Addiction and mental health treatment can vary for all those in recovery. For instance, a person addicted to stimulants like cocaine might have different needs than a person addicted to depressants like alcohol or opioids.
In addition, each person has varying underlying causes for their addictive behaviors, including mental health disorders like OCD, anxiety or depression. That is why our treatment center in Lexington, Kentucky, offers individualized treatment plans to all our clients.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is not immune to the current rise in mental health and addiction issues in the United States. In particular, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect the people of Kentucky. Many people struggled to cope with the stress of the pandemic and the disruptions to everyday life. Some people turned to problematic behaviors like substance abuse to cope. Still, others had high levels of anxiety due to isolation and uncertainty, which might have turned into disorders like depression or anxiety.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) complied the following mental health statistics with data available on February 2021:
Addiction throughout Kentucky has also increased since the pandemic. In June 2022, Kentucky Health News reported the following:
These addiction and mental health statistics highlight the need for increased access to treatment throughout Kentucky. We treat all types of substance use and mental health disorders at our Lexington treatment center.
While alcohol is a legal substance in the US, its legal status does not make alcohol any safer than other drugs. In fact, alcohol addiction can lead to deadly long- and short-term consequences. For example, alcohol can cause injuries from car crashes or other accidents. In addition, long-term alcohol use can impair a person’s health, causing issues like liver disease or hypertension. Alcohol is also one of the most dangerous drugs to quit, as withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening.
Drug addiction often starts with experimenting at a young age, coping with underlying mental health issues, or developing a dependence on prescription drugs. No one intends to become addicted to drugs; however, some people are more likely to develop an addiction than others. At our Lexington treatment center, we help those struggling with addiction to drugs like opiates, benzos, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and others.
Underlying mental health disorders often co-occur with addiction. Sometimes, substance abuse causes a mental health disorder. Other times, a person uses drugs or alcohol to cope with symptoms of a mental illness. When a person has both substance use and mental health disorder, they have a dual diagnosis. We treat both conditions at the same time for the best outcomes in recovery.
Not everyone with a mental health disorder also has a substance use disorder. However, a person with a mental health condition is more likely to develop an addiction than the general population. And, since mental health and substance use treatment share many similarities, we also offer treatment for those with a primary mental health diagnosis.
Our team can treat some of the most common co-occurring mental health disorders that accompany addiction, including the following:
Bipolar disorder causes significant shifts in a person’s moods and behaviors. This disorder was formerly known as “manic-depressive disorder” due to the manic and depressive cycles that people experience. However, like most mental health disorders, symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from one person to another. Some people have intense manic cycles with increased energy and restlessness. Still, others shift from depressive moods to relatively stable moods. Regardless of the type, however, many people with bipolar disorder abuse drugs or alcohol to regulate their cycles.
Traumatic experiences can be the root cause of many mental health disorders, like anxiety and depression. However, sometimes, untreated trauma leads to a unique disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD causes symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, nightmares, and dissociation. At Lexington Addiction Center, we offer treatment specifically for trauma-related disorders like PTSD like EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and brainspotting. In addition, we use traditional therapies like CBT and exposure therapy.
Anxiety disorders can limit a person’s ability to live a normal life or achieve their goals. Some people have symptoms when faced with specific situations, like phobia-related anxiety or social anxiety. However, other people have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which impacts them throughout daily life. Many people with anxiety disorders use avoidance behaviors to cope with their symptoms. These avoidance behaviors can include substance abuse as a way of “numbing” themselves from feeling anxious.
Depressive disorders occur on a spectrum from mild to severe. Some people have a persistently low mood known as dysthymia. Others, however, struggle to get out of bed, eat, or complete any daily living activities due to depression. In addition, some people only have depressive symptoms during seasonal changes known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Untreated depression can lead to suicidal thoughts, ideations, and behaviors, which can cause severe injuries or death.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often considered a type of anxiety disorder due to several similarities in symptoms and avoidance behaviors to cope. However, OCD symptoms are caused by irrational internal beliefs or unwanted and intrusive thoughts. Two features characterize this disorder: compulsions and obsessions. A person with OCD will often complete ritualistic or nonsensical behaviors (compulsions) in an attempt to rid themselves of distressing thoughts (obsessions).
Whether you or your loved one has a mental health disorder, addiction, or both, Lexington Addiction Center is here to help. Our outpatient treatment professionals teach clients how to cope with substance use triggers and mental health symptoms in a healthy way. Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs in Lexington, Kentucky.
Phone
859-681-7823
Address
351 Burley Ave Lexington, KY 40503
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