A Story of Dealing with Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Mental Condition

1. A Story of Dealing with Substance Abuse and Co A Story of Dealing with Substance Abuse and Co- -Occurring Mental Condition Condition Occurring Mental Samiksha (named changed) is a 30-year-old medical professional who lives in Delhi. She works as an ambassador for an organization connected with ending the stigma of substance abuse. Today, she helps thousands of people who are gripped by substance abuse and are struggling to overcome the menace. However, she herself was a victim of substance abuse along with psychological disorders that further complicated matters until a few years ago. The root of the problem was in her schooling days, the time when she had actually begun substance abuse. She had a normal and happy childhood without any traumatic incident that could have incited her dependence. Also, she had thoughtful parents who greatly cared for her. Then what led to Samiksha seeking refuge in alcohol and drugs? Unfortunately, she had anxiety disorder from youth, which kept her out of school the majority of the time. This resulted in drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at the tender age of 12 or 13. Before it dawned upon her, she had become completely dependent on them. Samiksha’s Anchor: Drinking Alcohol Although Samiksha was timid from within, drinking alcohol helped her put on a brave mask. This projected vivacious, party-loving young woman. While under the effect of alcohol, she went on to overdose on including ecstasy, cocaine, and prescription Prescription painkillers helped in relieving her anxiety. After some time, they became a part of her life. Her life was in tatters afterward. She lost her focus on studying and her friends and her scores in school plummeted. Seeing her condition, her parents admitted her to rehab. During her senior year in high school, the girl found herself admitted to an inpatient rehab center for mental health disorders and substance abuse treatment. But, she made no progress. her as a other drugs painkillers. When she entered college, she met a guy obsessed with painkillers. This further deteriorated her condition as drugs became the status quo and the young lady once again became dependent. During this stage of life in college, she witnessed numerous difficult events in her

2. family life: her grandmother died, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and her boyfriend was embroiled in gambling, drugs, living off his parents’ credit cards, and stealing. Unable to cope with so much, she sought the support of her parents and persuaded them to allow her to live with them again. However, she started robbing her parents in order to provide for her dependence. They threw her out of the house again. She became ill as she was not getting her dose of drugs; withdrawals were getting the best of her. She believed she would soon pass away. When she called her parents, they did not let her stay but instead recommended that she get admitted to another rehab in Gurgaon. Samiksha was dubious, but she had no other option but to enter the rehab at her parents’ command. Rehab Proved to Be a Watershed Moment This time around, Samiksha’s treatment in the Gurgaon rehab was effective, unlike her earlier attempts. The duration of 45 days in rehabilitation with her undertaking different programs helped her pave the path to sobriety. She made friends with fellow inmates during the treatment and they vowed hand-in-hand to become and stay sober for life. She started taking up jobs and soon went to Mumbai for seven years. She moved back to Delhi and stayed with her parents again. Now, she works full-time with an organization that helps people embroiled in addiction. After being sober, Samiksha developed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She was designated to be a patient of dual diagnosis or simultaneously transpiring disorders. She was diagnosed with OCD and substance use disorder (SUD). Instead of giving in to her condition, she sustained the spirit of courage in adversity learned during rehabilitation and took medication. A paradigm shift transpired in her outlook towards life. Samiksha is currently a completely renewed person, successful, sharing close connections with her family, and committing herself to stop the stigmatization associated with SUD. Tackling Dual Diagnosis The most favorable way to approach dual diagnosis is to tackle both the substance abuse problem and the underlying mental conditions independently but in conjunction. Such simultaneously occurring illnesses necessitate a holistic treatment and sufficient support of family members. It is usually hard to differentiate the symptoms of SUD from mental disorders. In the event of confusion, seek professional help. Athena Behavioral Health is the top rehab center in Gurgaon. Our trained psychologists and psychiatrists offer the best OCD treatment in India. They are also experienced in administering addiction treatment programs. If you or a loved are suffering from an addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder, then get in touch with us. You can call our WhatsApp number +91 92890-86193 or start a chat with our representative any time you want. We are available 24x7x365 to offer assistance and treatment. For more infor For more information, please visit website mation, please visit website: :- - https://www.athenabhs.com https://www.athenabhs.com