The American Psychiatric Association defines mental illness as “health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.”
Anyone can suffer from mental illness, though it is most common in those with a family history of mental illness. The onset of mental illness can occur at any time during a person’s life; symptoms can begin to show during childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and in older age. However, the years between 18 and the late 20’s hold the greatest percentage of mental health diagnoses. The correlation between mental illness and addiction is undeniable; addiction affects one in three households in the United States.
Mental illness and addiction can be rooted in childhood development. Doctors have found that the emotional atmosphere in a child’s home wires the brain and how it grows. For a healthy brain to develop, a calm, connected, attentive, stress-free parenting environment is necessary. This wiring affects all of the brain’s circuits that are involved in addiction, from the opiate circuits, the self-regulation and emotional stress, to motivation and incentive circuits. The greater the early stress, trauma, and lack of a calm and supportive environment, the greater the risk a person has of developing an addiction and mental health issues. This is because those parts of the brain have failed to properly develop.
As doctors believe, stress and trauma must be acknowledged and gotten over in order to deal with addiction; this is many users’ experience. It doesn’t matter which problem arose first, all that matters is treating every single issue. It is only after you dive deep into your trauma, childhood, and stressors, that an addict is able to recover. Together with help from an expert, you can treat your mental illness also. After a period of time, your mental and physical health will be under control. Like with addiction, mental illness isn’t likely to disappear, as it requires lifelong management.
At Asana Recovery, we understand how difficult recovering from these addictions through our daily work to help those struggling most from this disease. While some may believe they can make it alone, rehabilitation programs are essential in the fight to break the dependency. The road ahead is not a smooth or easy one, but you can traverse it if done so with the support of the right team. Counseling and aftercare processes can assist you by addressing the psychological facets that led you to addiction and help you build a structure from which to better cope with life without succumbing to addiction.The supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs at Asana Recovery are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. We’re deeply committed to ensuring your long-term recovery and guiding you on your path to a healthier and happier future. There is no better time than now, and we’re always available to speak with you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
