JULY 12, 2020  

TREVOR HAKES  LIFESTYLE , MENTAL ILLNESS , PTSD , SUICIDE

AWARENESS , VETERAN

The Self Medication Hypothesis: A

Better Understanding of PTSD?

I’m definitely not the boy I was when my war started. It built me into a Man…… sent me
home a Demon. Trevor Hakes 2020

The Self Medication Hypothesis was a theory written by Dr. Khantzian, Edward of

Harvard University in 1985. What he proposes is a direct link to Substance Abuse
Disorder (SUD) and Mental Illness and with clinical evidence was able to do not just
that, but vice versa, as in one causes the other, and tell you which substance you are
using from your diagnosed mental illness. In his reconsideration article he states that
the substance user does NOT take their “substance of choice” for pleasure, but for relief
from severe mental and emotional pain and sometimes physical.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to
do violence on their behalf.” George Orwell

Veterans, Mental Illness, Substance Abuse,

and PTSD

 1-15 veterans have SUD

 65% alcohol
 11% heroin
 6% marijuana
 6% cocaine
 1-4 admissions are homeless veterans
 37-50% of veterans returned from deployment meet criteria for SUD
 63% of the returned meet criteria for PTSD
 30-50% of claims are for PTSD
 Those disabled with PTSD are five times more likely to meet criteria for SUD
Veterans hold 20% of the nations suicides. The official number is 20 per day, but its
estimated to set at 24-25 putting it at a heart breaking 9,000 per year. If you, a loved
one, or somebody mentions a person thinking of suicide, homicide, or the ideations,
heres some numbers to contact.

CALL NOW!
 VA Suicide Hotline- 800-273-8255
 National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
 Stop Soldier Suicide-  1-800-273-8255 #1
 “W
hen you are suffering, just remember. YOU are one bad motherf***er because nothing is more
terrifying than battling ones self!” Unknown

Causes of these Coexisting Disorders

2/3 of Veterans report severe pain due to Mental Illness. Coexisting with SUD and
Mental Illness places you at high risk of:

 Depression
 Anxiety
 Suicide
 Legal Trouble
 Relationship Issues
 Inpatient Treatment
 Homelessness
Click the hyperlink above for resources.

You are at high risk of this coexistence due to:

 Deployment
 Combat Exposure
 Post Deployment Reintegration
 Sexual Trauma
 Repeated Abuse
 Prior Childhood Trama
First time care seekers make up 11% of Coexisters. This doesn’t seem to place a high
number at risk but this is just the first timers. Not all the Veteran’s currently receiving
treatment. Its estimated that a large number of veterans with mental and substance
disorders are not receiving treatment. Its been noted that Active Duty Service Members
do not seek treatments because they think it will injure their career and this carries over
to retired and end of service veterans. How long is too late? Never. You can always
walk into your local VA for a mental health evaluation and if you can’t wait that long, go
ahead and call 911. Everyone reading this should look into and even review
the resources the VA and other veteran friendly services have to offer.

Look out for these substances

 Marijuana, Alcohol, “downer”

 Ego Solvent
 Stops anxiety, isolation, emptiness
 False sense of confidence
 Opiotes, Heroin, Pills
 Calming
 “Normalizes” anger
 Suppresses anger
 Stimulants, Meth, Cocaine, Molly
 Takes away fatigue of
 Depression
 Emotional drains
 Counters hypomanic disorders
 ADHD
 Bipolar
 Narcissist
 Borderline personality
 Anti Social
Its been concluded that SUD and Mental Disorders that are treated with self medication
are cause by brand new, unknown, horrific and severe pain that need the attention of
rehabilitation, less incarceration, and battled with structure, reassurance, and love. Let’s
not forget about the professionals.
“My only relief is sleep. When I sleep, I am not sad, I am not angry, I qm not lonely. I am
nothjng.” Unknown

“When I sleep, I dream of death and war. When I’m awake I feel the pain of war. In the
end I guess it doesn’t matter. This war will never end” Unknown

PTSD AWARENESS