Young man against background of a city struggling with psychological disorders as well as addiction.Psychological disorders can be hard to live with. If someone has a psychological disorder and an addiction, they’re going to have compounded problems. Addiction usually intensifies the symptoms of mental illnesses which can make daily life challenging or even unbearable. There is a treatment for addiction and mental illness, but it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you’re not sure how addiction and mental illness are linked.

Why Does Addiction Intensify Psychological Disorders?

Addiction and psychological disorders cause changes in the same brain chemicals.

Neurons are in every part of the brain. In order to talk to other neurons, one has to release a chemical that carries a message. When they work properly, these chemicals help a person determine when they’re hungry, when they need sleep, what they’re feeling, and other messages that are important in day-to-day life. When they don’t work correctly, there’s either a build-up or a lack of certain chemicals, which is what causes psychological disorders such as:

  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • General Anxiety Disorder
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

When someone abuses an addictive substance, chemicals flow into the brain, overflow receiving neurons, and give the user a sense of pleasure. But fewer and fewer chemicals will flow into the brain each time a substance is abused. When someone develops an addiction, they’ll feel like they need the drug to feel normal because the brain no longer creates the necessary brain chemicals on its own. If there’s already an imbalance as well as a psychological disorder, symptoms of the disorder will get worse as substance abuse is continued.

Should Psychological Disorders And Addiction Be Treated At The Same Time?

Treating mental illness and a substance abuse simultaneously is really important. Some people start abusing substances in order to cope with their psychological disorders. Without that coping mechanism of self-medication, patients are taught other mechanisms to cope without using any mind-altering chemical. On the other hand, addiction adds to the negative symptoms that people with psychological disorders experience, which makes mental illness treatment alone a challenging, if not impossible, process.

It’s possible to get addiction and mental health treatment at the same time. Some addiction treatment centers offer dual diagnosis treatment programs. These programs pair patients with therapists and psychiatrists that help them identify their mental health issues. They also teach clients new coping mechanisms and prescribe medications if needed. These therapists are also addiction counselors who know the modalities best used to treat both addiction and mental illness.

Dual diagnosis programs are the most effective at treatment centers that offer individualized care. Everyone experiences addiction and mental illness differently. Because of that, treatment programs are customized to help clients with their individual needs. Treatment centers that offer individualized care have adaptable programs that target the problems that you experience, which makes the recovery process more fulfilling for you in the long run.

Treatment For Psychological Disorders And Addiction Starts With Detox

Drug detox is the first step in addiction recovery. If you have a psychological disorder, detox may be very difficult. The symptoms of your psychological disorder will surely exhibit and worsen as you go through withdrawal. Going through detox at a treatment center which specializes in dual diagnosis is the safest option for you.

Serenity House Detox & Recovery can help you through the detox process. At our Florida detox centers, we offer individualized care and comprehensive detox therapies that will help you start your recovery right. We do this by providing you with programs that help you heal in body, mind, and spirit. Our goal is to prepare you for an inpatient rehab center, or whatever next stage of treatment is right for you.

You don’t have to live with addiction and mental illness. Treatment for both is an option. Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery at 866-294-5306 to start your full-person recovery today.