Addictive behaviors often stem from unaddressed mental health issues. Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with mental health disorders. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “13.5 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 had both a substance use disorder and any mental illness in the past year.” West Coast Recovery Centers uses evidence-based treatments to help clients achieve emotional stability and learn the skills to maintain positive mental health. Clinicians understand the role of mental health in overcoming addictive behaviors.
What Is the Role of Mental Health in Recovery?
Substance abuse has a profound adverse effect on the brain and other body systems, impacting behaviors, thoughts, and emotional stability. Psychotherapy, psychiatry, and other mental health treatments provide people with the support and skills they need to stabilize their emotions and build healthier routines. A person’s ability to remain sober often hinges on their mental health and ability to successfully cope with stress.
Mental health impacts the following during rehabilitation and early recovery:
- Emotional stability
- Ability to focus and fully engage in treatment
- Willingness to engage in treatment
- Ability to manage symptoms and the side effects of SUD
- Positivity
- Self-worth, self-confidence, and self-efficacy
- Ability to function day-to-day
- Quality of life
- Relationships and social interactions
A client’s mental health and outlook on life directly impact how they react to treatment. How people feel about themselves and others influences their social connections, relationships with loved ones, and interactions with the clinical team. West Coast Recovery Centers encourages clients to prioritize positive mental health by participating in therapy and practicing self-care. In some cases, prescription medication or holistic therapies may help people manage mental health symptoms. Integrative care is often the best way to address mental health issues related to SUD.
Positive Mental Health Improves Treatment Outcomes
Mental health is one of the main focuses of addiction recovery treatment. Chronic substance abuse affects all areas of a person’s life and often causes co-occurring mental health issues to develop. Mental health treatment provides clients with the information and context they need to understand the effects of substances and how to address them using healthy coping skills.
Positive mental health improves treatment outcomes by doing the following:
- Reducing stress
- Improving emotion regulation
- Ensuring clients feel supported
- Educating clients on their condition and the realities of addiction recovery
Therapy and other forms of mental health treatment are not always necessary long-term. Some people may only need several weeks or months of therapeutic support before they feel confident maintaining positive mental health independently. Other individuals may need therapy or other forms of mental health support for years. West Coast Recovery Centers uses comprehensive assessments and screening tools to determine what mental health services may provide the most psychological support and emotional relief to clients in treatment.
Mental Health Reduces the Risk of Relapse
Some individuals with untreated mental health symptoms begin misusing substances as a form of self-medication. However, substance abuse only compounds the problem. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Although some drugs may temporarily reduce symptoms of a mental illness, they can also exacerbate symptoms, both acutely and in the long run.” Individuals in treatment may return to maladaptive behaviors, including substance abuse, unless they learn to manage underlying issues. Mental health treatments reduce the risk of relapse by addressing the root cause of addictive behaviors.
Some of the most common reasons people abuse substances include:
- Unaddressed trauma
- Issues related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Undiagnosed, untreated, or unmanaged mental health disorders
- Chronic illness, injury, or pain
- Family dysfunction
Mental health treatment reduces the risk of relapse by ensuring clients understand how these factors impact their mental health and the most effective ways to manage them during ongoing recovery.
How Does West Coast Recovery Centers Address the Role of Mental Health?
West Coast Recovery Centers helps clients address mental health issues using various therapeutic modalities.
Some of the clinical modalities used to treat addiction and co-occurring mental health issues include:
- Adventure therapy
- Activity therapy
- Art 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
West Coast Recovery Centers also support mental health through holistic and complementary therapeutic modalities, including:
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Sound bath therapy
- Mindfulness
Clients receive tailored mental health services to ensure the best possible outcome. Taking advantage of evidence-based and holistic therapies allows people to heal more quickly from the effects of substance abuse.
Maintaining Positive Mental Health After Treatment
Clients have better long-term outcomes if they maintain positive lifestyle changes after treatment. According to NIDA, mental health and “[b]ehavioral therapies help people in drug addiction treatment modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use.” Clients use therapy and other forms of mental health treatment during aftercare to reduce stress and maintain healthier routines and behaviors.
Maintaining positive mental health during addiction recovery provides people with the encouragement and guidance they need to continue growing and healing. The care team provides clients with referrals to therapists, self-help groups, community support programs, and other outside resources once they complete treatment and transition to aftercare.
Mental health plays a crucial role in overcoming addiction. Without positive mental health, clients have a higher risk of experiencing relapse or other complications during recovery from substance abuse. Many people with SUD have co-occurring mental health disorders requiring simultaneous treatment to ensure a successful recovery. Psychotherapy, peer support, family therapy, and other evidence-based treatments help clients heal and create healthier thought patterns and behaviors. West Coast Recovery Centers provides people with the tools they need to manage mental health issues and develop a healthier outlook on life and recovery. The care team is dedicated to ensuring clients have access to comprehensive mental health treatments. To learn more about our programs and services, call us at (760) 492-6509.