When a person is in the midst of addiction, the physical effects can be hard to miss. Friends or family members notice that a person may have lost a significant amount of weight or their teeth are starting to fall out. Once loved ones see these signs, their concern begins to grow. The mental toll of addiction, however, is much more difficult to identify.
At Arkview, we believe that mental health treatment should be at the core of any addiction treatment program. Our treatment team provides a wide range of mental health treatment services as a component of our addiction treatment programs. If you or someone you care about is struggling with both addiction and a mental health issue, Arkview’s mental health treatment center provides high-quality care for addiction and mental health.
Mental Health and Addiction
Mental health disorders are often the main underlying cause of drug and alcohol addiction. People may abuse drugs or alcohol as a method of self-medication to cope with the symptoms of a mental health disorder. This often occurs when someone is suffering from a mental health disorder and doesn’t have access to adequate treatment. When someone is self-medicating to deal with a mental health disorder, this is known as a co-occurring disorder.
When someone is being treated for a co-occurring disorder, the treatment plan usually involves an emphasis on individual therapy sessions, in addition to other addiction therapy options. Addiction symptoms and mental health symptoms can make both conditions worse. Drug or alcohol abuse can also worsen a person’s physical health, which can lead to other consequences that make treatment harder for this subset of patients.
Researchers have found that about half of individuals who experience an addiction to drugs or alcohol during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. Common co-occurring disorders can include:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Personality Disorders
When the treatment of co-occurring disorders is part of an addiction treatment plan, there is a higher chance of long-lasting recovery for those involved.
Mental Health Treatment at Arkview
At Arkview, mental health treatment services are the foundation of effective addiction treatment. Treating the physical effects of addiction is an essential part of recovery. However, if only the physical effects of addiction are treated, a person will most likely return to their drug or alcohol abuse. It is imperative that past trauma and mental health disorders are properly treated by licensed therapists for an addiction treatment program to be successful. Our therapists have years of training to help people heal the underlying mental health issues that may be the root cause of addiction. Also, our therapists teach healthy coping skills that do not involve drug or alcohol abuse so the people can deal with the inevitable stress and pressure of life. This comprehensive approach to addiction treatment is one of the reasons that Arkview recovery is a leader for mental health treatment in Pennsylvania.
