Many people with substance use disorder (SUD) have dual diagnosis or multiple co-occurring mental health disorders. Treatment programs help clients improve their mental health and achieve emotional stability. According to Alcohol Health and Research World, some studies “demonstrated that both disorders must be addressed if the dually diagnosed patient is to have the best chance for a good outcome. The best type of treatment program is an integrated approach, assuring that treatments will be coordinated for best effect.” West Coast Recovery Centers helps clients nurture positive mental health using personalized treatment plans and integrative care.
How Does Positive Mental Health Affect Physical Recovery From Addiction?
Many factors, including mental health, determine a person’s overall physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Chronic substance abuse has a significant effect on many body systems, including the brain. Chemical changes caused by repeated substance abuse have the potential to cause physical, cognitive, and psychological problems. Often, behavioral and mood changes caused by substance abuse are successfully treated using a combination of psychotherapy, social support, and prescription medications. Mental health services ensure clients feel comfortable and focused on their recovery.
According to the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, “Carefully conducted research shows that positive health assets . . . predict good health.” As the journal notes, a few positive health assets people use to improve overall wellness include:
- Positive emotions
- Life satisfaction
- Optimism
- Forgiveness
- Self-regulation
- Vitality and zest
- Life meaning and purpose
- Helping others and volunteering
- Good social relationships
- Spirituality and religiosity
Co-occurring mental health disorders have the potential to complicate early recovery and treatment. West Coast Recovery Centers tailors treatment plans to ensure clients access the services they need to reduce negativity and manage side effects related to SUD or dual diagnosis. Everyone has strengths and areas they can improve to build positive mental health. Clinicians collaborate with clients to discover the best way to address various issues related to mental health.
3 Ways to Achieve and Maintain Positive Mental Health
Each person responds to SUD and treatment differently. Some people may experience severe anxiety, stress, or depressive symptoms, while others may have the social support, resilience, and coping skills necessary to overcome challenges without experiencing significant side effects. Most individuals fall somewhere in the middle. Clients benefit from mental health treatment and support services during rehabilitation.
Furthermore, below are three ways clients achieve and maintain positive mental health while recovering from substance abuse:
#1. Individual and Group Therapy
Clients spend much of their time in group and individual therapy sessions, finding healthy ways to process and heal from the effects of SUD. As stated in Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “The natural propensity of human beings to congregate makes group therapy a powerful therapeutic tool for treating substance abuse, one that is as helpful as individual therapy, and sometimes more successful.”
Individual and group therapy provides people with the following:
- A safe space to explore self-expression
- Social support from peers with shared life experiences
- Skill development and access to essential therapeutic tools
- A low-stress environment for practicing coping skills
Most clients report group therapy as one of the most helpful and healing aspects of addiction recovery. Every client has an opportunity to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Discussing the impact of SUD with people who have shared life experiences builds trust and confidence. West Coast Recovery Centers encourages clients to practice social and coping skills during group therapy and other peer activities.
#2. Therapeutic Tools of Positive Mental Health: Journaling and Affirmations
Mental health is often improved by focusing on more positive aspects of life. Small daily activities, including journaling and affirmations, help clients recognize and celebrate progress in recovery. Expressing emotions through writing and reading positive messages improves overall mental health by increasing self-awareness and mindfulness.
#3. Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Self-Care
Self-care is one of the most critical aspects of mental health treatment and addiction recovery. According to the International Journal of Nursing Sciences, self-care is “the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance in order to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being.”
Some examples of self-care include:
- Prioritizing overall health by eating nutritional meals, getting quality sleep each night, and staying active
- Spending time with loved ones, friends, and members of the community
- Taking the time to spend a few minutes in quiet meditation or contemplation each day
- Setting clear boundaries to reduce stress and build healthier relationships
Self-care looks different for everyone. The clinicians at West Coast Recovery Centers help clients determine what forms of self-care will best support their recovery.
Mental Health Services at West Coast Recovery Centers
West Coast Recovery Centers offers a range of evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies to individuals in treatment.
Some of the evidence-based therapeutic modalities offered to clients at every level of care include:
- Adventure therapy
- Activity therapy
- Anger management
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Experiential therapy
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
- Music and art therapy
- Relapse prevention education
- Somatic experiencing
The clinical team also provides clients with holistic therapies, including yoga and meditation. A combination of therapeutic approaches often provides the best results for individuals in treatment. Positive mental health is about recognizing areas that need improvement and finding healthy solutions. The compassionate recovery experts at West Coast Recovery Centers have the training and experience to help people improve their overall well-being and mental health.
Individuals must maintain positive mental health after achieving sobriety to avoid experiencing relapse or other potential side effects of addiction. Positive mental health allows clients to feel more in control of their emotions and better able to cope with unexpected stressors. Mental health services and treatments at West Coast Recovery Centers, including psychotherapy, peer support, and prescription medications, help clients manage their condition more effectively. Treating mental health symptoms during rehabilitation for substance abuse prepares clients to address their mental health outside of structured care. Clients return home after completing treatment better able to cope with their disorder and everyday life situations. To learn more about our programs and services, call us today at (760) 492-6509.