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Last Updated:
November 6th, 2024
Mental health
Mental health disorders can turn life into a daily struggle, affecting everything from your mood to your relationships. For years, the importance of mental health often went unrecognised, but today, we are beginning to recognise just how crucial it is to our overall well-being. If you are battling a mental illness, it might feel like there’s no way out, but the truth is that recovery is possible with the right knowledge and support. Oasis Runcorn understands the challenges of mental health conditions and the close link that often exists between mental health and addiction. We have helped countless people overcome these co-occurring disorders and are here to help you, too.
What is mental health?
Mental health is the foundation upon which a productive, happy life is built. When you have good mental health, you feel balanced, connected and able to handle whatever life throws your way.
Mental health can affect how children and young people learn, build relationships and navigate the ups and downs of growing up. For adults, good mental health helps them manage stress, make important decisions and maintain healthy relationships.
Unfortunately, mental health can be very fragile, and we now understand that mental health disorders can affect anyone. One in four people will experience some form of mental illness at some point in their lives, while one in six people in the UK experience some form of mental disorder each week.
Signs and symptoms of mental health disorders to look out for
Mental health disorders can vary a lot in terms of symptoms and severity. Still, all must be taken very seriously, as the consequences can be life-altering and even life-threatening. Some of the most common mental health symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness or depression
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Mood swings
- Social withdrawal and loneliness
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Difficulty concentrating
- Resulting physical symptoms
- Irritability and anger
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- Substance abuse and addiction
What causes mental health conditions?
Mental health disorders often develop from a mix of different factors working together. The unique combination of these factors in each person can make both the symptoms and treatment of mental illness more difficult:
What is the link between mental health and addiction?
When you struggle with a mental health issue, it is common to turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope or find relief from the symptoms.
Unfortunately, this can create a vicious cycle where substance abuse worsens mental illness, which then leads to more substance use. Once this escalated use crosses the line to addiction; the co-existing mental health and addiction issues are called a dual diagnosis.
Dual diagnosis can make recovery very complicated, as treating addiction without considering the underlying mental health disorder that is fuelling it often leads to relapse down the line.
Common co-occurring disorders seen with addiction
ADHD and addiction
For those with ADHD, the constant mental chatter can be overwhelming. ADHD medicines and other substances can help to calm this nose, but they can also be highly addictive without medical supervision. Click to learn more.
Anger management and addiction
Anger can flare up in an instant, and when it does, some people turn to substances to cool down. But instead of extinguishing the flames, addiction fans them, leading to more intense and destructive outbursts.
Anxiety and addiction
Anxiety can gnaw away at you, making daily life a constant struggle. It can be tempting to seek relief in drink or drugs, but when addiction follows, it can chain you to a cycle of anxiety and substance abuse. Click to learn more about Anxiety and addiction.
Autism and addiction
Navigating a world that often feels overwhelming can drive some with autism to seek solace in substances. Unfortunately, addiction can add to the confusion and make symptoms even worse. Click to learn more about Autism and addiction.
Bipolar and addiction
The highs and lows of bipolar disorder can deeply impact mental and emotional health. Substance use may seem like a way to stabilize extreme emotions temporarily, but addiction often intensifies these challenges, creating cycles that can be harder to manage. Effective treatment is essential for recovery.
Borderline personality disorder and addiction
With BPD, emotions can feel like they are on a constant rollercoaster. Some people turn to drugs and alcohol to steady the ride, but instead, they are plunged into a destructive cycle of addiction.
Codependency and addiction
In codependent relationships, the line between helping and hurting can easily blur. When addiction also enters the mix, it can trap both partners in a toxic loop. This harmful pattern prevents healthy boundaries, ultimately making recovery and emotional stability more challenging. Support can help.
Depression and addiction
Depression wraps you in a suffocating fog, making it hard to see a way out. Alcohol and drugs can seem to offer a temporary escape but often pull you deeper into dark thoughts and feelings. Real support and healthy coping mechanisms are key to breaking free. Oasis Runcorn can help
Grief and addiction
Grief is an all-consuming pain, and for some, substance use can seem like the only way to numb it. However, addiction can add another layer of suffering, turning the process of mourning into a relentless struggle. Click to learn more about Grief and addiction.
Insomnia and addiction
Chronic insomnia can make a person desperate for any solution that provides rest and relief. Sleeping pills and other substances may provide temporary respite, but addiction can worsen sleep issues and create other serious problems.
OCD and addiction
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a never-ending loop of thoughts and rituals. Some seek relief through drugs and alcohol, but this only adds to the chaos, making it even harder to manage obsessions and compulsions.
PTSD and addiction
The haunting memories of PTSD can be unbearable, and substances might seem like the only way to silence them. But addiction doesn’t erase the trauma; it tightens its grip, making the road to recovery even more treacherous. Click to learn more.
Personality disorder and addiction
Personality disorders can make every day feel like a battle against yourself. Drugs and alcohol might seem like an ally in the fight, but dependency can quickly turn them into another enemy.
Schizophrenia and addiction
For those with schizophrenia, reality is often a frightening place. Substances might offer a brief escape, but addiction can greatly intensify the delusions and hallucinations. Click to learn more about dual diagnosis for Schizophrenia and addiction.
Self-harm and addiction
Self-harm is often a way to externalise internal pain, and drugs and alcohol may seem like a better way of coping. But addiction and self-harm feed off each other, creating a vicious cycle that deepens both physical and emotional scars.
Stress and addiction
When stress becomes too much to bear, substances can seem like a quick fix. But if you become reliant on drugs and alcohol, it can add more weight to an already heavy load. Click to learn more about dual diagnosis for Stress and addiction.
Suicide and addiction
When life feels unbearable, alcohol and drugs might seem like the only way to numb the pain. But addiction can push you closer to the edge, making the fight for survival even more desperate. Get help for yourself or a loved one today.
Dual diagnosis
Many of those struggling with addiction find themselves entangled in a web of underlying mental health issues. Substance abuse and mental health symptoms often work together to fuel and trigger each other.
What does treatment for mental health disorders involve?
Effective mental health treatment is about finding what works best for you. At Oasis Runcorn, we offer a variety of treatments to help you feel better and regain control of your life. If you are dealing with co-occurring disorders, our approach to dual diagnosis treatment makes sure you get the help you need for addiction while also learning how to manage mental health symptoms better.
Our rehab treatment programmes combine group therapy, individual therapy and holistic approaches so that every pathway to sobriety and better mental health is explored. We provide inpatient treatment, so you will stay with us in a supportive environment where you can focus entirely on your recovery. Being away from the stressors and triggers of everyday life gives you the space to heal and grow.
After you finish at Oasis Runcorn, we offer free weekly group therapy for the first year and membership to our Alumni Network for life. This is just as important as anything you do during rehab, as it helps you stay connected to the support system you built during your time with us.
Seek help today
Your mental health is the foundation of everything else in your life. Let Oasis Runcorn help you rebuild it stronger than before if it is cracked or crumbling. Our holistic approach to treatment is designed to heal not just your mind but your entire well-being. Connect with us today and start the rebuilding process.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click here to see works cited)
- Chowdhury, Madhuleena Roy, and Jo Nash. “What is the Mental Health Continuum Model?” PositivePsychology.com, 1 September 2019, https://positivepsychology.com/mental-health-continuum-model/. Accessed 28 August 2024.
- Hartney, Elizabeth. “DSM 5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders.” Verywell Mind, 4 June 2024, https://www.verywellmind.com/dsm-5-criteria-for-substance-use-disorders-21926. Accessed 28 August 2024.
- Mind. “Types of mental health problems.” Mind, https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/. Accessed 28 August 2024.
- National Institute of Mental Health. “Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health. Accessed 28 August 2024.
- SAMHSA. “What is Mental Health?” SAMHSA, 24 April 2023, https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health. Accessed 28 August 2024.
- UK Rehab. “Dual Diagnosis | Co-Occurring Disorders.” UK Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/mental-health/dual-diagonosis/. Accessed 28 August 2024.
