Everything you need to know about handling mental illness while sober.
By Irina Gonzalez | 7.22.20
Dear readers,
Mental health is a very difficult thing for most of us to talk about. In fact, some of us don’t even know that we have a mental health issue until we come face-to-face with a substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD). At least, that was the case for me — and I know the case of many others I met I rehab who also had a co-occurring disorder. For me, that was AUD and a generalized anxiety disorder. I spent most of my time in rehab for alcohol use disorder, sure, but I was also figuring out how to handle my new anxiety diagnosis.
And it turns out, I am not alone. Co-occurring disorders, also known as comorbidities, impact 7.7 million adults, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, they also report that 37.9% of those with a SUD also have a mental illness and 18.2% of those with a mental illness also have SUD. Thankfully, you can get help. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “these illnesses are common, recurrent, and often serious, but they are treatable and many people do recover.”
That is why we are creating this guide to mental health in recovery. This month, we are featuring stories about mental illness and recovery. There are stories about agoraphobia, skin picking disorder, and so much more. We know that you might feel alone as you venture down the long road of recovery from substance or alcohol use disorder and mental illness, but we’re here to show you that you’re not alone. And yes, many people do recover.
Happy Reading!
Irina
Courtesy of The Temper
https://www.thetemper.com/mental-health-in-recovery/
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