Mind Matters: Exploring the Link Between Mental Health and Sobriety

Addiction affects millions of Americans each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people suffered from a substance use disorder in 2022.

Completing an addiction treatment program and achieving sobriety is a huge accomplishment. That said, you must continue to manage your addiction to prevent a relapse. A major part of that is maintaining good mental health.

Whether you have a mental health disorder or simply struggle with everyday mental health issues, it’s important to stay mentally healthy. Feelings like depression and anxiety can contribute to your likelihood of experiencing a relapse. Understanding the link between mental health and your recovery journey will increase your chances of long-term sobriety.

Understanding the Connection Between Mental Health and Recovery

Many people with substance use disorders also deal with mental illness. Having a mental health problem and an addiction is referred to as co-occurring disorders. According to SAMHSA, 21.5 million Americans have co-occurring disorders.

If you have co-occurring disorders, it’s important to maintain your mental health while you stay sober. If you relax on your mental health treatment, it could trigger you to relapse into drugs or alcohol.

Even if you do not have a diagnosed mental illness, maintaining your mental health is important. Everyone feels down or anxious at times, and these feelings could cause you to crave substances.

Common Relapse Triggers Related to Mental Health

To understand the importance of mental health in sobriety, it’s important to be aware of how it can lead to a relapse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that the addiction relapse rate is between 40 to 60%. While relapse is common, it does not have to be a part of your story.

Mental health is a huge contributor to addiction relapse rates. When you allow feelings like depression, stress, or loneliness to go unaddressed, you are more likely to begin self-medicating. Being aware of common mental health-related relapse triggers can help you develop healthy coping strategies ahead of time.

The common relapse triggers related to mental health include:

Stress

Every single person has dealt with stress at some point in their lives. Whether you are stressed because of your job, caring for children, or other aspects of everyday life, it is important to manage it. Allowing stress to go untreated can cause you to begin looking for unhealthy coping mechanisms, like drinking alcohol or doing drugs.

Social Isolation or Loneliness

When you are newly sober, losing some of your old friends is common. You might have to cut ties with people who are still engaging in substance abuse. Unfortunately, this can quickly lead to feelings of loneliness or social isolation.

Thankfully, there are a few ways to combat loneliness that are common during early recovery. You can become involved in support groups, giving you the peer support you need. Additionally, you can lean on family members or friends who are not associated with drug and alcohol abuse.

Negative Emotions

When you get sober, you will experience new feelings that were muted by substance abuse. For example, you might deal with guilt, shame, or even anger for the first time. Experiencing these negative emotions can be overwhelming when you used to self-medicate them with drugs or alcohol.

If you attempt to ignore these emotions instead of addressing them, you could be tempted to drink or use drugs. Instead, consider leaning on friends and family, engaging in talk therapy, or writing out your feelings in a journal.

Untreated Mental Health Conditions

Lastly, many people who get sober are unaware that they have a mental health condition. Oftentimes, symptoms of mental illness can be masked or confused with a substance use disorder. If you begin to notice that you are experiencing the symptoms of a mental health condition, you should seek support from a professional.

Leaving mental health conditions untreated could lead you to experience a relapse. It is common to be tempted to self-medicate with substances like alcohol or prescription medications. However, mental illnesses can be managed, allowing you to live a full and meaningful life in sobriety.

How to Improve Your Mental Health in Recovery

If you are struggling with your mental health in sobriety, there are tons of ways to help yourself feel better. First, if you believe you have a mental health condition, you should speak with a therapist about your treatment options.

If you find out that you are experiencing normal mental health issues that everyone faces, there are a few healthy coping mechanisms you can use. These include:

• Caring for your physical health with exercise and nutrition
• Sticking to a healthy sleep schedule
• Keeping a busy schedule that still allows time for self-care
• Leaning on friends and family for support and advice
• Seeing a therapist regularly
• Keeping a journal to track your mental health triggers
• Using coping mechanisms like breathing exercises and meditation to combat stress
• Making time for fun activities like sports, hanging out with friends, and trying new things like kayaking or painting

The best way to ensure you stay mentally healthy is to meet with a therapist regularly. One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that you have to have a mental illness to need it. In reality, therapy can be helpful for anyone, as it allows us to talk about emotions we need to work through.

Find Help for Mental Health and Addiction

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health and addiction, dual diagnosis rehab might be right for you. These programs can help you recover from co-occurring disorders and allow you to regain control over your life.

Once you complete treatment, you should consider transitioning into sober living. Staying in a sober home as you get back on your feet is an excellent way to ensure your sobriety in the long run. Contact New You Sober Living to learn more about our program.