Why Should Someone Seek Professional Help for Issues Related to Mental Health?

Mental health has been a buzzword in recent years, and for good reason. With continued research, the scientific community is constantly learning how mental health has a significant impact on nearly every area of our life: from physical health to relationships, to how individuals interact within the community.

Oftentimes, mental health issues are buried deep beneath damaging coping mechanisms. A prime example of mental health disguised as “negative behavior” is addiction and substance abuse. At Drug Rehab Ohio, we make it a priority to treat the whole individual. This means we uncover the core cause behaviors in order to understand what is at the root of the addiction. It is only then can we provide adequate professional support that allows the individual to not only overcome addiction but to provide positive coping strategies for the associated mental illness. The combination of treatment for both addiction and mental concerns is known as Dual Diagnosis treatment.

At times, it can be challenging to determine if what you or a loved one are experiencing is simply a rough patch or a sign that professional help is needed. Read on to discover if it is time to make the first step in healing with professional mental health treatment in Ohio.

Sign 1: Your Mental Health Problems Interfere with your Physical Health

It is no secret that struggling with mental health issues can take its toll on your body. Side effects of severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD often go hand in hand with the side effects of addiction.

Physical side effects of co-occurring disorders may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Paranoia/anxious movement
• The abrupt change in moods
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting

If you are regularly experiencing any of the above-listed symptoms, your mental health could be greatly impacting your physical health and it is time to seek help.

Sign 2: Your Coping Mechanism Interferes with your Relationships

Dual Diagnosis is incredibly common in the addiction world because misuse of drugs and alcohol can serve as a seemingly effective solution for combatting the symptoms of mental illness. However, most come to realize that this method of coping not only impacts their own lives but has a negative impact on the lives of those around them.

If you notice the following challenges in your relationships as a result of your mental illness or how you cope with the symptoms, it is time to seek help from a mental health professional.

Effects of substance and abuse and mental illness on relationships:

• Unable to maintain healthy relationships
• Distancing oneself from friends and colleagues
• Seeking out new experiences or friends who prioritize substance use
• Lying or hiding details of your life to friends and family
• Loved ones have expressed concern about your substance use or mental health

It is a natural defense mechanism to distance healthy relationships from your mental health issues or associated coping mechanisms. However, it is often these relationships that encourage individuals to seek help. If you notice strain in your relationships due to your struggles with mental health, it is time to get help from a professional.

Sign 3: Your Mental Health Conditions Interfere with your Community

At Drug Rehab Ohio, we believe that the community is an integral part of the journey to recovery. It inspires individuals to believe in something bigger than themselves, promotes responsibility, and provides a resource for individuals that encourages overall wellness and self-betterment.

However, those who struggle with mental health problems or addiction habitually remove themselves from their network during the time when community support is needed the most.

Signs of community withdrawal as a result of mental health struggles include:

• The inability to maintain meaningful employment
• Loss of interest in participating in a broader network (volunteer activities, social events, etc.)
• Refusal to participate in activities the individual previously enjoyed

Getting Professional Mental Health Services

Many individuals experience negative physical symptoms, relationship tension, and withdrawal from the community as a result of their mental struggles, and Dual Diagnosis programs provide a way to address these aspects in a professional setting.

Dual Diagnosis treatment includes:

• Guidance from addiction support groups and a supportive community
• Access to medical assistance, addiction specialists, psychiatric specialists, and substance abuse counselors
• Creation of a daily routine with a priority on mental and physical health and recovery
• Formation of new relationships that help support your addiction recovery
• Elimination of negative relationships from your life that may tempt your addiction and hurt your chances of recovery
• Support in a healthy environment away from distractions with daily substance abuse treatment to build consistency

If you or a loved one is considering whether or not it is time to seek professional help for their addiction associated with mental illness, Drug Rehab Ohio is here to guide and support you on this journey. You are not alone and our Dual Diagnosis program can help you navigate mental illness and develop positive coping mechanisms for a lifetime of sobriety.