She never ended up returning to school.
Mental Health Decline and Unregulated Self-Medication
Kaylee Muthart was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Credit: Kaylee Muthart
During this time Muthart’s life started to deteriorate. She had no job, and her way of coping was to drink and smoke more — classic symptoms of dual diagnosis, where substance abuse and mental illness coexist, often requiring inpatient psychiatric treatment.
Soon, she began taking Xanax, which produces a calming effect on the brain, helping to reduce anxiety and encourage relaxation. The misuse of prescription medication, especially benzodiazepines, has led to a rise in insurance claims for overdose-related ER visits and intensive detox coverage.
Then, following a breakup with her boyfriend, Muthart experienced a breakdown — a moment often regarded in clinical terms as a mental health crisis, sometimes triggering involuntary psychiatric holds under court-ordered care protocols.
Although she eventually got a new job, she still felt ‘lonely’ and ‘unhappy.’
