The term "dual diagnosis" is used to describe a person who struggles with both a mental health issue and substance abuse. When an addiction co-occurs with a psychological disorder, often the patient may not realize ​the existence of the mental issues due to the overwhelming dominance of the substance abuse and its specific behaviors. The reality is that alcohol and drug misuse is often complicated and exaggerated by existing mental health struggles such as depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder. Many who struggle with mental health will look to self-medicate or reduce those symptoms by taking street drugs or consuming alcohol - which will accelerate the progression into addiction.