Mental health is essential in addiction recovery because mental illness and addiction are closely related. Having a mental illness increases the chances of experiencing addiction, and having an addiction increases the chances of developing mental illness. As a result, improving your mental health provides a solid foundation for your long-term addiction recovery and reduces the possibility of future relapses.
Let’s explore the relationship between mental health and addiction and what you can do to improve your mental health during addiction recovery.
How Mental Health and Addiction Affect Each Other
Many people turn to substances as a way to self-medicate emotional pain, anxiety, depression, or trauma. At the same time, people with addiction are more likely to experience a mental illness like anxiety or depression.
As a result, experiencing both mental illness and addiction is common. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 13.5% of people 18 to 25 have had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness in the past year.
Once someone has both conditions, they each make each other worse. Mental illness may lead to more severe substance use, and more substance use may lead to more severe symptoms of mental illness.
That’s why when someone enters recovery without addressing these underlying mental health challenges, results might not be as good as expected.
Treatment professionals emphasize that successful recovery requires addressing both the addiction and any co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously.
How Good Mental Health Can Help Prevent Relapses
Relapse is a common challenge for people in recovery. Research shows that most people need at least two recovery attempts before resolving drug and alcohol use issues.
This means that a large number of people will experience at least one relapse in their recovery journey.
However, those with strong mental health support systems are better positioned to overcome these setbacks and continue their recovery journey.
That’s because when people have the tools to manage their emotional well-being, they’re better equipped to handle triggers, stress, and life’s challenges without turning to substances.
As a result, one of the keys to relapse prevention is developing strong coping mechanisms and emotional resilience.
Mental health treatment helps individuals recognize early warning signs of potential relapse and provides them with effective strategies to manage these situations.
Through mental health treatment, individuals develop important coping mechanisms that replace the role substances may have played in their lives. This behavior change reduces the chances of taking substances again once recovery has started.
Strategies to Improve Mental Health During Addiction Recovery
SAMHSA states four domains support people during addiction recovery:
- Health refers to maintaining physical and mental well-being.
- Home refers to having stable and safe housing.
- Purpose refers to having meaningful daily activities, such as employment, education, or volunteering.
- Community refers to building supportive relationships and a sense of belonging around others.
Out of these domains, Health is the most relevant one to maintaining good mental health during addiction recovery. Still, it’s important to remember that they are all essential for psychological and physical recovery.
SAMHSA considers that a healthy diet, regular exercise, and healthy sleep habits are some of the most important elements to work on when recovering from addiction. Given the massive benefits they provide for overall well-being and mental health, addiction counselors often emphasize finding ways to incorporate these into your life.
Regular Exercise
The first option is to attend group exercise sessions. Exercising as a group can increase motivation, one of the main barriers to exercising more often. Additionally, explore things you like to do with your family or skills you’ve always wanted to develop (like swimming) to find new opportunities for exercise. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) can also help increase motivation for exercising more often.
Healthy Sleeping Habits
SAMHSA provides the following tips:
- Go to bed and get up around the same time every day.
- Go to bed only when you feel sleepy.
- If you’ve been trying to sleep for a while to no avail, keep going. Don’t check the clock; focus on resting.
- Only use your bed for sleeping and sex.
- Avoid taking naps, if possible.
- Your bedroom should be quiet and comfortable.
- Turn off the TV and other electronics at least 30 minutes before bed.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine before bed, if possible.
If sleep problems persist after trying these, consider talking to a sleep specialist.
Healthy Diet
An addiction specialist can assess your nutritional status through health metrics, history, and physical signs. Common substance-related issues include malnutrition, oral health problems, nutrient deficiencies, and unhealthy cravings.
Your counselor can help you reach nutritional goals, like proper hydration and eating balanced meals.
You will likely be told to focus on whole foods rich in complex carbs, proteins, fiber, healthy fats, and essential vitamins. You can also address specific issues like cravings or weight changes with tailored strategies and referrals to dietitians for deeper guidance when needed.
Therapy and Counseling
Professional mental health support is crucial in recovery, and there are various psychotherapies available to improve mental health during addiction.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals identify and change harmful thought patterns that may contribute to addictive behaviors. This approach teaches practical skills for managing triggers and cravings while building healthier coping mechanisms.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers valuable tools for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Through DBT, individuals learn to navigate intense emotions without resorting to substance use.
- Trauma-informed therapy addresses past experiences that may have contributed to addiction, helping individuals process them and heal.
- Family therapy helps heal damaged relationships and improves communication patterns within a family unit. Family therapy addresses the Home domain we mentioned earlier.
These approaches can help you improve your mental health from multiple angles, strengthening your mental state as a whole and putting you in a better position to withstand the challenges of addiction.
Support Networks
A strong support network is essential for maintaining mental health, addressing the Community domain SAMHSA considers crucial to recovery. This network often includes fellow recovery group members who understand the unique challenges of addiction recovery.
Regularly attending AA meetings, NA meetings, or Al-Anon meetings for families provides opportunities to share experiences, learn from others, and build meaningful connections with people who share similar goals.
Many individuals also benefit from working with mentors or sponsors they met in these support groups. Mentors have successfully maintained their recovery and can offer valuable insights and support.
Family and friends also provide important support, offering emotional encouragement and practical assistance during difficult times.
Improving Your Mental Health Makes Your Recovery Journey Easier
By prioritizing mental wellness through professional support, community connection, and consistent self-care, you can develop the resilience and stability needed for long-term recovery.
Since addiction and mental illness are so closely related, improving your mental health helps you minimize one of the risk factors that predict long-term addiction and relapse.
Over time, this improvement in mood, physical health, and sense of purpose will seep into other areas of your life, giving you the tools to keep moving forward in your recovery.
