Many teens who are battling an alcohol use disorder are also dealing with mental health issues. One study revealed that as many as 2/3 of teens who developed an alcohol or substance use disorder also had at least one mental health disorder.[1] This is partly because teens turn to alcohol to self-medicate. However, alcohol makes the symptoms of mental health disorders only go away temporarily. When the effects wear off, the mental health issues are still there, if not worse. Teen treatment centers in Iowa, such as Ember Recovery, are aware of this and offer dual diagnosis treatment to treat both issues. We’re going to take a closer look at this connection and what teens can do to seek support for their mental well-being without turning to alcohol.
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The Link Between Mental Health and Alcohol Use
One of the reasons why teens who have mental health issues turn to alcohol is to try to reduce the symptoms of their mental health disorder. Depression and anxiety are two of the main mental health conditions that can lead to alcohol abuse among teens.
Depression and Alcohol Use
When teens are feeling depressed, they may turn to alcohol use to make them feel better. While they may forget their feelings for a while, those feelings will only resurface once the effects of alcohol wear off.
Alcohol is a depressant, so it can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. These affect your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. These chemical changes can lead to more negative feelings such as depression, and anger.[2] When someone uses alcohol for a long time, this abuse can reduce the number of neurotransmitters in the brain. A certain level of neurotransmitters is needed to prevent depression and anxiety. When these are not present, severe depression can set in, creating a destructive pattern of drinking to temporarily erase these feelings.
Anxiety and Alcohol Use
Teens who suffer from anxiety may also turn to alcohol use to help them relax. Teens may feel anxious due to school and social pressures. Social anxiety is a leading cause of alcohol use with statistics indicating that about 20% of all people with social anxiety also suffer from alcohol dependence.[3]
When teens turn to alcohol to deal with anxiety, we know this feeling doesn’t last forever, leading teens to drink more to maintain this feeling again. Over time, this can lead to alcohol dependence.
As we mentioned above, alcohol use alters neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which can worsen anxiety.[3] Some people may feel even more anxious when the alcohol wears off than when they first started drinking.
Treating Mental Health and Alcohol Use Disorders
Teens and young adults who are suffering from mental health and alcohol use disorders have what is referred to as a dual diagnosis.[4] When there are co-occurring disorders, it is important to get treatment for both at the same time. For dual diagnosis treatment to work, the addictive substances must first be out of your body. This occurs during the detox portion of the treatment. Once the body is substance-free, a treatment plan can be developed. Treatment for co-occurring disorders can include a combination of behavioral therapy, support groups, and possible medication.
How to Cope with Mental Health Issues Without Using Alcohol
There are many ways that teens with mental health issues can cope without turning to alcohol. These coping mechanisms can be used during treatment and once a treatment plan is completed.
Find Healthy Outlets for Stress
Exercising, breathing techniques, art, and music, can all help to lower stress and prevent alcohol use among teens. Doing things like exercising releases endorphins that make the body feel good and less likely to use substances to achieve the same feelings. Rather than turn to alcohol, teens can try one of these activities to relax and live a healthy lifestyle.
Maintain Healthy Habits
Besides exercising, maintaining healthy habits such as eating a nutritious diet, can also help teens to cope with mental health issues. Healthy food helps to fuel the body and prevent fatigue which can lead to depression. Foods that are packed with protein can provide he energy the body needs to keep going.
Find New Hobbies
Discovering new hobbies can help teens and young adults dealing with co-occurring disorders. New hobbies can help to focus on other activities besides drinking and can help teens and young adults form new relationships. This can help to prevent loneliness which can lead to depression.
Connect with Family and Friends
Besides forming new relationships, it’s important to stay connected with family and friends who don’t drink or use substances. This can also help to avoid isolation and provide people to talk to when things get tough. Teens and young adults can avoid turning to alcohol when they know there is someone there who cares.
Attend a Support Group
Attending a support group meeting can also help teens who want to avoid drinking as a way to cope with a mental health issue. During these meetings, teens and young adults can talk about what’s bothering them, receive advice, and feel as though they are not alone. Knowing others who may be experiencing the same thoughts and feelings can also be comforting.
Are you Searching for Teen Treatment Centers in Iowa? Contact Ember Recovery
If you are searching for teen treatment centers in Iowa that can provide dual diagnosis treatment, Ember Recovery can help. Our dual diagnosis treatment program provides an individualized treatment plan to address the specific issues of each patient. By focusing solely on teens ages 12-17 and young adults ages 18-24 separately, our team can address the specific needs of these age groups to provide the best possible outcomes. We also provide aftercare recovery planning to help our patients deal with triggers they may experience when their program is over.
To learn more about our dual diagnosis and other programs, contact the Ember Recovery team today. We are here every step of the way.
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27015718/
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-health#
- https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-and-anxiety#consequences
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24426-dual-diagnosis
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.