Mental Health Disorders
It’s the other half of physical health and every bit as important to your well-being…and yet, we’re not nearly as eager to talk about our mental health. Fewer conditions affect our mental health more than substance use disorders (SUDs).
Which is a shame, because SUDs are essentially mental health disorders. Addictive substances chemically rewire the brain, teaching the body that it needs drugs to function normally. Also, substance use disorders are often accompanied by serious mental health disorders like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), creating a complex issue known as a co-occurring disorder.
As complex as these conditions are, they’re treatable. At Discovery Addiction Centers, our team strives to heal you in both mind and body.
What are Mental Health Disorders?
Mental health disorders are a very wide family of disorders that affect the way a person feels, thinks, and sees themselves and the world around them. Like other chronic conditions, these treatable disorders have physical and mental symptoms.
Mental health disorders include:
- Mood disorders, which affect your moods, such as: major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Anxiety disorders, which makes you feel intense fear and dread, such as: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder
- Trauma disorders, which make you relive the trauma you’ve survived, such as: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder
- Personality disorders, which affect the way you view yourself and others
Left untreated, mental health disorders can be genuinely devastating. Their intrusive symptoms can make daily functioning all but impossible, interfering with the simplest daily tasks.
Worse, mental health disorders can send a person to addictive substances for relief…and even cause them to harm themselves.
There isn’t a “cure” for mental health disorders. However, like other chronic conditions, the symptoms of mental health disorders can be carefully managed, allowing you to live a happy, fulfilling life.
What are the Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders?
There are many different types of mental health disorders, and they all have their own distinct symptoms. That said, there are some common symptoms most people experience.
If any of these seem familiar, you may be struggling with your mental health:
- Persistent low moods and/or sadness
- Difficulty concentrating and/or confused thoughts
- Feeling extreme fear or worry with no good reason
- Feeling like you’re detached from your body or reality
- Experiencing intense paranoia, delusions or hallucinations
- Suicidal ideation
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Avoiding social situations
- Extreme mood swings
- Substance use problems
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits, or both
What Causes Mental Health Disorders?
Although the exact cause of mental health disorders isn’t fully understood, they seem to emerge from a complex mix of social, biological and psychological factors.
Social Factors
Long-term stress, isolation and loneliness can all contribute to the development of mental health disorders. Substance use is also a major contributing factor; drugs and alcohol can make the symptoms of mental health disorders much worse.
Biological Factors
Brain chemistry plays a huge role in mental health disorders. Also, exposure to drugs, infections, and toxins in the womb can be a factor in mental health disorders. Finally, there seems to be a genetic role in how mental health disorders develop in some.
Psychological Factors
Surviving trauma and abuse often lead to trauma disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Am I at Risk of Developing a Mental Health Disorder?
Certain conditions and situations can make the development of a mental health disorder far more likely:
- Having a close relative or parent with a mental disorder
-
Having a substance use disorder
- Having experienced physical injury to the brain
- Surviving trauma, especially in childhood
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Undergoing stressful life events, like the loss of a loved one,
divorce, joblessness and more - Living with long-term chronic conditions like cancer
That said, mental health disorders are treatable…and respond
well to treatment.
How are Mental Health Disorders Treated?
At Discovery Addiction Centers, we use a unique, measurement-based approach to help our patients heal and grow. Proven, effective forms of treatment like talk therapy, group therapy and more help our clients recognize their stressors, manage their symptoms and live lives where they’re in control.
Our treatment allows us to accurately tailor our programs to our patients’ needs, no matter where they are in their recovery journey. We do this by carefully analyzing 27 distinct wellness indicators, including their physical and mental health, social influences, and more.
Treatment doesn’t stop after you complete our programs. We’re proud to offer Discovery365™, our exclusive recovery platform. Discovery365 uses proprietary AI technology to help you recognize when you need support, avoid relapses and more. Provided at no cost, it’s your recovery companion for up to a year after you finish your stay with us.
Because nothing is as important as the rest of your life.
Struggling? We’re in Your Corner
Mental health disorders can be incredibly difficult to live with…and dangerous if left untreated. However, they’re also highly treatable.
Discovery Addiction Centers understand the connection between mental health and substance abuse. Our effective, measurement-based treatment programs will help you identify the roots of your issues, explore them safely, and give you the life you deserve.
You’re not alone. Reach out today to learn more.
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