Mental Health Disorders and Addiction: 5 Statements You Simply MUST Avoid When Talking to a Loved One with Dual Diagnosis
There’s addiction and there’s mental health. But what many people don’t realize is that these two ailments overlap and they do so significantly. And when mental health illness and addiction manifest together, it can cause someone’s whole world to spiral out of control. When that happens, it’s too easy for these two issues to feed off one another and cause serious detriment to a person’s life.
That’s why when you have a loved one with dual diagnosis, which is having a mental health diagnosis along with addiction to drugs or alcohol, it’s important to be aware of their situation, their mental health, and their drug or alcohol abuse. And when things start getting bad, you must handle things appropriately.
That means that there are things that you simply must never say to someone who’s suffering from both a mental health issue and addiction.
Here are five of them.
Once an Addict, Always an Addict
While many people struggle with addiction throughout their lifetime, saying “Once an addict, always an addict” to someone on the verge of recovery makes them lose hope. If they’re always going to struggle like this, if life is always going to be this devastating, then why continue.
If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol and suffering from a mental health disorder, find help today by calling 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) . Our addiction specialists are here to get you on the road to recovery so that you can experience life without the chaos.
I Know What You’re Going Through
Someone with a dual diagnosis can’t just “snap out of it.”
Even if you’ve struggled with addiction in your past, you can never really understand what another person is going through. You’re not in their shoes, and even if your situation was similar, they’re experiencing it in their own unique way. To assume that you understand what their emotions and thought patterns are minimizes what the individual is going through.
Suck It Up, Buttercup
When someone with a mental health disorder is in the throes of addiction, telling him or her to suck it up is counter-productive. Telling someone to “deal with it” or “snap out of it” only makes him or her feel worse about not being able to do so, and throws them deeper in the rabbit hole they’re already falling through.
It Could Always Be Worse
Well, that’s a lovely thought. What could be worse than feeling hopeless, worthless, and unloved, along with having a craving for a substance that’s so strong, it makes you do things you’d normally never agree to? Whatever that is, it must be hell.
Does Dual Diagnosis Mean I’m a Failure?
An integrated treatment approach can help someone with dual diagnosis recover from both their substance abuse and mental disorder.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
When you have a dual diagnosis, life can get to the point that every single day is a struggle. Telling someone that what doesn’t kill them only makes them stronger can defeat them. And for this population, too many times the blend of a mental health disorder and addiction does kill.
If you have co-occurring disorders and suffer from both mental health issues and addiction, it’s time to seek help. Call 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) today to learn about your treatment options, get your questions answered, and get the help you need. Do it now, before it’s too late.
