Mental Illnesses And Loneliness

 

Although people become lonesome for many other reasons, loneliness can be a symptom or a cause of mental illness. Disorders of the mind often occur as a result of a person's attempts to replace human connection with objects, substances or illogical behaviors. Four common disorders related to loneliness include drug addiction, depression, hoarding and anxiety in social situations.

Addictions

When a person becomes addicted to illegal drugs, medications or activities like overeating, he or she frequently does this to replace something they are missing in life. Researchers have discovered a link between addictions and a lack of close connections with family members or friends. Sadly, some people bond with liquor or cocaine in the same way they would otherwise connect with a best friend.

Depression

Many people become depressed after feeling lonesome for substantial periods of time, according to study data. Sadness is frequently associated with a lack of friendship. When individuals have no significant relationships with family or friends, this sadness often develops into depression and makes them less likely to try meeting new people.

Hoarding

Although many physicians look at hoarding as an obsession, it frequently stems from loneliness. Some individuals gather objects and use them to replace close relationships. Everyone does this to an extent; people normally keep photos, gifts or belongings left behind by friends or relatives who pass away. Hoarders take it to an extreme as a result of their isolation.

Anxiety

Socially anxious people have difficulty meeting others and forming relationships with them. This does not always occur as a result of poor social skills. In many cases, it is linked to a strong fear of social errors. Individuals with this type of anxiety become more and more isolated because they are afraid of making mistakes when talking to other people.

Mental illness often leads to a cycle of increasing loneliness as patients with these conditions avoid other individuals and acquaintances shun them due to their unusual behavior. Anyone who experiences one of these disorders should recognize greater socialization as a potential solution. Few people succeed in resolving mental health conditions in total isolation.

What Is Ibogaine Treatment For Addiction?

Of the many treatment methods that are currently used to treat heroin addiction, none has substantial effect on a psychological level. They majorly serve to treat the addiction or help victims manage it, but never really treat the addiction with the intention of reducing or completely curing the disease. However, among the many unconventional and experimental treatments that have been tried, Ibogaine has indicated some promising results.

What is Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance derived from certain trees and shrubs found in native African rainforests. The natural psychedic is cited to have been used by African pygmy tribes (and other tribes) for ritual and medicinal purposes.  

Ibogaine Treatment for Addiction

Several separate researches that have been carried on Ibogaine (since 1960s) have indicated that the substance can effectively treat various forms of addictions: heroin, cocaine, alcohol, methadone, methamphetamine, steroids, and other drugs. When used as type of interruption therapy, the psychedelic induces dream-like visions to the patients (while they are awake) followed by feelings of instructive replays of the various pivotal life effects that may have contributed to their addictions. Some are also confronted by negative emotions and fear that in a way drive the addiction disease.  If used for addiction treatment, it's recommended that supplemental treatments such as intensive counseling, therapy, and aftercare are applied to achieve maximum results from the Ibogaine treatment.

Side Effects

Although Ibogaine has been implicated as treatment for various forms of addiction in unprecedented number of studies, it's been associated with a number of negative side effects, including loss of motor coordination (making it difficult for patients to walk or stand without assistance), vomiting, nausea, and dry mouth. Ibogaine can also agitate certain types of heart conditions and can cause fatal reactions with certain foods (such as foods that contain citrus and bergamot oil). What's more, the psychedic can have detrimental effects when administered alongside other psychotropic medications and is therefore not recommended for dual-diagnosis (simultaneous treatment for addiction alongside mental or emotional disorders).

Bottom Line

For Ibogaine treatments to be universally accepted in the healthcare fraternity, there must be enough evidence that its benefits surpasses its potential to cause harm, which currently necessitates continued research and clinical experiments. Nonetheless, preliminary results regarding the development of the Ibogaine into clinical, therapeutic, and medicinal treatments are quite promising.