Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of an individual required for a good living. It directly affects our moods and ability to cope with various challenges of life. Addiction of any kind is lethal and is greatly associated with mental health.
Addiction generates a strong response in the brain affecting the neurotransmitters. If you are a drug addict, the dopamine released in the brain to reduce the intensity of pain and give you temporary relief will enhance the cravings and hence, addiction is directly linked with mental health.
1. Types of addiction
Addiction affects the lifestyle of an individual and it is not an easy thing to get rid of. Generally, there are two types of addiction; chemical addiction and behavioral addiction.
- Chemical addiction involves the use of various substances.
- Behavioural addiction is related to certain behaviours that generate a strong desire to be practiced persistently even if there is no true benefit associated with them.
Addiction of all kinds has psychological involvement and to get temporary pleasures, one becomes severely dependent on addictive behaviors or drugs. People usually get addicted to various drugs and alcohol for several reasons. To avoid stress or get rid of loneliness, many people become alcoholics.
The main cause is the events leading to a disturbed mental state due to which people become drug addicts. Mental health must be prioritized under all circumstances to avoid any sort of addictive responses. There should be
2. Addiction’s effects on mental health
There are many disastrous effects of addiction that deteriorate mental health conditions. They can lead to serious consequences like:
- High blood pressure
- Liver and pancreas malfunctioning
- Complications in conceiving
- Lethal dependency
- Reduced motivation
- Anxiety and sudden mood shifts
- Lack of sleep
- Negativity
An addict not only remains disturbed but also affects his loved ones and the surrounding environment. If a drunk person is driving a car, there are tremendous chances of an accident. When the brain’s functioning is damaged, it affects every activity of that person and takes away his calm. The brain is the main controlling center of the human body and if it is not in a healthy state, the person is bound to have a destructive lifestyle.
There can never be an alternative to what natural health means to an alive body. No matter what medication you take, natural health cannot be recovered in the exact state once the damage is done. Therefore, being careful at the start is one of the fundamental requirements to lead a balanced life.
You must follow a healthy routine and avoid any sort of addictive behaviors to end up regretting later when it may be too late.
3. Worst Results of addictions
Addictions lead to an extreme craving for a reward and in the absence of that reward, the person can be subjected to trauma or even more disastrous outcomes. Take the example of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for euphoria that does not generate pleasure in the true sense.
Dopamine reinforces the association of the brain with certain things generating a strong craving for more of such feelings that induce relief. In certain cases, the person may end up committing suicide. People dealing with mental health issues require extreme care and attention.
The loss of a loved one, heartbreak, any stress associated with social factors, career problems, or family issues can make a person addicted to drug use. To avoid the sensation of pain, people may take medicines in excessive amounts or start drinking alcohol. Drug abuse leads to extreme psychological dependency making the brain malfunction and hence affecting the physical health also.
4. How to Control them?
The first step towards recovery is to admit that there is a problem. Most people do not admit that they need emotional support. Even the ones asking for it may end up being disappointed when no one pays enough attention.
Joining a rehabilitation center in times of addiction can be a very good step. One gets enough care and validation to feel heard and understood. Usually, the psychiatrists at rehab centers help the addict with coping mechanisms and guide them towards a healthy lifestyle.
Usually, rehab programs last for a duration of one week and can last up to 60-90 days depending upon the level of addiction, how long the patient has been addicted, how they react to medications, etc. Some rehab programs like those of alcohol treatment los angeles are outpatient programs, which means you can go on with the treatment without actually being at the rehab center all the time, thus, not disrupting your daily routine.
It can be really hard to get over addictive behaviors but once the courageous step in the right direction is taken, the process becomes feasible. The psychiatrists can communicate with the patient to bring him back towards recovery.
Since addiction of any kind whether it’s behavioral or chemical is associated with the brain, the supportive gestures by people can help the addict in a big way.
The need to validate one’s emotions is a must to get back to the recovery process. During the therapy, one must be confronted with factual information to let them understand what makes them feel better. They should be continuously reminded of the harms caused by the excessive use of drugs or any behavioral addiction.
There are great chances that the person may get back to addictive procedures during therapy. Therefore, he must be dealt with great care and attention. Exercises and meditational therapy also work to help people get rid of addiction.
Conclusion:
There is a direct relationship between addiction and mental health. Emotional and psychological disturbances induce cravings for a drug or persistent behaviors leading to severe addiction.
Emily Johnson
author, Contributing Writer
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