Although millions of Americans suffer from mental health disorders, addiction, or both, many of them do not receive adequate treatment. Those that do reach out for help often have either their mental health or their addiction treated, left to fend for themself with their remaining health concerns. To achieve a full and lasting recovery, you need thorough, effective treatment that treats the whole person, considering both mental health and addiction.
At Painted Desert Recovery, we realize how the strong connection between conditions like anxiety and addiction can make it harder to fully heal and sustain your recovery. Our trauma-informed therapy programs are designed to address mental health and addiction concurrently to give women the best chance of lasting recovery. When you are ready to leave your suffering behind, call us at 844.540.0357 or complete our online form to get started on your path to clean living.
What Is the Connection Between Mental Health and Addiction?
You may wonder if mental health causes addiction or if an addiction causes mental health issues. While neither one is necessarily the direct cause of the other, they are closely related, and either one can put you at a higher risk of the other. When mental health conditions and addiction occur together, it is referred to as comorbidity.
So, how are they related? Mental health disorders and substance use disorders share some similarities, including:
- Both are chronic brain disorders that impact the same areas of the brain.
- Mental health disorders may make you more likely to self-medicate with substances. In contrast, substance use disorders can rewire certain brain areas, making you more likely to experience mental illness symptoms.
- There is evidence that your genetics can impact your risk of both mental health conditions and addiction.
- Mental health issues and addiction tend to begin in the teenage years when the brain is going through many changes.
Why Is it Important to Treat Mental Health and Addiction Concurrently?
It had once been believed that treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder needed to be put on hold until after a person had completed addiction treatment and was in recovery for a certain period of time. This is no longer the case, as people have realized that the relapse rate is particularly high for those in recovery with untreated mental health disorders.
To help address co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, treatment centers have developed dual diagnosis programs. These treatment programs are designed specifically to treat mental health conditions like depression and addiction at the same time.
Why should you choose dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction?
Medications designed to minimize withdrawal symptoms and drug or alcohol cravings can help you feel better immediately. At the same time, those prescribed for anxiety or depression can begin to work on correlating imbalances in the brain.
Trauma-informed therapy can help address the root cause of chronic anxiety and addiction. Working with a counselor to desensitize yourself from triggers, reframe your distorted thought patterns, and strengthen your coping skills can alleviate the painful emotions that led you to substance use. When you feel calmer and more confident, you will be less likely to relapse.
Complementary therapies such as nutritional therapy can be more effectively targeted when you have dual diagnosis treatment. Mental health and addiction both affect the brain but can result in different nutrient deficiencies. Treating both conditions with a customized nutrition plan can provide optimal relief.
Explore Care for Mental Health and Addiction Needs at Painted Desert Recovery
Women who suffer from addiction are often dealing with unaddressed trauma, depression, or anxiety. Certain traumas could affect a woman’s comfort level in a co-ed treatment facility which is why Painted Desert Recovery caters solely to the needs of women in addiction recovery. We provide a safe, trauma-sensitive environment to help women to heal from co-occurring mental health and addiction. If you or someone you know needs support for depression and addiction, call us today at 844.540.0357 or complete our online form to start reclaiming your health and happiness.