The word addiction is often used in vague ways by many people. However, it is something that is considered as a serious concern. Especially when it is connected to mental health, you need to deal with it properly. There are different ways on how addiction can be characterized. The features include craving, loss of control on the use of a substance and compulsion. Most people who are addicted do not really mind the consequences of their actions.
What Comes First: Addiction or Mental Illness?
The relationship between addiction and mental illness is also something that can be dependent on the situation. There are some people who would say that mental illness is caused by addiction. For some, they would say that mental illness is what drove people to addiction. It has to be considered that addiction is sometimes caused by people’s craving to achieve a certain state. In some instances, people who are experiencing mental torture due to some factors would resort to addiction. On the other hand, there are situations when the mental breakdown becomes a result of addiction. The best way to determine which came first is to individually diagnose patients.
What Types of Mental Illnesses Can be Treated at an Integrated Treatment Center?
There are different ways how people can achieve sobriety. But there is one unique system that can be beneficial for those who are going through addiction. The integrated treatment center, often called a dual diagnosis treatment center, provides a combined and comprehensive treatment for people who are experiencing both mental health and addiction issues.
Here are the different mental illnesses that can be treated at an integrated treatment center:
A Mood Disorder
Mood disorders come in different forms. The most common ones are major depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia. There are also those that are substance-induced and those that are caused by general medical conditions. When it comes to this condition, there are actually no clear causes but it can surely be dealt with accordingly with proper treatment.
An Anxiety Disorder
The feeling of fear and worry is something that is common among people. However, if it is already an extreme case, then it may fall under anxiety disorder. This may include panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, panic attacks, separation anxiety, and other phobias.
A Personality Disorder
When you talk about personality disorders, you can think of those specific behaviors that deviate from the norm. This is something that can be influenced or may have been brought by different experiences that a person has. The deviation may be something that is caused by problems and other stressors.
An Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are eating behaviors that are persistent and are already causing negative impacts on health. It may affect your ability to function and it can also have an effect on your emotion. As a bigger result, it may impact the different areas of your life. Anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders.
Treatment Options
There are different treatment options that you can take when it comes to mental health and addiction issues, ranging from free, government-subsidized treatment centers, all the way to luxury rehabs that feature state-of-the-art treatment methodologies. Here are the most effective ones:
Talking Treatments
There are people who are trained to assist in dealing with negative emotions and feelings. These people are the ones who are assisting in talking therapies. They can be very helpful in assisting someone who wants distress. The benefit of talking therapy is something that can be applied to mental health problems.
Medication
When it comes to dealing with the symptoms of mental health disorder, there are psychotherapeutic medications. You can be given meds that can help relieve your anxiety and panic attacks. There are also those that are available in dealing with behavioral disorders.
Alcohol and Other Drug Education
There are different programs that can help you deal with addiction, with lengths that vary from 30 days to 90 days and even 1 year. Alcohol and other drug education may come as a program that is formatted according to your needs. With the help of trained professionals, you will be able to get the needed knowledge and assistance to deal with drug and alcohol addiction. Programs under this are usually coupled with intellectual and moral development plans. Alcohol addiction treatment generally begins with alcohol detox and continues from there.
Behavioral Counseling
Behavioral counseling is facilitated by a professional who is an expert in the field. This is a holistic approach that can help you release and also learn to let go of bad habits. Behavioral therapy is something that is usually used to deal with mental health disorders. If you have unhealthy and self-destructive behaviors, this can be very helpful for you.
The need to deal with mental health issues and addiction must be done immediately. But you do not have to do it alone. There are different treatments that can be provided by professionals. You do not have to do it all by yourself. It may be really hard for most people especially for those who are into addiction. This is why you need to consult a professional for you to be able to know the best treatment that will work for you. The best option usually depends on the specific condition that you have. This is something that is determined by a correct diagnosis.
