Health should be taken care of, no matter what your wealth condition is. What is the essence of your wealth if you are unhealthy? How can you spend your wealth if you fail to secure your health? The famous phrase “health is wealth” talks a lot about how short it is.
If you suspect that you have a problem with your health or abusive usage of substances, then it is time for you to seek treatment. Use the substance abuse and mental health app to find the right healthcare provider that you need.
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is a routine of compulsive substance use marked by recurrent social occupational, interpersonal adverse, and legal consequences, such as repeated absences from the following:
- Work
- School
- Arrests
- Marital difficulties
Are you under substance abuse?
If you have been abused by using psychoactive substances like illicit drugs or alcohol, you may be under substance abuse. Substance abuse manifests in different ways, such as:
- excessive or inappropriate use of a substance
- dependence
- addiction
There are different characteristics of substance abuse, including:
Harmful use. When using a substance that causes mental or physical harm to anyone, then is a characteristic of substance abuse. It includes situations where substance use interferes with the person’s ability to fulfill:
- school responsibilities
- work
- at home
Addiction. A relapsing disorder is characterized by compulsive drug seeking that is continued using despite harmful consequences and long-lasting changes mentally or in the brain.
Dependence. It is the development of withdrawal symptoms and tolerance. Tolerance happens when a person needs increasing amounts of substance to achieve the desired effect, while the withdrawal symptoms manifest when not using the substance.
Treatment involves a mixture of the following:
- behavioral therapies
- counseling
- medication
Types of Behavioral Health Services
There are behavioral health services that encompass different therapeutic and supportive interventions aimed at addressing mental health and substance use issues. These behavioral health services include:
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- social workers
- counselors
- other trained specialists
There are common types of behavioral health services to find on the substance abuse and mental health app:
- Counseling/Psychotherapy. Two popular types of therapy are commonly used:
- Individual therapy is a one-on-one session between the client and a therapist to address mental health concerns.
- Group therapy has sessions where a therapist works with a group of people having similar issues.
- Psychiatric services. Psychiatrists may prescribe and monitor medications to help manage mental health symptoms.
- Substance use treatment. Detoxification services are a medically supervised withdrawal from substances to manage the physical effects of withdrawal. Rehabilitation programs, inpatient or outpatient programs address substance use disorders through:
- Counseling
- Therapy
- Support groups
- Residential services. Residential treatment centers have inpatient facilities that provide intensive therapy and support for individuals with severe mental health or substance use issues. It has supportive living environments for individuals with mental health challenges who need assistance with daily activities.
The substance abuse and mental health services work together in a coordinated approach to provide complete care for individuals dealing with behavioral health challenges. The specific services needed depend on the nature and severity of the individual’s mental health or substance use issues.