FAQs

It is not easy to broach the subject of mental health with someone who is struggling with the negative effects of an untreated mental health disorder, with or without a co-occurring substance abuse problem. In some cases, one of the disorder’s symptoms may be that the person does not recognize the problems for what they are but views others as the source of the issue. This makes it more difficult to connect the person with treatment and puts many families in a predicament when it comes to helping a loved one heal.

In dire situations – for example, when people are demonstrable threats to their safety or that of others – it may be possible to enforce an involuntary treatment hold. Laws vary by state and procedures must be followed carefully.

In other situations, if there is a hope that the person will see reason and experience clarity in deciding how best to manage the problem of co-occurring disorders and proceed with treatment, then an intervention can be a helpful method to connect a loved one with treatment. Families are encouraged to:

•  Handpick a few concerned, balanced family members who are all united in their goal of helping the person enroll
 in treatment.

• Hire a professional family mediator (e.g., an interventionist) to manage the event and ensure it goes smoothly.

• Enroll the person in treatment in advance to ensure that that person can immediately begin treatment after
 the intervention.

• Remain calm, nonjudgmental, and focused solely on helping the person recognize the need for immediate treatment.

Yes. Genetics plays a role in the development of a mental health disorder. First, a person’s genes may make that person more likely to experience mental health symptoms like depression or anxiety or to develop a personality disorder if a parent, sibling, or grandparent also struggles with the disorder. Second, being raised in a family in which one or more members is living with an untreated mental health disorder may cause someone to learn those behaviors and be less likely to recognize the need for treatment later.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur when someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic experience. The symptoms can be avoidant (e.g., causing the person to want to avoid anything that triggers memories of the event), aggressive or negative, and intrusive on the person’s ability to function in day-to-day life. Treatment may vary based on the symptoms experienced, however, they often include some combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Guided eye movements combined with a
  retelling of the trauma event can help diminish its power and decrease the negative symptoms experienced by
 the client.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This talk therapy style helps clients recognize the patterns they exhibit in response
 to different events and situations and assists them in altering those patterns with shifts in perspective.

• Support groups: Meeting regularly with others to share experiences and tips can benefit all involved.

• Exposure therapy: Being exposed to some aspect of the trauma can help to minimize the power of the event and put
      control back into the hands of the client.

Though medications may play an important role in recovery from a mental health disorder because they aid in the management of symptoms, they are not the only option in mental healthcare. In fact, for many, they play a steadily decreasing role in recovery as they progress and grow through treatment. Each person is different and will be differently impacted by the specific mental health disorder in combination with drug or alcohol abuse and addiction, and thus different therapies and treatments will make sense in different situations.

However, in general, options may include:

• Cognitive and behavioral therapies
 

• Support groups


• Family therapy


• Yoga


• Exercise


• Meditation


• Acupuncture and acupressure


• Bodywork and massage


• Aromatherapy

One very common scenario occurs when a person experiences a trauma that triggers depression, anxiety, disordered eating habits, suicidal thoughts, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In an attempt to manage the otherwise unmanageable symptoms associated with these disorders, many people turn to drugs and alcohol. These substances may initially serve to quell the anxiety, alleviate depression, or otherwise numb the pain caused by the mental health issue. However, over time, continued use of these substances will fail to bring the sought-after relief and will instead create a new and equally intrusive problem: addiction.

At one time, it was considered standard to expect a person first to stop using all drugs and alcohol and then to undergo mental health treatment. This is no longer the case. It is accepted across the medical and mental health community that co-occurring disorders are so deeply entwined that it is necessary to treat both issues at the same time. Though it may be necessary to attend to a client’s physical needs first in terms of providing medical detox assistance as needed, treatment, when it commences, must focus not only on the issues that drove addiction but also on the issues created by the mental health disorder.

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• 
Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the
appropriate authorities immediately.
 

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police and
 the person in danger.

• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety and in rare cases this requires contact to family members or other service providers.

People who decide to seek out therapy are taking responsibility for their lives by accepting their situation, demonstrating self-awareness, and showing the courage to act. Everyone encounters challenges in life, and sometimes a person’s skills and knowledge can meet that challenge. Sometimes a helping hand is needed. There is no weakness in accepting reality and making a commitment to get new skills, tools, and insights to navigate current and future obstacles.