Why mental health support is critical in rehab  

May 5, 2025

8:00 am

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Being caught up in active addiction can exacerbate underlying mental health conditions or even cause them. Therefore, it is essential that when getting into recovery via a rehab centre, appropriate support is given for the persons mental health as well as addiction.  

While many speak about the two issues of mental health and addiction separately, they are very much enmeshed and impossible to separate. One can ignite the other. It is not uncommon for those with underlying mental health conditions to self-medicate using alcohol and drugs. This then forms a vicious circle which is hard, but not impossible, to break.  

Why can addiction lead to a worsening of a mental health condition?  

When someone is caught up in the madness of active addiction it is not uncommon for them to withdraw from social activities, family gatherings, partners and even work commitments. One way of viewing it is to view addiction as wanting to keep the person in its grip and that it will use anything it can to do so. The addiction unnerves someone so that they start to question themselves. In extremis, people can become delusional and paranoid. When this happens, the addiction has near total control over the person and they are not able to seek assistance, thus fully drawing them into a destructive cycle.  

It is estimated that over 25% of all adults in the United Kingdom who experience mental             health conditions will also encounter addiction. Over half of drug users have an underlying psychological problem and nearly four out of ten adults who use alcohol will have a serious mental illness.      

Here at Find Me a Rehab we have a cohort of addictions clinicians who can advise you, for free, and in total confidence, on all aspects of alcohol addiction rehab treatment and drug addiction rehab UK. 

Depression:  

Aside from anxiety, this is the second most common mental health condition reported by those in addiction. Many people with depression will try and lessen the symptoms with alcohol and drugs. Depression is not the same as just feeling a little low after a work contract is terminated or a relationship breaks down. This is a normal reaction and will pass, in time. When someone has depression, they experience a disorder of their mood which cannot be shifted. The famous British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, called his depression “the black dog”. Many with depression often describe it as a very dark fog, a cloud even, which is all encompassing. The person feels that they are totally weighed down by their depression and thus unable to function. Everyday tasks, such as bathing and brushing their teeth become too much. By using substances, the person feels they can negate some of the pain of depression. In actuality: they are making it worse.  

What are the signs of depression?  

Often someone with depression, as above, will have no motivation and will feel tired, constantly with associated insomnia. They will feel helpless, lost and become easily frustrated and irritable. Their self-esteem will be dented, and suicidal thoughts are not uncommon.  

What is the link between addiction and depression?  

Alcohol and drugs alter the way the mind works. An altered mind will skew the way someone interprets situations and how they react to things. When addiction becomes rooted, the person can develop a near compulsive need to find alcohol and drugs, even though it could be impacting on their health: both psychological and physical.  

When someone is going through a depressive episode, they can become very isolated, even if they are surrounded by family, friends, partners work colleagues, etc. Using drugs and alcohol become a “go to” but the relief they provide is very temporary which merely exacerbates the problem.  Using alcohol and drugs might give the person a short burst of energy so that they think they can take on the tasks they know they have been neglecting but this is not true. Those with depression and addiction will try and use substances to ease the pain of life’s stressors such as losing a job, divorce, moving home, etc.  

If I have depression, does that put me at a greater risk of addiction if I drink or use drugs casually?  

Throwing addiction into the ring when someone has depression can create a perfect storm. Any relief from using is very short lived. Indeed, alcohol and certain drugs are mood depressants and merely make the problems worse.  

But depression is just a mindset, isn’t it?  

Sadly, this is not true. You cannot think your way out of addiction and depression any more than you can think your way out of a broken leg.  Both depression and addiction 

 require professional help and expert input so that a treatment plan can be formulated and be effective.  

Surely talking about it just makes it worse?  

Keeping a stiff upper lip prevents someone in addiction from tackling the root causes. Getting into therapy can be a life changing experience. It may be the first time someone has been able to talk in a safe and supportive environment, but the results can be transformative.  

But how can I get treatment for both things at the same time?  

When formulating a treatment plan, the aim is to address the primary problem: in other words, identifying which came first and treating it. The emphasis in rehab is to help someone manage their mental health condition so that addiction can be addressed. When someone’s anxiety and depression in more manageable, the need to seek solace in substances will diminish. 

All centres work around a nucleus of group therapy. While everyone caught up in addiction will have different experiences, there are many commonalities. The therapist taking the group will have the skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience to lead the group so that everyone feels included, safe and welcomed. Usually, the therapist is also in recovery.  

As anxiety and depression is often something experienced away from others, being in a group setting can be very effective. The light, at the end of the tunnel, may well start to show itself.  

Individual therapy, on a one-to-one basis with a therapist, is a very powerful tool in rehab. Often, those in recovery, have fostered negative and, sometimes, destructive thought processes. With the appropriate therapy, these can be explored and addressed.  

What about anxiety? 

Everyone, at some point in their life, will get anxious. Some level of anxiety can be a good thing. However, just as getting a cold slows you down but you can still function, the flu knocks you out: The parallel being that someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder will encounter debilitating symptoms and be unable to function. It is estimated that 8% of the adult population of the UK have anxiety disorder.  

Sadly, addiction and anxiety are intertwined. Healthcare professionals will describe this as a dual-diagnosis and/or a co-occurring disorder. Both disorders are fuelled by each other. Trying to manage anxiety and addiction, simultaneously, can be incredibly difficult. It is common for those with anxiety to use alcohol and drugs to abate some of the symptoms. The problem is that alcohol and drugs are mood altering, indeed alcohol is an anti-anxiety drug, but a very short term one. As soon as the alcohol wears off, the anxiety returns, but at a heightened level. You will, eventually, need more and more alcohol/drugs to subdue the anxiety due to the body becoming dependent. This is called tolerance.  

How do I know if someone has severe anxiety?  

Anxiety is not just a psychological problem, it can manifest itself so that the person feels acutely unwell with a rapid pulse, feeling sick, being dizzy and chest pain akin to that of a heart attack.  

Is anxiety an umbrella term?  

Just as there are different types of infections or gastrointestinal disorders so there are different types of anxiety. For example, someone may feel anxious about many different things, not just one thing in particular. This is known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Self medicating is very common among those with GAD.  When someone’s anxiety prevents them from interacting with others, they can also experience the same physical symptoms. This is known as social anxiety. Others will experience incidents of extreme panic, and it is very common for those experiencing this to self-medicate. Repeated and intrusive thoughts can be very problematic and induce anxiety. This is a facet of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Another element of OCD is the need to perform rituals (usually counting or checking) and, again, self-medicating to try and reduce the impact, is common.  

So why does someone with a mental health condition become addicted to drugs and alcohol?  

To understand that it is useful to have a definition of addiction. There is a consensus, within the field of addiction, that being caught up in active addiction means that someone is unable to control their use of drugs and alcohol, even though they know that the effects are negative. They use drugs and alcohol to try and dampen down the symptoms of anxiety, depression and other conditions. Sadly, self-medicating creates a perfect storm. Using benzodiazepines to treat anxiety will work in the short term, but after a few weeks you will need a higher dose to subdue the anxiety which, when the pills wear off, the anxiety will return, with gusto.  

Anyone with anxiety will want to get away from it, so it is logical that someone who has it will do anything to reduce the negative effects it has on their life. Having a diazepam before getting on a plane because you are a nervous flyer or delving into your hip flask during a stressful shift at work leads to dependency.  

Aside from group therapy, what are the other treatments that can be used?  

All rehab centres work around a nucleus of a group therapy process. To augment treatment plans, which are carefully drawn up between the client and the therapy and medical staff, other therapeutic approaches are used. These include:  

Individual/one-to-one therapy: This could be along a Cognitive behavioural approach, a dialectical approach or an eclectic mix. These sessions can help to explore negative thoughts and address issues in a more constructive and productive way. Role plays are often incorporated.  

Mindfulness: Concentrating on the here and now, being grounded in the present can be very powerful. Taking account of what is around you: what you can see, smell, touch, hear and feel can stop negative thoughts spiralling out of control.  

Art therapy: When people find it difficult to talk, art therapy can really bring people out of their shell. Communicating through art is a powerful tool. It matters not what the quality of the art is, it is the process that is important.  

What about other mental health conditions?  

There are hundreds of different mental health disorders. However, the more commonly found ones that present in rehab are catered for. Below are some of those which treatments can be arranged for:  

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  

Addiction and traumatic stress reactions are, sadly, interlinked. They can both springboard the other. Previously known as shell shock, much research was conducted after the Vietnam war when many service personnel presented with symptoms. Common examples are service personnel who may have been caught up in an explosion. Loud noises can induce extreme stress for that person. Those who are sadly victims of sexual assault may experience symptoms if someone stands too close to them or accidently brushes past them on a congested train. PTSD can originate from being involved in a serious car accident, being the victim of a crime and/or having an experience which was near death such as a heart attack.  

How would I know if someone has PTSD?  

While a professional diagnosis is needed, some symptoms are common among those with the condition, aside from anxiety:  

  • Depression  
  • Isolation  
  • Feelings of guilt 
  • Constant irritability 
  • Night terrors (nightmares)  
  • Chronic insomnia 

As with anxiety and depression, those with PTSD sometimes self-medication with drugs and alcohol leading to dependency and addiction. Any relief from drugs and alcohol is short lived, creates chemical tolerance and therefore requires constant use to stave off withdrawal and heightened anxiety.  

Can addiction be treated at the same time as PTSD?  

Clearly, trauma is not something that forms quickly and treating it is complex and requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Tackling addiction, in addition, poses additional challenges. To suggest that traumatic thoughts can be removed from someone’s experience is untrue. However, their effect can be diminished to a degree where the person can lead a healthy and productive life and recover from addiction. Using different talking therapies, in addition to group therapy, in addition to exercise and good nutrition as well as other complementary therapies can all help someone to heal.  

Do people with ADHD use drugs and alcohol to try and control symptoms?  

As research develops and clinicians learn more about this condition, so more people are coming forward for help. While those with ADHD can develop dependencies on alcohol and drugs, they are also prone to behavioural addictions such as gambling and porn.  

  I am concerned about someone who may have ADHD, what do I look for?  

 It is essential that a diagnosis is made by a medical professional. However, there are some common symptoms which help a medical professional to formulate a diagnosis:  

  • Ignoring risk warnings 
  • Engaging in risky behaviours that are dangerous and impulsive 
  • Not coping well with stress 
  • Severe mood swings 
  • Overtalking others 
  • Not being able to focus on a task 
  • Poor memory 
  • Frequently making mistakes 
  • Chaotic organisational skills 

It is common for those with ADHD to self-medicate. As with depression and anxiety, the benefits of using substances to self-medicate are very short lived and will backfire quickly.  

My friend has ADHD and drinks too much, her doctor told her she has a dual diagnosis, what is this?  

In the simplest of terms, this means that someone has two problems at once: ADHD and addiction. As such it is imperative to receive treatment for both: At the same time. If not, the addiction will, most likely, return.  

Can a rehab centre help someone with ADHD and addiction?    

Yes! Using a range of therapies, alongside group therapy, someone with a dual diagnosis can learn to manage their ADHD and overcome addiction. Using talking therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (or an eclectic mix) someone with ADHD can start to address negative thought patterns, learn how to regulate their emotional responses and refine interpersonal skills. Group therapy, the mainstay of all rehab treatment, allows the person in recovery to feel a sense of community, to realise that others also experience similar issues so they can build a support network. Often, complementary therapies such as yoga, mindfulness, art therapy, and Chinese medicine can be incorporated.  

What about major mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia?  

Psychotic disorders such as Schizophrenia has its variations in how it affects people, indeed there are different forms of the condition. In essence someone with this diagnosis experiences a detachment from everyday reality.  Sadly, admission data from the UK show that up to half of those in treatment for addiction also have schizophrenia. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, modern day treatments can allow most people with the condition to lead fulfilling and productive lives. When unwell with the condition addiction can be a strong influencer so the ability to overcome addiction can be a powerful tool. 

Personality disorder (PD) is often seen as a mental health disorder, can rehab centres help some who is caught up with addiction and a PD?  

Around five percent of the population live with a personality disorder. They can, especially during times of extreme stress, significantly affect how someone thinks and feels. It can also affect someone’s behaviour to a degree that they may put themselves in risky situations with self-harm, drug use, casual sex, criminal acts, etc. Over time, the classification of PD’s has changed. Currently, mental health professionals categorise PD’s into three major sub-types: suspicious, emotional/impulsive and anxious. There are 10 commonly diagnosed PD’s:  

Avoidant personality disorder 

Dependent personality disorder 

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)  

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) 

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) 

Histrionic personality disorder 

Narcissistic personality disorder 

Paranoid personality disorder 

Schizoid personality disorder 

Schizotypal personality disorder 

As there are, at least, ten different diagnosable personality disorders it is logical that there will be different signs and symptoms. However, all can be a springboard towards addiction. It is very common for someone with a PD to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Just as with anxiety and depression, a PD can lead someone to encounter significant difficulties with relationships as well and periods of extreme anxiety and an inability to regulate emotions. This can be wholly overwhelming which can lead to someone seeking solace with drugs and alcohol.  

Just because I have one of these conditions and use alcohol and drugs doesn’t, automatically make me an addict: does it?  

In short: No! It can be a complex issue to be able to diagnose addiction but there are some commonly found warning signs that you can look out for:  

  • Needing drugs/alcohol to cope with everyday chores/life stresses 
  • Continuing to use even though you know that your condition is being exacerbated by drugs/alcohol.  
  • Having to use more and more alcohol/drugs to have the same effect a small amount used to have.  

What gets treated first in rehab?  

Healthcare professionals/therapists in rehab will talk about primary and secondary conditions: In other word, which came first. You could be diagnosed with a personality disorder and then go on to develop an addiction or your addiction leads you to a personality disorder. This is why it is essential to have a comprehensive assessment before a collaborative treatment plan is drawn up. The model works around identifying the primary condition, treating it, so the secondary condition can resolve or be ameliorated to a degree that someone can lead a productive and fulfilled life.  

I have been told that PD’s cannot be cured, is that true?  

Yes: There is no cure for a personality disorder, but it is certainly possible for someone to learn how to reduce symptoms, cope with triggers so that the condition becomes manageable. Treating a dual diagnosis can be complex and a comprehensive, realistic and collaborative treatment plan is central to this.  

Central to all treatment centres is a group therapy model. This could be on a 12 step, SMART or eclectic mix: It really doesn’t matter. What is important is that someone in addiction, living with a mental health condition, gets into treatment.  

Building on a nucleus of group therapy, depending on the agreed treatment plan, the following adjunctive treatments can be incorporated:  

  • Solution focused therapy: This is a very focused based approach that promotes using inner strength to reach personal goals.  
  • Psychodynamic: Here, you work with a therapist on the roots of difficult emotional responses with an emphasis on relearning responses to trauma and triggers.  
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Another way of altering negative and destructive responses to stress and trauma 
  • Meditation, exercise, nutritional counselling, gong baths, yoga: All aimed to help with stress relief and healing.  

Is self-harm a mental health condition?  

In itself? No. However, it is a clear sign that something is not right, that someone is deeply distressed and needs urgent help. Combined with addiction this can put someone at very significant risk. Not everyone who self-harms will cut themselves, some will scratch themselves or cause burn injuries. Hitting oneself as well as biting your arms and legs is not uncommon as is aggravating wounds and inserting objects into wounds or other body cavities.  

Why would someone do this?  

It is not always because the person is trying to communicate that they are in crisis and need help. Indeed, sometimes it allows the person to gain control. Often it is about ingrained feelings of guilt or a way of not lashing out. Clearly, someone who self-harms are having difficulty regulating their emotions.  

Is it common for people who self-harm to experience addiction?  

A third of people who experience addiction will also self-harm, though the numbers for those who enter treatment is slightly less. A fifth of those who experience both addiction and self-harm will have damaged their arms/legs/torso by scratching and or/using chemicals to damage themselves.  

Does addiction lead to self-harm or the other way around?  

Both: Self harm can lead people to become dependent, mostly due to self-medicating stress, anxiety and trauma. Addiction can cause self-harm as it is not unknown for someone caught up in addiction to use pain as a coping mechanism to deal with unregulated and painful emotions.  

Can I be admitted if I am self-harming? 

To maximise recovery, it is paramount that someone in addiction can take on the work that rehab presents. As such, if someone is prone to self-harm, the treatment trajectory starts prior to admission so that they can concentrate on the treatment plan. Medication may help to dampen down self-injurious behaviour and rehab centres will incorporate this medication into the treatment plan.  

What treatment is effective to address self-harm in rehab?  

A staple of rehab is group therapy. While everyone has different experiences, past trauma, emotional responses, everyone is there to support each other while they heal. Around this nucleus, other therapeutic approaches can be useful:  

  • Mindfulness: Helps the person caught up in addiction not to judge themselves while exploring emotions. It can assist in identifying triggers.  
  • Dialectical behavioural therapy: Works on building skills that can reduce heightened emotional responses to stress and trauma. 
  • Aftercare: Essential and starts from day one of treatment.  

Chronic insomnia 

Up to twenty percent of the population report to their GP that a lack of sleep (insomnia) is a serious problem for them. As just under eight hundred thousand people also report regular alcohol and drug use, it is logical that there is a crossover. Insomnia is not just the ability to get to sleep but also the inability to sleep all the way through the night and when waking early, not being able to get back off to sleep. A lack of sleep can affect studies, employment and relationships. While there are different types of insomnia, there is a consensus among healthcare professionals as to what causes it:  

  • Medication, especially long-term use of nighttime sedation/sleeping pills. 
  • Noise, light, temperature 
  • Physical illness/disability 
  • Heightened emotions 
  • Stress 
  • Jet lag or change in working hours/new baby or pet in the house 

Where insomnia lasts more than four weeks it is chronic and may stem from an underlying mental health or physical health condition. Hormonal changes can also be a contributing factor as can substance use: Including caffeine.  

Is insomnia likely when in active addiction?  

When both occur simultaneously, there will be more than one factor at play. For example, if you can’t sleep and nothing helps it is not uncommon to become reliant on alcohol and benzodiazepines. Both act in a very similar way but are short acting. This means that the longer you use them, the more you will need. Alcohol is a terrible sleeping aid. It will get you to sleep but wears off very quickly.  

Someone who is in addiction can develop insomnia due to the nature of the substance they are dependent on. Cocaine is a good example as it disrupts normal sleep cycles. Withdrawal can also cause insomnia: This is known as rebound. 

Can a rehab centre help with both?  

Yes: It will require a commitment to the treatment plan but is treatable. A detox is the first step. This will be carefully managed by appropriately trained and experienced healthcare professionals.  As with all treatment plans in rehab, group therapy is the central focus point. All those in treatment have different experiences, issues and emotions but all are there to heal and recover. The therapist leading the group will have the qualifications, training and experience to lead the group. Often, they are also in recovery. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment for insomnia for those in treatment for addiction. As effective as a sleeping pill, there are no negative aftereffects. Other adjunctive treatments can also be useful such as mindfulness and yoga. As with group therapy, aftercare is essential, and all centres provide a minimum of 12 months access to a weekly group for those in post treatment recovery.  

There is a host of research to show that reducing stimulant drinks, during the day, can be useful as well as forming a regular end of day routine as well as thinking about the bedroom (noise,light,etc). 

Help is available by calling or contacting online clinicians at Find me a Rehab. Advice is free, confidential and impartial. We can assist with alcohol addiction rehab treatment as well as drug addiction rehab UK.  

Grief 

This is inevitable, just as paying taxes. It affects us all differently and does not have to be just when someone dies. It could be the loss of a pet, a job, a relationship: for example. The vast majority of those experiencing grief can learn to move on. Sadly, during the period of loss and mourning some people become over reliant on drugs and alcohol which can lead to addiction.  

Grief is not being upset: It is perfectly normal to be sad when a parent dies, you get divorced, are made redundant, etc. How someone copes depends on a range of factors, including life experience. Some people experience peace and a sense of serenity as the person who passed could have been in pain or they wanted a divorce but were too afraid to ask for one. Others can feel extreme guilt, heightened anxiety or even anger. There can be episodes of isolation and even feelings that life has come to an end. People can experience either or all: Sometimes closely together. When grief impacts on people it can affect appetite, cause insomnia or reduce the immune system. In extremes, people grieving can become pre-occupied with death and dying.  

I have heard the term “co-dependency”: What does it mean?  

Where two people, in a relationship require exhaustive amounts of both emotional and psychological support from their partner, this is known as co-dependency. It is very common for the partner who is co-dependent to be in active addiction and/or have obsessive and compulsive behaviours. Co-dependent relationships are considered very unhealthy. The partner who exhibits these behaviours will have little, if not any, regard for the toll their behaviours take on the other person.  

Often, these behaviours stem from trauma that is unresolved and raw, even if the experiences leading to the trauma were many years ago. Therapy can be the open door to a life of healthy relationships and freedom from addiction.  

How do I know if someone is in a co-dependent relationship?  

Recognising co-dependency is complex though there are some common signs and symptoms which include:  

  • Poor sense of self-worth and low self esteem 
  • Depression and anxiety 
  • Acute avoidance of discussion around relationship issues with partners  
  • An overwhelming desire to try and resolve others interpersonal difficulties while experiencing difficulties with their own.  
  • Not challenging manipulation  
  • Trying to please others and not speaking up when, through trying to help others, it has a negative impact on time, finances, etc 
  • Extreme jealousy of others 
  • Intense feelings of insecurity 
  • Not taking care of ones one psychological needs before assisting others.  

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      Where is the link between addiction and co-dependency?  

Just as co-dependency is a complex issue, so is addiction. It matters not what someone is dependent on: Crack, alcohol, MDMA. When someone is caught up in active addiction it is common to see the following:  

  • Absence of control: Someone in the middle of active addiction loses the ability to control what they are taking, where and when they take it.  
  • Dismissal of consequences: It is not uncommon for those in addiction to lose employment, become homeless and getting divorced.  
  • Compulsivity: There is, literally, nothing that anyone can say or do when someone is trying to source drugs or alcohol to feed an addiction.  

Addiction can bolster co-dependency as, when the addiction spirals, so the addictive behaviours become more prominent and destructive. There is no, or very little, regard for the effects these behaviours have on others. This can make someone, in addiction, become over reliant on partners.  

Are there any common causes of addiction/co-dependency?  

No one, when asked at school, what they want to do in adult life says they want to be an addict. While some use drugs to fit in with the crowd, most turn to drugs and alcohol to block out the pain caused by traumatic experiences. There can be a euphoric effect from using drugs and alcohol which will cause a chemical change in the body leading to a feeling of warmth and relaxation: An escape from reality. Problem is, this is temporary and, depending on the substances concerned, continued use leads to tolerance. This means you will need ever increasing amounts to have the same effects as the first time you took it. Also, many drugs, and especially alcohol, cannot be stopped immediately, and a medically supervised detox is needed. Drug/alcohol use can cause the person to feel intense shame which then creates a vicious circle of shame-use-shame-use, etc. 

Are some people born with a link to co-dependency and addiction?  

Research is ongoing, but there is a growing body of evidence that some people’s genetics point them in a direction where they are more likely to develop co-dependent and addictive behaviours than others. If someone witnesses these behaviours in family members in childhood, then the likelihood of issues developing increase.  

Which condition is treated first in rehab? 

Within the rehab sector, therapists will work with the person to identify which condition occurred first. This is known as the primary condition. For example, if someone is in a very strained relationship that is engrained with co-dependency, it is common for addiction to raise its head. By tackling co-dependency, in that instance, the addictive element will become more straightforward to address. Relapse prevention and aftercare are two essential links in the recovery chain.  

What would a treatment plan consist of?  

The central driving force for all in rehab in group therapy. Everyone in rehab comes from a different place with different experiences yet all are there to heal. The therapist leading the group is likely to have been in positive recovery for many years themselves. In addition, individualised (one to one) therapy is also used. This can be along a cognitive behavioural model, a dialectical one or an eclectic mix. Both examine ways of managing emotional responses and how to change negative thinking patterns.  

Bi-polar affective disorder 

Once known as manic depression, this is a significant mental health condition that usually requires long term medication to balance chemicals in the brain. Contrary to popular misconception, mood swings take weeks or months to change from depression to elation (or the reverse). There are different types of bi-polar disorder, yet they all present with very big challenges to someone’s life. It is common for someone in either a manic stage or depressive stage to turn to drugs and alcohol. Often, they do this to try and manage symptoms. When the two conditions occur at the same time, this is known as dual diagnosis. Nearly half of those with bi-polar have an unhealthy relationship with drugs and alcohol. There may be a family history of bi-polar disorder which can mean someone is genetically pre-disposed to the condition. For those awaiting a diagnosis, this can be an added stressor which can heighten stress, anxiety and therefore fuel addictive behaviours.  

Can bi-polar disorder be cured in rehab?  

No. There is no cure for bi-polar disorder. Just as with type 1 diabetes, there is no cure but those with the condition can, with adjustment and the right treatment, learn to manage their condition so that they can lead productive lives. Before entering rehab, it is essential that the person with bipolar and addiction, is commenced on a medication regime to manage the condition. At no time should anyone with bi-polar disorder attempt to stop their medication without the full knowledge of their treating doctor.  

What therapies can help those with bi-polar disorder and addiction?  

Individual therapy:  One to one focused therapy, with a qualified and experienced therapist can be a powerful link in the recovery chain. It gives the person the space to explore how the two conditions interplay with each other. Learning how to identify and manage triggers is a core part of this.  

Family therapy:  Addiction and bi-polar disorder does not affect the individual in isolation: These conditions affect all around them and can, literally, destroy family networks. Having an experienced family therapist leading sessions can start the healing process within family networks. This is an essential link in the aftercare and ongoing recovery trajectory. 

Neurodiversity 

An ever-increasing field of research and interest, autism and other neurodiverse conditions continue to challenge healthcare provision while acceptance of those living with neurodiverse conditions continues to evolve and grow.  

What is autism?  

Autism is a developmental condition. It is something someone is born with, and the emphasis is on helping someone with autism on how to manage their symptoms while helping those around them how to provide support. In short, autism has an impact on how someone engages and interacts with others, be they a bus driver, teacher, parent, husband or traffic warden. There are varying degrees of autism hence why there is a spectrum of autistic disorders. For some, the impact can be significant, and it is not uncommon for someone struggling with autism to become reliant on drugs and alcohol.  

How do I know if someone has autism?  

Reaching a diagnosis of autism takes time and is often a combination of assessments by different healthcare professionals. However, there are some common signs that you can look out for:  

  • Extreme fear of bright lights and noise 
  • Heightened stress reactions to new environments 
  • Inability to process the emotions of those around them 
  • Absence of self-care (personal hygiene)  
  • Very poor sleeping patterns 
  • Ignoring work,home,school tasks 

Are there any elements of autism that heighten the chances of falling into addiction?  

A current discussion within the healthcare arena is whether those whose autism has minimal impact on their lives may be more prone to addiction than those for whom their autism is significantly debilitating. Self-medicating stress and anxiety is common, and these are core to the diagnosis of autism. Someone who, for example, is managing to hold down a job while dealing with autism may try and control the anxiety and stress that a workplace may invoke. This can lead to dependency.  

What about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?  

It is very common for those with autism to also have ADHD, indeed it is over 40%. Becoming over reliant on drugs and alcohol due to self-medicating is a logical consequence. Calming nerves, feeling anxious in social situations, dealing with the pain of social isolation can all be potent drivers for drug and alcohol use.  

What treatments are available in rehab for dual diagnosis?  

Group therapy is the mainstay of rehab treatment. All are there to heal and support each other. Lifelong bonds can be established, and the sense of community can be transformative. The therapist leading the group will have the skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications to take the group forward and are often in recovery themselves.  

Individual therapies are particularly useful for those with neurodiverse conditions who are caught up in addiction. Psychotherapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can bring into focus negative thought processes and help to form more positive approaches to triggering events. Other adjunctive therapies can also be transformative, such as art therapy, mindfulness and yoga.  

Can autism and ADHD be cured in rehab?  

No. Neurodiverse conditions cannot be cured, but it is certainly possible for those in rehab to learn to manage their symptoms, identify triggering events, manage their emotions and heal past traumas. By doing so, address addiction can become a focus, and barriers removed.  

For free, confidential and impartial advice on all aspects of drug addiction rehab UK and alcohol addiction rehab treatment, call and speak to one of our clinicians. Find me a Rehab is available to all, at any time.