Schizophrenia is a chronic, relapsing condition which results in psychotic symptoms. Those with schizophrenia require specialized psychiatric treatment.

Substance abuse does not cause schizophrenia, but one-quarter of those with schizophrenia also have a substance abuse problem.

Seasonal Mood Disorder is a common condition that causes mood shifts as the days of the year shorten or lengthen. It is also referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SADS.

Those with another mood disorder may also expereince a change in their mood symptoms in different seasons.

Self Treatment means that one uses alcohol or another drug to treat uncomfortable symptoms or feelings. An example of self-treatment is the use of alcohol to calm social anxiety.

Self Treatment may become a habit and lead to Psychological Dependence, Abuse or Addiction. Recovery from addiction requires one to avoid self treatment of symptoms with any drug.

Those with Social Phobia experience an extreme degree of worry and fearfulness in social settings.

Self treatment with alcohol, cannibis or other drugs may commonly occur.

Sobriety refers to a time of abstinence from the use of intoxicating substances plus participation in the process of recovery.

Spiritual refers to a sense of centeredness within self - and connectedness with others - and that is based on a sense of being that is beyond ego or personal identity.

Growth beyond ego based identity - and towards a spiritual experience of day to day life - is considered by many to be a treatment for addiction - and the foundation of true recovery.

A Stimulant is any drug that elevates mood, increases feelings of well-being, and increases energy and alertness. Stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamine, and caffeine.

Substance Abuse is apparent when use is excessive or dangerous, when use persists despite problematic consequences or when loss of control over use arises.

The core feature of true addiction is a powerful, lingering and recurrent compulsion to use an drug that will change your mental state and sense of feeling.

Addiction seems mostly fueled by the use of substances taken for a desirable personal effect. Drugs that can induce rapid onset of euphoria hold particular risk of addiction.

Those deep in addiction report a compulsion to use that has no rational sense and has little relation to any reason why they began to use drugs in the first place.

The compulsion seems associated with a tendency to run, to avoid and to escape. The way of opiate addiction is to avoid the pain of day to day life and to achieve a detached state of peace and serenity.

Substance Dependence generally refers to a person whose well-being has come to rely upon the use of a drug for physical reasons, emotional reasons or both. Medical professionals usually use the term dependence to refer to physical dependence.

Alcohol or Opiate Dependence are examples of Substance Dependence.