Mental anguish goes beyond everyday stress, presenting a profound and often debilitating level of distress. It can manifest as overwhelming feelings of sadness, despair or anxiety, and may result from traumatic events, chronic illness, significant life changes or conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.
Mental Anguish Examples
Mental anguish refers to intense emotional turmoil that significantly impairs your ability to function normally. It is more severe and complex than typical stressors like work deadlines, traffic jams or minor family disputes, and can ultimately reach a point where it feels inescapable.
- Grieving a loved one’s death, which might cause intense sorrow and isolation.
- Surviving a traumatic event, leading to persistent feelings of terror or helplessness.
- Enduring chronic, debilitating pain or illness, resulting in a constant state of worry and frustration.
The Link Between Mental Anguish and Substance Abuse
While everyday stress is generally short-lived and manageable with sensible coping strategies like exercise or meditation, mental anguish can seem all-consuming and unending. Drugs or alcohol dull painful emotions, providing fleeting relief from suffering. However, the euphoria or numbing effect is only temporary, leading people to drink or use more frequently and in higher amounts. This self-medication can quickly develop into a physical or psychological dependency.
Using drugs or alcohol to cope with mental anguish is maladaptive because it enables you to avoid dealing with your underlying issues instead of confronting them head-on. Relying on drinking and drugs for emotional relief will eventually create a new set of problems that complicate the original issues. Over time, substance abuse can exacerbate mental health challenges like anxiety and depression and cause physical illnesses like chronic disease and critical organ damage.
The Value of Professional Treatment
Professional treatment is crucial for overcoming a dual diagnosis. New Found Life offers comprehensive care that recognizes the complex relationship between mental and behavioral health. Here’s how we make a difference in our community.
- Addressing root causes: Therapy helps you discover the source of emotional distress and substance use, providing a path to heal.
- Developing healthy coping mechanisms: Here, you will learn sustainable, healthy coping strategies to manage stress and emotional pain without relying on alcohol or drugs.
- Support systems: Our clients have access to additional resources, including relapse prevention education, to provide guidance and encouragement throughout their time with us.
Mental anguish is a severe and often overlooked condition that can progress into a substance use disorder if left unaddressed. You do not have to deal with emotional pain alone. New Found Life understands the complexities of co-occurring disorders and provides targeted treatment to help our clients heal and reclaim control over their lives. Reach out today to start your recovery.