Am I weak? Is there something wrong with me?
It’s easy to fall into the trap of blaming yourself or a loved one for a drug addiction. The reality, however, is that no one ever intends to get addicted. Though the path to addiction is different for every person, it’s generally the unintended result of self-medicating to escape emotional pain and trauma.
There is a direct correlation between emotional pain, mental health and drug addiction. Remember, addiction is a chronic brain disease that preys on mental health issues and emotional vulnerability, causing people to lose their ability to resist a craving.
By better understanding mental health, we can better treat those recovering from substance abuse and prevent others from becoming addicted. Below are a few statistics we’d like to share as part of Mental Health Awareness:
At JourneyPure Emerald Coast, we understand the challenges of dual diagnosis. Learning how to cope with a mental health disorder can help you end the cycle of addiction.
- One in five Americans has a mental health disorder. Whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, an estimated 43.8 million Americans experience a serious mental illness such as depression. Of this figure, 9.3 million had serious thoughts of suicide within the last year.
- 2.7 percent of young adults have an eating disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating affect 2.7 percent young Americans. This is particularly alarming, since individuals with an eating disorder are five times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol and since formative years are when a drug addiction is most likely to develop.
- Nearly 60 percent of adults with a mental disorder haven’t gotten treatment. Left unaddressed, mental health disorders such as depression, paranoia, anxiety or bipolar disorder can become life threatening. So why don’t people seek professional therapy and medical treatment? There are several factors at play: some are too embarrassed to admit they need help while others find excuses such as cost, lack of convenience or denial. In many cases, people might not even know they have a diagnosable mental illness.
- Mental illness accounts for 4 out of 10 disabilities in the United States. Mental illness can be debilitating – literally. As the mental disorder progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to function normally at work, home and with friends. The economic burden of disability as a result of mental illness hovers around $90 billion each year.
Anyone struggling with drug or alcohol abuse should be aware of the possibility of a dual diagnosis. Furthermore, if you suspect you have a co-occurring addiction and mental health disorder, it’s critical to seek professional treatment right away.
When a person experiences such extreme emotions, they often turn to drugs and alcohol to escape the stress. When an addiction is co-occurring with a mental health disorder, it’s known as a dual diagnosis. Since both disorders are intertwined and feed upon the other, they must be treated at once as part of a holistic drug or alcohol addiction treatment program.
At JourneyPure Emerald Coast, we understand the importance of treating a dual diagnosis. We are a leading drug and alcohol treatment facility in Panama Beach City, Florida with an emphasis on mental health and trauma.
Call our addiction counselors at (615) 907-5928 or contact us online today.
