Many people don’t realize just how much mental health disorders and addiction go hand in hand. Because of their close connection, they can often lead to a complicated cycle that is difficult to break out of without professional help. When people struggle with addiction and mental health challenges at the same time, they are experiencing what is called a co-occurring disorder. Treating a co-occurring disorder is a very delicate process and may require the help of inpatient care.
The reason that treating co-occurring disorders is such a delicate process is that a treatment professional must make sure that neither of the disorders becomes worse as a result of treating the other. For example, they wouldn’t want someone’s struggle with alcohol addiction to worsen as a result of treating their depression. Inpatient care can help to provide the safe and supportive environment that the individual needs to recover and heal. It can also help make it all the more likely that the individual will follow through with treatment without experiencing a relapse.
At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we recognize that for a person to be able to enjoy long-term sobriety, they need support beyond just the detox process. They will need an ongoing treatment plan and continued guidance. Because of this, we offer individualized treatment plans, both holistic and evidence-based treatment methods, and relapse prevention strategies.
We believe that all of these things will help ensure that our clients have the best chance possible to enjoy a happy and healthy sober life.
Understanding the Connection Between Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
The connection between addiction and mental health disorders can be very complex. In many cases, people turn to drug or alcohol misuse as a way to cope with an undiagnosed or untreated mental health disorder. For example, this could be a condition like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or bipolar disorder. At first, it may seem as if substance use provides a little bit of relief.
However, any relief that the person experiences is only temporary. Once the influence of the substance wears off, the mental health problem will still be there, and it may be even worse. Nevertheless, many people get stuck in the cycle of self-medication and trying to avoid facing their symptoms. This is a very dangerous cycle.
Co-occurring disorders like these can be especially complicated because substance use can sometimes mask or even mimic psychiatric symptoms. For example, certain drugs can lead to symptoms like mood swings, paranoia, depression, anxiety, and even hallucinations. When this happens, it can be difficult to determine if the person is experiencing a psychiatric problem or if their symptoms are related to their drug or alcohol use. It can also cause the person even more anxiety and distress because they might not understand why they’re experiencing these things.
When someone is struggling with a dual diagnosis, integrated treatment is necessary. This means that both the mental health disorder and the addiction have to be treated simultaneously. Integrated treatment allows the person to heal fully and helps to prevent them from experiencing a potential relapse.
Recognizing Why Inpatient Care Is Such an Important Step in the Recovery Process
Inpatient care is a very important step in the recovery process because it provides a safe, supportive, and medically supervised environment for a person to begin to heal. Many people think that they would prefer to go through the detox process while in the comfort of their own homes. However, they may quickly find that this is a lot more difficult than they may have anticipated. This is because the withdrawal process can be a very difficult experience.
During the withdrawal process, many people will experience distressing and uncomfortable mental and physical side effects. What exactly these side effects are will depend on a few different factors. This includes the specific type of substance they’re detoxing from, how long they’ve been using that substance, and how much of that substance they have been using. Some of these side effects aren’t just uncomfortable but can actually be life-threatening.
Common withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Intense cravings for the substance the person is detoxing from
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Sweating, chills, or fever
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Body aches
- Depression
Identifying the Benefits of Having 24/7 Professional Support During Inpatient Care
Because withdrawal symptoms can be so severe, it is recommended that people go to inpatient care to receive treatment during the detox process. This is because inpatient care occurs under 24/7 medical supervision. Professional support like this can be life-saving if a person experiences a medical crisis while going through detox. Medical professionals can step in immediately, monitor the person’s vitals, and provide whatever treatment is necessary.
Even if a person might not be likely to face any serious medical complications during detox, they can still benefit from having professional support. During inpatient care, treatment providers can help to keep those going through detox as comfortable as possible. This can be done by administering medication that will help keep their withdrawal symptoms under control. The medical staff can also help to keep them hydrated and replace any vitamins they may become deficient in during treatment.
Some other benefits of having professional support during inpatient care may include:
- Getting emotional assurance whenever needed
- Being able to have mental health concerns addressed immediately
- 24/7 access to peer support, medical staff, and counselors
- Being able to identify co-occurring disorders as quickly as possible
- Having a controlled environment to detox in
- Being able to focus solely on one’s recovery without outside distractions
- Getting to enjoy a sense of community by connecting with other people in recovery
- Being able to foster a healthy routine that can help in recovery
- Having the best chance possible to avoid relapse
Evidence-Based Therapies That Can Help Promote Long-Term Recovery
At Profound Treatment, we utilize both a holistic approach and evidence-based therapies to help promote long-term recovery. Evidence-based therapies are backed by scientific research that shows that they can help support sobriety. There are a few different evidence-based options that we use for treating addiction at our facility. One of them is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT is a very common and popular form of treatment that involves working alongside a therapist to identify negative thought patterns or behaviors. From there, the individual can work on developing healthier and more productive habits. In addition to addiction, CBT can also help those who struggle with anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
One of the most important things that CBT can help someone with a co-occurring disorder is to identify their triggers. For example, are there specific emotions or circumstances that have caused them to turn to drugs or alcohol in the past? This could be excessive stress, overthinking, loneliness, or insecurity. Once the individual has identified these triggers, they can become more aware of them and can adjust to how they respond to them.
By working alongside a mental health professional, the individual can learn ways to avoid behaviors that may be self-destructive. They can also work on healthy coping mechanisms for stress and other negative emotions.
Another popular evidence-based treatment that can help someone with a co-occurring disorder is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This treatment method involves learning how to become more mindful and tolerant of distress. It also involves learning how to regulate emotions better and avoid impulsive behaviors. This can help someone to understand how to cope with difficult emotions without turning back to drugs or alcohol.
Understanding How Integrated Treatment Can Address Both Addiction and Mental Health Together
Because mental health and addiction are so closely intertwined, integrated treatment is critical in allowing for complete healing. Without integrated care, it is possible that someone with a co-occurring disorder will receive treatment for just one of their two disorders. This is a serious issue because their healing is not complete, and avoiding relapse will be difficult.
Integrated treatment allows for a more comprehensive approach to healing. With a treatment program like this, multiple professionals may work together to address both of an individual’s conditions simultaneously. They can then come up with an individual treatment plan that is tailored to these individual’s specific needs. This treatment plan may include multiple elements such as medical detox, counseling, medication management, and relapse prevention strategies.
With integrated treatment, professionals may include many different kinds of treatment to make sure that each aspect of the individual’s recovery is considered. This includes their mental, physical, and emotional well-being and is sometimes referred to as the whole-person approach to treatment. It allows the person to experience complete healing and sets the foundation for long-term recovery.
The Importance of Family Involvement and Support in the Healing Process
Family involvement and support play a critical role in the healing process of someone who is going through recovery. When someone is going through recovery, they are likely experiencing many different complex emotions at once. They need a strong support system that they can rely on to not only give them emotional encouragement but to hold them accountable.
When an individual is in a treatment facility, they have the support of staff members and their peers. However, when the time comes for them to leave the facility, they need to know they still have people that they can depend upon. For example, this could include providing everything from a ride to a counseling session or simply a listening ear. Most importantly, the individual needs to know that their family members support their sobriety and want to see them succeed.
Many family members of those who are in recovery want to do what they can to support their loved one but might not be sure of the best way to go about it. If they’ve never experienced addiction or a mental health disorder before, it might be difficult for them to relate. They may be worried about saying or doing the wrong thing. This is where family counseling can be extremely beneficial.
Family counseling provides a stable and encouraging environment where family members can address issues they may be experiencing. This is also a great way to improve communication while promoting greater compassion and understanding between family members. Family counseling can help ensure everyone is on the same page. It also helps family members to know the best ways that they can help support their loved one during their recovery.
Learning Coping Skills and Relapse Prevention Strategies During Inpatient Care
Developing good coping skills and learning strong relapse-prevention strategies is one of the most important parts of inpatient care. It is challenging to completely avoid negative emotions like stress. However, it is possible for people to learn to control the way they respond to stress by coping with it in a healthy and effective way. For those in recovery, this is critical in order to avoid relapse.
In the past, those in recovery from substance abuse may have made a habit of coming home from a stressful day at work and pouring themselves a drink to help them unwind. Now, in recovery, they must figure out different ways to cope with that stress without turning back to substance use. By working alongside a mental health professional, they can come up with a plan for what they’re going to do the next time they find themselves in this situation.
For example, maybe they’ll practice some mindfulness or meditation to help them calm down and center themselves. Maybe they’ll make time for some physical activity to release endorphins and de-stress. Other healthy coping mechanisms may involve things like journaling, listening to calming music, or even just spending quality time with a loved one.
In addition to learning healthy coping skills, relapse prevention strategies also involve making other plans for an individual’s future recovery. This may involve identifying what kind of continued treatment they plan to take part in to stay on track, such as 12-Step support group meetings. It may also involve learning to identify potential warning signs of relapse, practicing emotional regulation, and building a strong support system.
Understanding How Inpatient Care Can Lay the Foundation for Your Long-Term Recovery
To enjoy long-term recovery, you must start this journey on a strong foundation. Inpatient care can help you build that foundation by providing you with the structured and supportive setting you need to start the healing process. During inpatient care, you have the opportunity to dedicate yourself fully to your recovery without distraction. Inpatient care allows the chance to put your personal and professional obligations aside for a little while and prioritize your well-being.
This type of care also provides a chance to learn and develop skills that you’ll be able to use throughout the rest of your recovery journey. These things can help make the journey ahead of you easier and help you to feel more confident in your sobriety. Everything from individual counseling to peer support group meetings can help to set the stage for your long-term recovery.
Having a sense of community is critical, especially during the early days of recovery. Inpatient care can help provide this by allowing you to connect with other people who are going through the same things you are. Not only does this sense of community help to keep you accountable, but it reminds you that you’re not alone in this journey. There are many people who are navigating this process right alongside you.
Choosing the Right Treatment Program for Your Needs
If you’re currently struggling with a co-occurring disorder, you may be ready to seek professional treatment but don’t know where to start. At Profound Treatment, we offer many different treatment options in addition to inpatient care. If you would like to learn more about our treatment options, reach out to a member of our team today.
Struggling with addiction and a mental health issue simultaneously can be a very challenging experience. It may feel as if you’re trapped in a cycle that you just can’t seem to break free from. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness. If this is something you’re currently going through, the good news is that there is help available. At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, our dedicated staff has helped many individuals begin their recovery journeys and live more fulfilling lives. Through sobriety and mental health treatment, we can help you to begin to thrive while living the life you truly deserve. If you’re ready to get started, call (310) 340-2609 today.
(310) 929-9546
