You might remember the old “two great tastes that taste great together” commercials for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. In these ads, we would see one person walking down the street while eating a chocolate bar. Meanwhile, another person was shown walking down the street eating peanut butter straight from the jar. Distracted by their own delicious treat, the two pedestrians would collide. As a result, the two chocolate and the peanut butter intermingled, and the walkers would learn that the two make for a tasty combination.
It would be wonderful if every pairing were so delightful, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
For example, mental health disorders and substance use disorders are often intertwined—and each can be made worse by the other. Happily, however, the team at Peak View Behavioral Health is ready and able to effectively address both kinds of disorders.
Let’s take a closer look at how Peak View addresses these dual diagnoses.
The Connections Are All Too Common
It can be quite difficult to deal with a mental health disorder. The same is true of substance use disorders. It can be even harder to deal with the two types of disorders in combination. But according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, around 50 percent—or in the neighborhood of half—of people who have a mental health disorder also use drugs or alcohol in problematic ways.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) addressed the issue in a 2017 blog entry. Among the organization’s conclusions were these key ideas:
- Many individuals who experience the symptoms of a mental health disorder turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate.
- These individuals may not immediately think of the substance use as problematic, which allows it to develop into a significant problem in addition to the mental health issues a person faces.
- Similarly, ongoing use of drugs or alcohol can increase the likelihood that a person will develop a mental health disorder.
How Does Peak View Behavioral Health Help?
The team at Peak View Behavioral Health consists of Board-certified psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, recreational therapists, and support workers. Each member of the staff is dedicated to helping the people we serve reach important goals in their lives. These goals include:
- Working toward mental health stability while minimizing the negative effects of substance use
- Developing improved coping skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotion management
- Improving a person’s situation at home and or at work by addressing important subjects like building and maintaining healthy relationships
- Improving and maintaining physical health, which supports mental health and an ongoing recovery
- Restoring a sense of continuity and consistency in an individual’s day-to-day life
We have the expertise, experience, and empathy necessary to provide personalized treatment for substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and the combination of the two. Our treatment approach is grounded in evidence-based practices that we apply after completing a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s unique situation and needs.
We build individual care plans and deliver them in a structured, trauma-informed, therapeutic environment. Group therapy, recreational therapy, 24/7 nursing support, and family support and education are also at the heart of our approach to treating those with co-occurring disorders.
Importantly, when a person’s time in residential treatment is coming to an end, we provide care coordination and discharge planning to help ensure a smooth transition back to daily life. And we continue to provide resources and support so that the process of rebuilding a life free from substance use and buoyed by better mental health can be tackled with confidence.
Take the First Step Toward Getting the Help You Need
It can be quite difficult to make the decision to get help for a substance use disorder, a mental health disorder, or both. Maybe you are embarrassed by your challenges or fearful of what treatment may entail, and so you are trying to muddle through on your own. Maybe you are not quite ready to admit you have a problem—even though if you are being honest with yourself (and others who care about you and your wellbeing), you know you do. Maybe the effort involved in arranging for treatment in the face of all of your ongoing obligations seems wholly overwhelming.
We understand all of that. We also understand that only you can take the first step toward getting the help you need.
Once you have taken that step, the staff of Peak View Behavioral Health will be with you for each additional step of your journey. We can help you free yourself from drugs or alcohol, improve your mental health and build upon those improvements over time, and tackle each kind of disorder simultaneously and effectively.
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health is ready to meet you where you are and to work with you to create a better, more sustainable, and happier life. We are eager to help you renew balance in your life and embrace a spirit of hopefulness. Let’s get to work together.
