How Sobriety Helps You Manage Your Mental Illness

November 18, 2016 - Mental Health - 0 Comments

Not everyone understands the link between mental illness and addiction, but what we know is that the two often go hand in hand.  Statistics show that around half of all people who suffer from mental illness also struggle with addiction.

For many years, those who suffered from both mental illness and addiction were left with few choices in care and treatment.  Today, dual diagnosis residential treatment makes getting the help you need possible.

Why Are Mental Illness And Addiction So Closely Linked?

Often, it’s simply a case of symptom relief.  For those suffering from anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and other mental health issues, alcohol and drugs seem to temporarily alleviate symptoms.   In dual diagnosis inpatient treatment centers, you will learn more about the link between mental illness and substance abuse.

Unfortunately, substance abuse only makes things worse.  Over time, symptoms will increase in frequency and severity.  This is most often due to the progressive nature of addiction.  For example, if you are drinking alcohol to help you cope with depression, over time your depression will worsen.  Not only that but as your life circumstances begin to decline, you will find that you are even more depressed than before.  This leads to more substance abuse, creating a vicious cycle.

In dual diagnosis residential treatment, you will learn coping tools that help you manage symptoms without the use of drugs and alcohol.

Substance Abuse Interferes With Mental Health Management

If you struggle with chronic mental health issues, you probably already know how important maintenance is.  This means going to regular appointments, paying attention to the way you feel and taking prescribed medications.  These are self-care issues that are necessary for mental illness recovery.

Addiction interferes with this self-care.  If you are abusing substances, you will be less likely to take your medications as prescribed, and more likely to miss appointments.  Also, when you cover up the way you feel about drugs and alcohol, you may miss the signs that you need additional help.

How Can Dual Diagnosis Residential Treatment Help?

In residential dual diagnosis treatment centers, you will not only get the help you need to overcome your addiction, you will learn how to manage your mental illness.  Too often, people who have mental health issues spend a majority of their lives in and out of mental hospitals, rehabs, jail and homeless shelters.  It doesn’t have to be this way, though.  When you are in recovery, you are able to manage symptoms and lead a healthy, productive life.

When you are clean and sober, you will not only be able to manage your illness more effectively, you will also find increased levels of self-esteem and self-confidence.  In residential dual diagnosis treatment centers, there is a heavy emphasis on education and empowerment.  You will build the confidence needed to advocate for yourself, and you will build a support system that includes resources and services that can help you stay healthy and secure.

Life Is Better In Recovery

Mental health and recovery go hand in hand.  When you are able to stay sober you will find that you:

• Experience fewer chronic symptoms.
• Have a reduced number of mental health “relapses.”
• Spend less time in hospitals.
• Are better able to access community resources that can help.
• Are able to advocate for yourself with doctors and other mental health workers.
• Have an easier time finding housing and employment.

Simply put, getting help for your addiction and mental illness at the same time means you will have more success in treating both of them and means that you will have a better long-term outcome.

His and Her Houses offers industry leading Mental Health treatment programs. We were founded in 1994 and we base our programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your love one at (888) 376-7268.