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People inhale solvents for a variety of reasons. Some experiment with inhalants once or twice to see what the experience feels like. Others use inhalants for the same reasons many of us use alcohol—to help us relax, socialize, open up to friends about emotional matters, or escape from things we don’t like in our lives. Since solvents are more affordable than alcohol or other drugs, limited access to money is a factor in why people may choose inhalants over other substances. But like other mind-altering substances, inhalants can be harmful.

Hallucinogens cause people to have experiences that are different from their ordinary reality. The conscious mind becomes aware of things that it normally is not aware of. Hallucinations can range from mild distortions of our senses to an intense experience where we believe a vision or other altered perception is real and we are unaware it is the effect of the drug.

People use caffeine for various reasons. Many of us enjoy the taste of popular caffeinated products such as latte and chocolate. Students sometimes use caffeine tablets to power through long nights at the study table. Shift workers also use caffeine products to help adjust their minds and bodies to odd work hours.

Stress itself is not a mental illness. But when the stress keeps piling up and it starts to make you feel worse instead of motivating you, it can harm your mental health and well-being. Stress is a risk factor for someone who is already vulnerable to developing a mental illness. Stress can affect us physically, too.

 

Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division

 

Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression. It was called manic depression because people with bipolar disorder go through periods of intense depression and other periods where their mood is extremely high. These "high" periods are known as mania.

Cocaine is a psychoactive (mind-altering) drug that affects how we think and behave. It is a stimulant that speeds up our breathing, heart rate, thoughts and actions.