The Rant
The Alarming Effects of Mental Health on Addiction
Submitted by fergus » Thu 14-Oct-2021, 19:34Subject Area: GeneralKeywords: detox, addiction | 0 member ratings |
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Either you have turned to substance abuse as a coping mechanism for pre-existing mental conditions, or, mental illness arises as a result of addiction.
The best solution for those battling with dual-diagnosis is to seek an integrated rehab treatment programme.
We understand how hard it can be to own up to your addiction. It takes a lot of courage to admit that you need medical help, but we are here every step of the way.
Why does mental illness influence addiction?
Dual-diagnosis tends to occur because individuals self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.
Some causes of comorbidity include:
Drinking alcohol to feel less anxious or numb emotional pain
Taking tranquilisers to avoid or quell panic attacks
Using stimulant drugs as a way to increase energy or motivation
Using drugs or alcohol to deal with emotional trauma (such as symptoms of PTSD or depression)
There are a number of behavioural disorders that often occur alongside drug or alcohol abuse:
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Depression
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Schizophrenia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Comorbidity is difficult to diagnose
When someone is suffering from addiction as well as a mental illness, the vast range of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose.
Often addiction specialist Washington DC, the symptoms overlap, so it is very common for sufferers to be treated for one disorder while the other is ignored.
Co-occurring issues mean that you are more prone to irrational, impulsive or violent behaviour, which not only puts you at risk but endangers those around you.
It is so important to make sure that you receive a proper assessment so that your treatment can address all your needs.
Essential treatments for dual-diagnosis and addiction specialist Washington DC
Research emphasises that it is important to treat both conditions at once.
When you are battling with two conditions, early detection and treatment is crucial to improving your quality of life. Rehab facilities across the UK are fully equipped to help you on the road to recovery.
A fully integrated treatment programme will combine detox, individual and group therapy with experiential and holistic therapies to help you get to the core of your illnesses.
The following therapy plans are suitable for the treatment of dual-diagnosis:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT therapy
In CBT, problems are broken up into 5 main topics, to help you compartmentalise and see your issues clearly.
The five subtopics are:
Situations
Thoughts
Emotions
Physical feelings
Actions
It is helpful for those suffering from co-occurring disorders because it is:
Logical – it breaks down your issues and you learn to address or solve them logically
Structure – You and your therapist will address specific problems and work at achievable goals
Focus – CBT aims to address current problems, emotions and actions
Communication – A therapist is not there to tell you what to do, but to listen and talk through your problems so that you can find solutions together
Positivity – CBT centralises optimism as a way to address thoughts and feelings
Holistic/Relaxation Therapy
Holistic therapies are organic ways to help you overcome addiction and behavioural disorders.
The beauty of relaxation therapy is its focus on self-connection.
You will be treated as a person, rather than an addiction.
Holistic treatments are non-invasive, they don’t use mood-altering medication and they aim to address your disease in a natural way.
Benefits of relaxation therapies include:
Relief of muscle tension
Improved immunity and digestion
Increases energy and helps forge healthy sleep patterns
Encourages mental clarity and relaxed state of mind
Increases positivity, confidence and self-connection
Integrating holistic therapy into a treatment programme will enable you to address your addiction from an all-rounded perspective, which will give you the best chance at recovery.
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