Stress is a natural response to challenging and potentially dangerous situations and can cause physical and psychological tension that leads to addiction. To cope with a stressful day, people may choose to use drugs or alcohol to feel better. Learning how stress and drug abuse are connected can be the first step toward managing stress and breaking free from drugs or alcohol. Dual diagnosis treatment can address both issues simultaneously, helping you achieve sustainable recovery.
Understanding Stress and Drug Abuse
Stress plays a big role in developing substance use disorders, often affecting how often and how much someone uses. People experiencing chronic stress may face a variety of physical and emotional challenges, such as:
- Physical symptoms – Headaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure, and heart disease
- Psychological symptoms – Worry, uneasiness, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating
Stress can play a big role in the development of substance use disorders and other emotional challenges. Over time, chronic stress can impact the brain’s chemistry, increasing vulnerability to depression and other struggles. For those turning to alcohol or drugs, it’s important to recognize how this can affect mental health, and there’s always support available to help navigate these challenges.
What to Know About Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders, which involve a mental health issue and a substance use disorder, influence and impact each other. For example, substance use can lead to depression or anxiety, and mental health struggles can sometimes lead to substance use. This cycle can be tough to break—withdrawals can cause stress and push someone to keep using, which only makes things worse. Over time, ongoing substance abuse can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, or even life-threatening.
Benefits of Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
One of the common triggers for drug abuse is stress, and a treatment program can benefit you in many ways. A co-occurring disorder treatment program treats both disorders simultaneously and uses behavioral therapy and medication to ease addictive symptoms.
Here are some of the benefits of treating co-occurring disorders:
Tailored Recovery Program
Therapists take the time to understand you, your unique challenges, and the reasons behind your high stress levels that may lead to drug use. They’ll work with you to create a personalized program tailored to your needs, combining medication-assisted treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings with behavioral therapy. Together, you’ll explore your stress triggers and develop healthier, more effective ways to manage and reduce stress.
Here are some of the therapies used in treating co-occurring conditions:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Relapse prevention therapy
- Mindfulness practices
- Family therapy
Therapists will help you develop a comprehensive set of skills to safely manage your symptoms and triggers to reach your sober goals.
Less Intense Withdrawals and Cravings
Patients who participate in medication-assisted treatment will experience fewer withdrawals and cravings, which allows patients to focus on healing and getting better. Medical staff will administer medications based on your plan and monitor you throughout the program. As your symptoms become more manageable, they will begin to taper you off the medication when it is no longer necessary.
Addiction withdrawals and cravings are only temporary, and most patients will be 100% drug-free by the end of the program.
A Stronger Support System
As you participate in group therapy, you will have a chance to bond with your peers and develop long-lasting friendships that will support you during difficult days. You can rely on each other when cravings return and help keep each other on a sober path.
Family members will also have a chance to work with a therapist to heal and create a stable and supportive home environment.
Join Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Today
The Ranch is a compassionate addiction treatment center near Nashville, dedicated to helping those facing both drug abuse and mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety. Our supportive dual diagnosis programs focus on healing both the mind and body through personalized behavioral therapy and medication. With group and private therapy sessions, you’ll gain the tools to recognize triggers and build healthy coping skills to manage them.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward healing, reach out to our caring team at 1.844.876.7680 today or use our easy online form to schedule a consultation. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
