How Do Addiction & Mental Health Relate?
Substance use disorders and mental health problems affect the lives of millions of Americans and dealing with one is never easy. However, dealing with the co-occurrence of addiction and mental illnesses can be particularly difficult. Unfortunately, there is a high prevalence of comorbidity between substance use disorders and other mental illnesses. Whether you or a loved one have suffered from a substance use disorder, understanding the connections between addiction and mental health is important. The article below explores the relationship between addiction and mental health.
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Understanding Addiction’s Impact On Mental Health
Substance abuse directly impacts the user’s brain. Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, consistent substance use can change the structure and functioning of a person’s brain, affecting an individual’s cognition, memory, impulse control, decision-making, emotional state, and more. Additionally, when persistent substance use alters the areas of the brain that are disrupted in other mental disorders, it can lead to the development of mental illnesses or the exacerbation of underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.
How Mental Illness Can Contribute To Substance Use & Addiction
Much like how substance abuse can lead to the development of mental illness — existing mental illnesses can lead to the development of a substance use disorder. In fact, certain mental disorders are established risk factors for developing a substance use disorder. This occurs because changes in a person’s brain activity associated with the development of a mental illness could increase their vulnerability to substance abuse by reducing impulse control or enhancing the feeling of using a substance. Additionally, individuals who suffer from mental illness may seek out drugs and alcohol in hopes of temporarily alleviating their symptoms.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
The term “dual diagnosis” refers to the co-occurrence of a substance use disorder with another mental disorder, such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, or others. While it might seem uncommon, the truth is millions of Americans receive a dual diagnosis every year. The unique symptoms of a dual diagnosis are as diverse as the many possible combinations of disorders and can be difficult to treat as each disorder can amplify the symptoms of the other. Accordingly, it is essential to find a treatment provider that understands the complexities of a dual diagnosis — such as Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc.
How Our Opioid Addiction Treatment Center Can Help
As part of our comprehensive approach to opioid addiction treatment and mental health care, Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc. offers psychiatric care and counseling services. Here at our Florida opioid addiction treatment centers, we take a holistic approach to treatment with a comprehensive selection of professional behavioral health care services individualized to our patients’ needs. Through the use of Subutex or Suboxone, individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management, we offer an all-encompassing approach to overcoming addiction and mental disorders. Contact us today to learn more about our services!