“The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).”
Addiction does not discriminate and can happen to anyone. It affects all aspects of our lives and the lives of loved ones. Addiction is isolating and scary and makes us feel ashamed, lonely, guilty, and helpless. Often mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety co-occur with substance use disorders and addiction. Sadly, the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health makes it harder for someone who suffers from either of them to ask for help.
Shaming the sick
Addiction has been perceived as immoral or the result of a lack of self-control. People who struggle with addiction and substance use disorders can feel low self-esteem, unworthy, and hopeless. Addiction is a chronic brain disease. It takes the brain hostage and makes physical and physiological changes to the brain. It can be extremely difficult for a person to quit using drugs or alcohol, once they are addicted. The stigma surrounding addiction fosters unkindness, discrimination, and prejudice of people who are sick.
The stigma surrounding addiction seems to classify anyone who has a substance use disorder into a category of low-class, homeless people. This is why a person might be reluctant to seek treatment. People stigmatize out of ignorance and fear. It is what people tell themselves about addiction and mental health.
The stigma of addiction and mental health can inadvertently add to any shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. Addiction interferes with responsibilities, work, and relationships with loved ones. Addiction has a profound impact on a person’s mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing and can lead to serious health complications, overdose, and early death.
Love, support, and encouragement
People who are addicted do not want that type of lifestyle and need help to stop the drug or alcohol use. Positive reinforcement and showing love, support, and encouragement can influence a person’s getting help for addiction and underlying co-occurring mental health conditions.
Getting help
Addiction and mental health are treatable and there is hope in recovery. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction and mental health disorder, get help today. Do not let the stigma prevent you from getting the help you need. Asking for help is the first step to a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle in sobriety.
The Fort Worth Recovery umbrella covers medically supervised detox, as well as residential programs for men and women alike. Our programs are abstinence-based and combine a 12-step approach with a strong mental health component, integrating cutting-edge techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, and Motivational Interviewing. For more information or to start your healing journey, please fill out a contact request form and one of our recovery experts will connect with you shortly.
