Therapy for Mental Health and Addiction in Southern California
While it may not mean that one caused the other, many Adults in the United States are living with both a mental disorder and a substance use disorder. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported, in 2018, that of the 20.3 million adults living with a substance use disorder 37% also had a mental illness. This highly concerning statistic highlights the importance of quality clinical mental health counseling and addiction treatment.
Mental illness is a diagnosable condition that significantly disrupts an individual’s life. It is identified by mood, thoughts, or behavior changes. Substance use disorder is a clinical term for addiction to drugs or alcohol. When these two issues occur together, it is called a co-occurring disorder, dual diagnosis, or comorbid condition.
Co-occurring disorders can be difficult to diagnose and treat because the symptoms of each illness can mask the symptoms of the other. For example, a person with bipolar disorder may drink alcohol to try and calm down during a manic episode. A person with depression may use benzodiazepines to help them sleep. Regardless of the drug being abused or presenting mental illness, it is important to seek treatment for both conditions at the same time. This will give you the best chance for a complete recovery.
What is a Mental Illness?
A mental illness is a clinical condition that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Mental illnesses are common, affecting tens of millions of people in the United States each year. Mental illness can take many different forms. The most commonly occurring mental illnesses include:
- Trauma
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Personality disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
The criteria for a mental illness dictate that the symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment in order to be diagnosed. This means that mental illness disrupts a person’s ability to function normally due to the feelings of distress that it causes. Mental illnesses are often treated with clinical mental health counseling, therapy, and medication in order for sufferers to manage their symptoms.
Unfortunately, people with a mental illness are twice as likely to develop an addiction as those without a mental illness. One reason for this is that people with mental illness often use drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. This numbs the symptoms of their mental illness and makes them feel better temporarily. However, this is not the only reason why these conditions are often seen in the same person.
Reasons Why Mental Illness and Addiction Co-Occur
While there is a high rate of comorbidity between mental illness and addiction, these conditions are not always caused by each other. In some cases, drug abuse may cause symptoms of a mental illness. For example, acute alcohol intoxication can cause psychosis. Moreover, there is evidence that other factors can influence the development of either condition.
There is research that suggests the likelihood of someone experiencing addiction can be influenced by genetic factors. If a family history of alcoholism exists, then someone may be more likely to develop an addiction. The same is true for mental illness. If a family history of mental illness exists, then someone may be more likely to develop a mental illness.
Environmental factors can also play a role in the development of co-occurring disorders. Trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, can increase the risk for both addiction and mental health problems. Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, can also trigger mental health conditions and addiction. However, it is important to note that not everyone who has a mental illness will develop an addiction and not everyone who has an addiction will have a mental illness. However, there is a high rate of comorbidity between these two conditions.
Discover Addiction Treatment at Tulua Health
Taking the first steps into addiction recovery may fill you with doubts and concerns. Is California rehab even worth it if I relapse? There’s no question as to how substance abuse can alter the way you perceive the world and those around you. Picture the healthy lifestyle you could attain from the support, attention to detail, and therapies at Tulua Health. If you or a loved one are considering attending California rehab, reach out to us today!
Why Someone with a Mental Illness May Turn to Substance Abuse
People with mental illness may turn to substance abuse for a number of different reasons. For one, people with mental illness may self-medicate in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. For example, someone with anxiety may begin to misuse alcohol to try to combat feelings of panic.
Others may use substances as a way to cope with the stress and negative emotions caused by their mental illness. In fact, while not all cases of addiction start this way, many cases of addiction to drugs and alcohol begin due to using these substances as coping mechanisms. Some people may be trying to avoid the side effects of their medication.
Whatever the reason, it is important to seek treatment for both conditions at the same time. This will give you the best chance for a complete recovery. Here at Tulua Health, we offer clinical mental health counseling as well as therapy for addiction and mental health in Southern California. If you are experiencing distressing mental health symptoms while suffering from a substance use disorder, we can help you achieve stability, balance, and sobriety.
How Therapy Helps Treat Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Addiction
Co-occurring disorders are complex and their interrelated nature requires careful understanding to treat. Treatment for co-occurring issues that includes clinical mental health counseling and addiction treatment acknowledges how these conditions are connected. For example, if a case of depression is ignored while a substance use disorder is treated, a person may still relapse after treatment.
A facet of holistic recovery is treating every aspect of a person’s health. This includes mental health, emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health. Mental health conditions and addiction must be treated simultaneously. This helps patients achieve long-term recovery. Overall, therapies and clinical mental health counseling can help you to:
- Feel more confident in the face of life’s challenges
- Change the maladaptive behaviors that are holding you back
- Examine how your thoughts and ways of thinking affect how you feel
- Recover from past trauma and pain
- Forge new, healthy relationship skills and problem-solving skills
- Figure out your life goals
- Improve your sense of confidence and self-esteem
- Cope with the symptoms of your mental illness
- Handle intense emotions such as fear, grief, or anger
With clinical mental health counseling and addiction treatment from Tulua Health, we will help you understand your unique experience with addiction and mental illness. You’ll develop skills to cope with difficult emotions, manage triggers, and practice self-care. We offer individual, group, and family therapy to address the issues that are impacting your ability to live a life free of substance abuse.
Therapies for Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Addiction
When you are struggling with both a mental illness and addiction, it can be difficult to know where to start. The good news is that therapy can help. There are many different therapies that are effective in treating co-occurring mental illness and addiction. These therapies include:
For some individuals, a disconnect between their actions and feelings exists. Individual therapy looks at the details of a person’s life, thoughts, and emotions to help them identify what may have led to substance abuse.
CBT is a type of therapy that helps you identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your mental illness and addiction. CBT can help you learn how to cope with your symptoms in a healthy way.
DBT is a type of therapy that helps you learn how to regulate your emotions and deal with stress in a healthy way. DBT can also help you learn how to cope with cravings and avoid relapse.
EMDR is a type of therapy that helps you process and heal from trauma. EMDR can be helpful in treating both mental illness and addiction.
In family therapy, the patient and family members work together to understand and support each other. Family therapy can help improve communication and relationships within the family.
In group therapy, sessions are conducted with patients who are dealing with similar issues. Group therapy can be a great way to share experiences and learn from others.
Therapy can help you treat your mental illness and addiction and live a healthy, happy life. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness and addiction, we can help you on the road to recovery.
Therapy for Mental Health and Addiction from Tulua Health
At Tulua Health, we understand that mental illness and addiction can be debilitating. That’s why we offer comprehensive therapy for both conditions. Our approach to clinical mental health counseling and addiction treatment involves identifying trauma, adjusting coping skills, and reorienting awareness. We seek to address the root of our patient’s problems, the symptoms stemming from those problems, and the mindsets which reinforce the issues, to begin with.
By utilizing a multilayered approach that brings mind, body, and spirit into harmony, we resolve the issues of our clients while minimizing the likelihood that they may return to drugs or alcohol to cope. If you are in need of treatment that involves clinical mental health counseling and addiction treatment, we can help. Our outpatient addiction treatment programs provide lasting outcomes through their design. Contact us today to begin your drug-free future.
