your mental health will magically get better on its own.

If you're unsure about where you stand, then I recommend taking this course in its entirety and following through with everything for at least 30 days. If you're still struggling with your mental health, then you know that you'll need to make that appointment. The bottom line is that your mental health should never be ignored. Always make that a top priority.