Substance Abuse Preventions
Substance abuse preventions typically begin in the home. That’s to say, children who see parents or other caretakers commonly using drugs are more likely to begin using drugs themselves. This is referred to as a risk factor for addiction. Unfortunately, thousands of parents in this country self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. As a result, their children learn to do the same.
It’s a depressing statistic, but there’s good news, too. By diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, we can provide effective substance abuse prevention. For this reason, if you know someone who struggles with a mental health condition, encourage them to seek diagnosis and treatment today.
Signs of Mental Illness
Common forms of mental illness in the United States include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- Eating disorders
These conditions and others like them affect millions of people every year, and they’re all risk factors for addiction. If you love someone who struggles every day with their mood or behavior, it’s quite possible they have an undiagnosed mental health condition. Consequently, signs and symptoms of mental health disorders include:
- Prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts
- Unexplained mood swings
- Unreasonable fears of ordinary things, such as leaving the house or going to a party
- Sleeping too much
Some of these signs are easy to spot in family members and friends, especially if you live together under the same roof. Others, however, may be kept well-hidden. For this reason, it’s important to keep lines of communication open with loved ones if you suspect they may need help. This is the best way to provide effective substance abuse prevention.
Finding Help For Mental Illness
Help is readily available for anyone who struggles with a mental health condition, but it’s vital to seek a diagnosis. Generally speaking, once there’s a name for the condition, it becomes more manageable and less scary. Fear of the unknown, after all, is a powerful deterrent to seeing a mental health professional. But there should be no shame in discovering that you or your loved one has an emotional problem that requires professional treatment.
The following are some of the types of treatment one can expect for mental health disorders:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Individual therapy
- Group and family therapy programs
- Dual diagnosis treatment program for co-occurring disorders
Approximately 1 in 5 adults in America suffer from some sort of mental illness. Consequently, this includes millions of people just like you. They’re good people who only want to function and thrive. They want to be good community members and better parents. To clarify, they want to work and live and relax in peace, but they have a medical condition that interferes with this, and there’s no shame in being sick. Fortunately, we can provide suitable substance abuse prevention if we act before drug use takes over.
Contact Five Palms Today
At Five Palms, we’ll introduce you to a new way of life. Using a variety of evidence-based therapies, we’ll help you add structure and purpose to each new day. At Five Palms, you’ll learn to express yourself through art, music, and conversation. You’ll enjoy skill-building activities, and you’ll find needed support from enthusiastic peers who are experiencing the same confusing feelings as yourself.
If you or your loved one needs intervention in a life that’s not working out the way you wanted, a stay at Five Palms can literally change the direction of your life. Contact Five Palms today at 1.844.675.1022 for an initial assessment. Our friendly and experienced treatment specialists can help you recover from substance abuse and mental health disorders.
