What Is Mental Health?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines mental health as a persons emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is an important aspect during every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood.
As an aspect of overall wellness, mental health impacts the different ways a person thinks, feels, and acts. Mental health can dictate how someone processes stress, interacts with others, and makes choices.
Moreover, it should be noted that mental health and mental illness are not one and the same. Someone can experience physical, mental, and emotional wellness throughout their life, even while struggling with a mental health disorder.
Risk Factors for Poor Mental Health
Over time, a persons mental health can shift and change based on family history, mental resources, and coping skills. The risk factors that can make one vulnerable to poor mental health include:
- Economic hardship
- Working overtime for an extended period
- Acting as a caregiver for a loved one
- Genetics
- Brain chemistry imbalance
- Family history of mental health disorders
- Early adverse experiences in childhood and adolescents
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Witness to violence
- Bullying
- Chronic health conditions
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Substance abuse
- Social isolation and loneliness
The Importance of Mental Health for Overall Wellness
There is an interconnected relationship between mental and physical health, meaning that the two aspects of wellness can influence and affect one another. Research has shown that when people engage in physical activities, they experience improvements in thinking and reduced symptoms of disorders such as anxiety and depression.
In addition, researchers have observed how struggles with mental health disorders can impact physical health, from aches and pains, to chronic health conditions. This further supports the interconnected nature of these two dimensions of overall health and wellness and suggests that in caring for one, we essentially care for the other as well.
Examples of Mental Health Disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorder (SUD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The Relationship Between Mental Health Disorders and Chronic Health Conditions
As noted in an article from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there is a co-occurring relationship between mental and physical health. This means that certain mental illnesses are more likely to lead to the development of physical health issues and vice versa. Numerous chronic health issues are born out of mental health disorders. One example includes making poor health choices when you are struggling with depression.
In addition, there are countless mental health disorders that develop or are exacerbated by chronic health conditions. For instance, it is common for one to develop depression and anxiety after being diagnosed with a serious chronic health condition. Some of the chronic health issues associated with mental health challenges include:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Chronic pain
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Autoimmune diseases
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- HIV/AIDS
To learn more about how we can support you on your mental health journey at Grace Recovery TX and our sister center Emerge Recovery TX, visit our Resources page.
Mental Health House at Grace Recovery TX
At Grace Recovery TX, our mental health house is designed to support women on their journey to recovery. The minimum length of stay at our mental health house is six months.
Within those six months, members will work in a small supportive community of women dedicated to helping each other develop skills and goals, as well as learn to manage medication for long-term well-being.
Each Grace member also will have a treatment plan designed to fit them and their specific needs. With the support of a case manager and recovery coach, residents will develop short- and long-term goals, with a support team to help with accountability.
While a substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis is not required to reside at the Grace Recovery TX mental health house, all clients must remain sober as we work together to support them on their journey toward mental and emotional wellness.
Support Services
Some of the Grace Recovery TX member support services in the mental health house include:
- Houses two to four members
- Access to support staff
- You set your medication schedule
- The house manager helps you manage your medication schedule
- Staff will observe as you take your medication
- The house manager helps with daily logistics
- Regular onsite coaches and case managers
- Experienced tech staff
To learn more about our houses at Grace Recovery TX, visit our House Business page.
What Is Medication Management?
Medication management is an important part of supporting and treating both substance use and mental health disorders. While medication is not always necessary to treat all mental health conditions, it can be used a helpful support tool for women as they seek to build a life with more control over their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
So why would someone need help with medication management?
If a person is taking multiple medications for one or more disorders, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to keep track of daily dosages and times. This becomes even more challenging when basic daily activities have become difficult or impossible to manage.
As a system of care, medication management is designed to help manage and stabilize the symptoms a person experiences due to mental health disorders, by ensuring they are consistently taking their medications.
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Risk Factors
Without medication management, there are potentially adverse outcomes one may experience. These include:
- Taking too much of one or more medications, leading to accidental overdose
- Adverse reactions to medications and other substances, including:
- Drug-to-drug interactions
- Drug-to-alcohol interactions
- Drug-to-food interactions
- Running out of medication before a refill or forgetting to take medication, leading to:
- Unintentional withdrawal
- Increased risk of symptoms
Mental health is important for your emotional, social, and physical well-being. At Grace Recovery TX, we can support you on your mental health recovery journey with medication management and access to support resources in our mental health house. Call us today at (737) 237-9663 to learn how our mental health house can support you on your journey to recovery.