By Donna Groves, MA, LMFT — EMDR and CBT therapist specializing in trauma, CPTSD, and addiction recovery
Proper assessment leads to diagnosis, without which it is difficult to develop and maintain an effective treatment plan for your substance abuse. Accurate diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment.Understanding the root and cause of the problem is an important factor in this process. Many times, substance abuse stems from a larger underlying mental health issue that in itself needs to be treated. Long-term substance abuse also can awaken or trigger a mental illness. Understanding where your mind sits in this process will add to the effectivity of your treatment.
When living with an undiagnosed mental health condition, impulsive decisions, manic behavior, and dangerous life decisions can emerge, making recovery more difficult. This can lead to feelings of isolation and confusing, and can in fact fuel addiction issues.
Have you been overlooked at mental health assessments?
In today’s world, we hope for the best treatment when we ask a professional for help. Some people can walk into an office with clear symptoms, get a diagnosis and begin working on their treatment plans. For others, with more ambiguous symptoms, the process may not be as quick. This can lead to a lot of distress, as a person knows when they are struggling, and sometimes need that professional validation.
For example, diagnostic criteria of some mental health issues heavily overlap with others. Differentiating between anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, and PTSD is difficult and should be done by a qualified psychiatrist. If you need an effective assessment at home, reach out today.
Ten symptoms you may need to seek a diagnosis by a psychiatrist
Do you feel that your mood changes are out of control or is your substance abuse is getting more difficult to manage? Do you experience the following?
- Manic episodes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Impulsive decision making
- Inability to concentrate
- Frequent substance abuse
- Insomnia
- Dangerous or risky behaviors
- Substance abuse that damages your relationships or your health
If you relate to any of these symptoms, please reach out for help.
Dangerous decisions
When you try and alleviate pain from mental illness yourself, it can drive you to make extreme choices to make yourself feel better. Using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate is not the solution, and the better understanding you have of underlying challenges is an important step in recovery. You don’t need substance abuse, dangerous or impulsive behaviors, to get relief.
Psychological support contributes to recovery
Being in recovery is so much more than being clean. Understanding your mental health, and allowing yourself to heal not only physically, but mentally, will bring you so much closer to your goals.
Donna Groves is here to help you on your path to recovery, and it begins with an assessment. If you want an at-home assessment for substance abuse issues, contact Donna today.
Reach out today
Donna Groves, MA, LMFT, is a therapist and life coach in Los Angeles. She is within traveling distance from Malibu and Santa Monica. Donna works with people struggling with addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and more, in-office and online.
If you would like to learn more, you are welcome to arrange a complimentary consultation or appointment by calling or filling out the contact form and click Send.
By Donna Groves, MA, LMFT
She specializes in trauma, CPTSD, addiction, and anxiety, integrating evidence-based and depth-oriented therapies to support lasting emotional and relational change.