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Mood Disorders and Care at Raleigh House

When mood disorders and substance misuse are interlocked, managing one without addressing the other is impossible. At The Raleigh House, we understand the deep connection between addiction and mental health. We view the dual diagnosis approach as a critical component in effectively managing addictive behaviors in clients struggling with mood disorders.

The Raleigh House is proud to be among the few treatment centers in Colorado that provide comprehensive dual diagnosis and specialized psychiatric services. Our programs are designed to identify diverse mental health conditions that might contribute to substance misuse. We partner with our clients along their paths of self-discovery and provide a safe harbor for wherever their emotional journeys might lead.

If you’ve relied upon drugs and alcohol to cope with an emotional disorder, please don’t wait – we’re here to help.

What is a Mood Disorder?

People generally experience a broad range of emotions throughout the day, typically in reaction to external stimuli. For example, feeling sadness in response to learning of a tragedy or a disappointment is perfectly normal, even if it inhibits your ability to concentrate on work for a few hours. However, mood disorders are fundamentally different.

Mood Disorder Symptoms & Causes

Mood disorders are mental health conditions that cause a person’s perception of reality to become impaired, potentially leading to an inability to perform normal daily functions for days or even weeks at a time. They may cause severe, lingering depression unrelated to any external situation or unexplained feelings of extreme joy. Sometimes, mood disorders can cause intense, even violent, anger, hallucinations, or delusions.

Symptoms of mood disorders will vary depending upon several factors, including age and the underlying cause. Nevertheless, experiencing the following symptoms for weeks or months can be an indication of a mood disorder.

• Changes in appetite that lead to weight fluctuations
• Inability to focus
• Disrupted sleep
• Feelings of anxiousness
• Feelings of unrelenting sadness
• Feelings of hostility or anger

The constellation of mood disorders includes conditions caused by inherited factors, physical illnesses, medications to treat illnesses, environmental toxins, brain chemistry, physical trauma, or emotional trauma.

Types of Mood Disorders

Common mood disorders include:

• Clinical depression
• Psychotic depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Postpartum anxiety
• Health condition-related mood disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

While this is not a comprehensive list of mood disorders – the intensity and persistence of depressive symptoms can vary significantly – these are frequent contributors to heavy reliance on intoxicating substances.

How Untreated Mood Disorders Can Lead to Self-Medicating

Recognizing mental health challenges can be difficult and even painful. However, if you think your dependency upon drugs and alcohol could be related to a deep-seated psychological issue, please know that you are not alone – mood disorders and substance use often collide.

Substance use disorders span every socioeconomic category, gender identity, race, religion, and culture. Even animals are attracted to naturally mood-altering substances in the wild. Moreover, both humans and animals use intoxicating substances to ease symptoms of emotional distress. A study published in 2012 found that male fruit flies without mates consume higher quantities of ethanol (alcohol) than those that mate successfully. It is believed that alcohol mimics the reward signals activated by sexual activity in flies. The fruit flies are, in essence, using alcohol to self-medicate and boost their mood.

Substance misuse in response to mood disorders is so common it occurs in non-humans. When we’re sad, frustrated, or anxious, we might turn to drugs or alcohol to restore our emotional equilibrium. However, when those feelings of depression, rage, or anxiety are long-standing or chronic, relying upon drugs and alcohol as a corrective measure can quickly turn to misuse and even dependency.

The Raleigh House Mood Disorders Treatment

The Raleigh House team offers decades of experience in dual diagnosis treatment processes. We recognize and embrace our responsibility to provide in-depth support to clients experiencing a broad scope of issues relating to emotional health.

When you enter our treatment center, we want you to feel safe, respected and empowered.

At The Raleigh House, we are passionate about providing an oasis of healing to people struggling with addictive behaviors. When you’re ready, we’ll be here.

Contact Our Team of Caring Professionals Today.