Mental Health and Addiction Treatment in Florida

The Connection Between Mental Health and Addiction

When an individual struggles with both a mental health disorder and an addiction, dual diagnosis treatment is necessary to overcome the illness. Mental health and addiction treatment in Florida can help patients successfully overcome and manage their conditions. 

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

Can Mental Health Issues Lead to Addiction?

When an individual struggles with a mental illness, they may self-medicate and take drugs or alcohol to suppress the symptoms of the disease. In turn, this can lead to addiction as the substances that are being abused are used very frequently. 

WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab offers all levels of care throughout residential mental health treatment as well as outpatient treatment. Addiction and mental health disorders can be brought to the forefront and adequately managed through a tailored individual therapy program for those struggling with comorbidity. 

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Can Addiction Cause Mental Health Issues?

Mental health issues can cause addiction. Because addiction changes the brain’s chemical makeup, it can have adverse effects. Co-occurring mental illness is common in those who struggle with mental illness and addiction, and addiction can exacerbate mental illness or cause it. 

Common Risks Factors for Both Mental Health and Addiction 

There are several common risk factors for mental health and addiction. These include:

• A family history of mental illness
• Genetic factors
• A family history of addiction 
• Past unresolved trauma
• Poor access to services 
• Easy access to drugs and alcohol
• Peer pressure 
• Early use of drugs and alcohol 

Different forms of therapy such as a behavioral therapy program, anxiety treatment program, partial hospitalization, dialectical behavior therapy, substance abuse treatment, family therapy, and treatment for a possible personality disorder are approaches that can help patients. 

How Many Addicts Also Have a Mental Health Disorder?

According to the Help Guide, “Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse,” and “37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.” Patients must undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if their addiction’s root cause and driving force is an underlying mental health disorder. 

An individual therapy program at WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab can help patients manage their disorders. When the root cause of the addiction is treated, such as a mental illness, patients will have a solid foundation for recovery. 

What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual diagnosis treatment is designed to treat those who have a substance use disorder (SUD) as well as a mental health disorder. Some common mental health disorders include:

• Clinical depression
• Generalized anxiety
• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Schizophrenia 
• Bipolar disorder 
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

Combining the two conditions makes for a more complex disease and requires intensive treatment. Patients will meet with a primary therapist multiple times per week during their dual diagnosis treatment, where they will learn how to cope with their disorder. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is often used to stabilize patients to prepare for their inpatient addiction treatment program.

Signs of Dual Diagnosis

If you suspect that you or a loved one displays signs of dual diagnosis, there are specific symptoms to look out for. Some of these include:

• Realizing that you should be cutting back on drinking alcohol or using drugs
• Is your mood affected negatively when you aren’t under the influence?
• Do you underestimate the number of drugs or alcohol you use?

It’s essential to look out for signs and symptoms of a co-occurring mental health disorder, as if it goes untreated, the symptoms can become exacerbated. The best way to manage substance abuse and mental health disorders is through personalized individual therapy modalities. 

Treatment for Mental Health and Addiction at WhiteSands 

Mental Health and addiction treatment in Florida can help you make a long-lasting recovery. The facility offers programs for substance abuse and mental health treatment. Once patients meet with an intake specialist, what sort of therapy program is best for them will be determined.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder and mental health disorders, dual diagnosis treatment programs can help. Florida mental health treatment programs are designed to help patients manage and overcome their struggles. Call our intake team today to learn more about our addiction treatment centers in Florida.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.