Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, gambling, or sex, many people in the U.S. are struggling with an addiction. And that’s not hyperbole but rather a sobering reality substantiated by numerous studies, one of which comes from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The study revealed that an estimated 17.3% of Americans aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2022, and around 8.8% had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the same year.
As far as gambling, one study from the National Council on Problem Gambling revealed that an estimated 2.5 million adults in the U.S. have a severe gambling problem. And between 5 million and 8 million have what constitutes a mild or moderate gambling problem. As far as sexual addictions are concerned, a study published in Sage Journals, the world’s fifth-largest journal publisher, found that 8.6% of Americans struggle with compulsive sexual behavior.
In addition to these various forms of addiction, many Americans are simultaneously battling a mental illness of some kind. That, too, is substantiated in numerous studies. One of those studies comes from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It revealed that 59.3 million adults in the U.S. had a mental illness in 2022. That works out to 23.1% of adults in the country.
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Studies Show Many Americans Recognize That They Have an Addiction and Are Seeking Help
Many people have accepted they have a drug, alcohol, sex, or gambling addiction and, as a result of that self-awareness, have sought help in getting their lives back on the straight and narrow. The same holds true for individuals struggling with a mental illness. For reference, there were more than 50.4 rehab treatment admissions for every 10,000 or so people in the U.S. in 2022, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study. Most sought help overcoming their addiction to alcohol, drugs, or both, the study found.
In the same year, 50.6% of U.S. adults sought help from a licensed therapist to overcome anxiety, depression, sexual addiction, and other forms of mental illness. That is an increase of 19.2% compared to those who sought mental health treatment in 2019. Lastly, 1 in 5 people with a gambling problem sought help to quit gambling in 2022. The long and short of it is many people have recognized that their vices, whatever they might have been, were ruining their lives. And that was the motivation they needed to do something about it.
But most agree that the road to recovery is not an easy one, especially if they are battling more than one addiction or have been diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder. For those who might not know what a co-occurring disorder is, it is a clinical term used to denote the co-existence of a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder. As of the writing of this article, nearly 22 million U.S. adults have such a disorder. The mental illnesses that are commonly associated with most co-occurring disorders include the following:
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Schizophrenia
Choosing the Right Path to Addiction Recovery
The right path toward addiction recovery can vary depending on the nature of one’s addiction. For example, someone with a severe substance use disorder that involves alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, or another powerful substance might require medication-assisted treatment (MAT) along with traditional addiction recovery treatments before they can finally break the cycle of addiction. Among other things, MAT entails using FDA-approved medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine, naloxone, lofexidine, or benzodiazepines, to cope with challenging withdrawal symptoms that often come with detox. These symptoms, many of which begin within hours or days after someone consumes their final drink or last dose of their preferred drug, can include the following:
- Aches and muscle pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability and agitation
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paranoia
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Tremors
For those needing help overcoming a co-occurring disorder or a sexual or gambling addiction, counseling with a licensed therapist is often the best path toward recovery. These counseling sessions generally consist of contingency management, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or another form of psychotherapy. Along with counseling, FDA-approved prescription medications, addiction education, and other addiction recovery protocols, self-care is also a critical part of overcoming any addiction.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care refers to self-care activities and self-care practices that help people achieve or maintain their physical, emotional, and mental health. One of the many benefits of incorporating a self-care routine into one’s addiction recovery journey is that it helps minimize stress. Multiple studies show that individuals who feel chronically stressed are more likely to give in to cravings and eventually relapse, regardless of the nature of their addiction. Additionally, following a self-care plan helps keep boredom and anxiety at bay, both of which can also open the door to relapse. In short, self-care gives people the best chance of achieving short- and long-term freedom from addiction.
Types of Self-Care
There are several categories of self-care, each targeting different aspects of an individual’s health and overall well-being. The main ones include the following:
Physical Self-Care: This type of self-care is essential for maintaining physical health, which can be severely impacted by addiction. For example, people struggling with addiction, especially drug and alcohol addiction, may experience vitamin deficiencies and other health issues. Engaging in physical self-care practices such as:
- Consuming a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Practicing physical health self-care to reverse vitamin deficiencies and improve overall physical health
Emotional Self-Care: This category of self-care can have a profound impact on emotional well-being, helping to relieve stress and quiet negative thoughts. Repeating positive affirmations, practicing deep breathing exercises, and cultivating self-compassion are all examples of self-care that can benefit one’s emotional health.
Mental Stimulation: This type of self-care is essential for maintaining mental stimulation and preventing boredom, which can lead to feelings of restlessness and negative thoughts. Engaging in activities such as:
- Playing board games with friends or family
- Reading
- Learning a new skill
or practicing mental health self-care to keep your mind engaged and motivated.
Routine Care: This form of self-care involves prioritizing physical health, which can help individuals feel better about themselves and ultimately achieve long-term freedom from addiction. Examples of routine care include:
- Scheduling regular dental appointments
- Practicing regular health check-ups
- Engaging in self-care activities that promote overall physical well-being.
Social Self-Care: Nurturing relationships and social connections is essential for maintaining emotional well-being. By focusing on repairing or strengthening relationships damaged due to addiction, individuals can experience:
- Reduced loneliness
- Improved mental health and self-esteem
- A sense of purpose
Financial Self-Care: Managing finances effectively is a crucial aspect of self-care, as it can impact overall well-being. Practicing financial self-care involves setting realistic financial goals, creating a budget, and avoiding expensive habits that can perpetuate addiction.
Environmental Self-Care: Creating a supportive environment is essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. By engaging in environmental self-care activities such as:
- Practicing mindfulness and being present in nature
- Creating a peaceful living space
or practicing environmental self-care to promote overall well-being.
Conclusion
In summary, the U.S. is grappling with a widespread addiction crisis that is affecting millions of people in many different ways, impacting their emotional well-being, physical health, and everyday life. Fortunately, most rehab facilities provide comprehensive services that address these needs. Many facilities offer addiction counseling with licensed therapists, medication-assisted treatments, and programs that emphasize the importance of self-care, healthy boundaries, and stress management, all of which set people up to succeed in their recovery journeys. Reaching out to family members, loved ones, and caregivers as part of social support can also play a crucial role in sustaining long-term recovery and emotional well-being.
To learn more about these treatment modalities, healthy relationship building, or for help finding the rehab facility that is right for you, consider speaking with a Long Island Interventions specialist today.
Published on: 2024-10-31
Updated on: 2024-10-31
