Why Assessing Your Mental Health is So Important During Recovery in Florida

The last decade (with a special focus on the last couple of years) has made us all even more aware of the importance of mental health. Our state of mind is important when you take the regular, uneventful life into consideration – but it’s even more crucial when a person is going through a tough time. We can all agree that there aren’t many events that will be more emotionally and physically draining than addiction recovery. We will go as far as to say that assessing your mental health is so important during recovery that it should be one of your main concerns – and ours. As a reputable drug and alcohol rehab in Florida, we find it our mission to provide you with all the tools that will help you keep your mental health in check. Here’s what we have to say on the topic.

The connection between mental health and addiction

This intricate connection has been the focus of many studies. It has been shown that one’s mental health can greatly affect their chances of addiction. People oftentimes resort to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their mental health issues and everyday struggles. Thus, if your mental health is affected, it’s only natural that your chances of developing an addiction will be higher. But this connection is best seen through those individuals who have received a dual diagnosis in Florida.

Having a dual diagnosis means that you have a mood disorder at the same time as having problems with addiction. In some cases, it’s easy to see whether your mood disorder has preceded addiction or if it was the other way around. But sometimes, it’s impossible to tell which came first. At the end of the day, the chronological order of events doesn’t really matter that much. What matters is getting sufficient treatment for both of these, as you can’t find your way to a successful recovery unless you target both problems at the same time.

Every reputable drug and alcohol addiction center in Florida will understand the intricate connection between mental health and addiction. That’s why most centers have trained and experienced counselors and therapists on their staff. While working with professionals is great and definitely recommended, it’s important to keep a check on your mental health by yourself. Assessing your mental health during recovery is something that you can do by yourself, as all you need are a few useful techniques. We will be lucky to share them.

Why assessing your mental health is so important during recovery?

First things first – we have to begin by mentioning what happens when a person doesn’t assess their own mental health during drug rehab in Boynton Beach. Let’s say that you might manage to treat your addiction with the help of all the experts that will surround you. But successfully completing the phase of withdrawal doesn’t mean that you are ready for the real world. It just means that you can now function without your daily dose of alcohol or drugs. But you still need to gather all the tools that will help keep you sober.

And that’s where your mental health enters the scene. If you make sure that you leave a rehab facility in a good state of mind, you can be certain that it’s going to be much easier to prevent a relapse. However, if you go out of a rehab center without having paid any attention to your health, you could soon find yourself in a lot of trouble. The mental problems that have urged you to seek solace in substances are still going to be there. Thus, you will have a much greater chance of relapsing and going through the same problems once again. It’s for that reason that we wholeheartedly recommend that you pay lots of attention to your mental health.

How to assess your mental health during recovery?

Knowing that you should do something doesn’t mean that you will know how to do it. That’s why it’s important to get an idea of how you can successfully assess your own mental well-being during your stay in a meth rehab facility in FL. Don’t worry – you won’t have to take any radical steps. All you will have to do is take some time to be aware of what you have been feeling and thinking – as simple as that.

Take it slow

Now, we don’t know whether you are trying to assess your mental health while attending an Inpatient or Outpatient program in Florida. Every addiction is different, so people will encounter different situations. If you are staying in a partial hospitalization program, then you will have a plan made by professionals that will provide some structure to your life. They will also ensure that you have enough free time for personal activities, where assessing mental health will be one of them.

However, if you are attending an Outpatient program, then you will have a lot of free time. You can either spend that free time in activities that will distract you, or you can do the right thing and slow down. Give yourself enough time that you can dedicate to mental health and the activities that will help you with it. The time that you spend on yourself and your mental health is always the time that is well invested.

Ask yourself some important questions

Clearing your schedule for assessing your mental health during recovery is a great first step. But what you need now is to create a list of the questions that you should ask yourself. Moreover, simply asking the right questions is not going to be enough. What you need to do is be honest with yourself. There’s no point in cheating or undermining the situation, as that can only help you ignore your problems and create a false sense of mental well-being. If you intend to do this the right way, here are some questions that you need to ask yourself.

1. What has my overall mood been like?

Your mood can reveal a lot more than you think. And no – just because you have been in a bad mood one day does not mean that your mental health is bad. It simply means that you are a human being with normal emotions, and emotions can change. However, if you take a good look at your overall mood since entering a heroin rehab facility in Florida and you notice that you have had more bad days than good ones, then it might be time to ask for some help.

Likewise, if you notice that you are having constant mood swings after leaving rehab, know that this is also a cause for concern. Frequent mood swings are one of the signs that a relapse is about to happen. Thus, if you notice that you are moodier than usual, try to identify the cause behind every shift. This is also a good reason for you to schedule an appointment with your therapist and discuss the problem.

2. How are my anxiety and stress levels?

Nowadays, there are quite a lot of people who are experiencing problems with anxiety. While anxiety is a common problem in people who aren’t going through rehab, it’s even more frequent among those who are. The same goes for stress. Stress is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of our daily lives that is known for causing quite a lot of health problems. But stress is sometimes at an all-time high before and during a stay in a crack cocaine rehab FL facility. The combination of the two is enough to inflict some psychological damage on even the strongest of people.

Thus, every once in a while, it’s important to take a step back and assess your anxiety and stress levels. If you notice that the two of them have been out of hand lately, it’s important to take the necessary action. For starters, we recommend that you start spending more time on the activities that you love doing and that are relaxing at the same time. Yoga, hiking, and meditation can all help you relieve some stress. As for anxiety, if you notice that it’s severe, it would be good to involve a professional. Once you learn why assessing your mental health is so important during recovery, you will be less likely to let the situation get out of hand.

3. How am I coping with difficult situations?

Difficult situations and stressful times are going to come, no matter who and what you are. However, while those stressful moments push someone into addiction, they leave others completely unaffected. While this can be interpreted as someone having more willpower to resist tough times, it’s much more likely that some people simply have better skills for coping with problems. Luckily, during your stay in an Inpatient rehab facility in Palm Beach, you will get a chance to learn all about healthy coping mechanisms.

We suggest that you dissect your attitude towards problems. Do you run away once the tough times roll around? Do you tend to ignore the problem until it becomes too big? Or do you perhaps resort to drugs and alcohol? By noticing your harmful behavior, you are going to be a lot more likely to correct it. More importantly, if you suspect that any of the activities you resort to are unhealthy, it’s essential that you substitute them with the right activities. When it comes to harmful activities, think about all those things that harm your body and soul. Overeating, gambling, drugs, and alcohol are not the way to deal with stressful times and problematic situations.

4. How do I function in daily life?

Your life during recovery is mostly going to be centered around your addiction. However, that doesn’t mean that it should be the only thing to focus on in the days to come. In fact, paying sufficient attention to other areas of life is going to help you reach all of your recovery milestones. Thus, when trying to assess your mental health during recovery in Florida, it’s important to take a look at how you function when it comes to important aspects of your life.

For starters, are you still spending enough time with your friends and family? Nurturing these relationships is very important for every person, as it’s the people close to you that provide you with the necessary support. Naturally, having a lot of support is going to help with your mental well-being, as we all want to feel like someone is there for us.

Secondly, take a good look at how well you are performing in your place of work or school. Falling behind with your tasks is one of the biggest signs that your mental health has taken a toll. The good news is that there are many ways to increase productivity at work, and all of these methods will help you excel in your career. And one should never underestimate the positive effects that good work performance can have on one’s mental health. Of course, this only goes if you avoid burnout. Otherwise, you’d only be hurting yourself.

5. Do I still enjoy my usual activities?

Before addiction had taken over your life, we are sure you had some activities that were bringing you pleasure. Most people have hobbies that help them fill out their days and be happier. However, once addiction enters the scene, people tend to disregard most of their hobbies and social activities. That’s why they are instructed to go back to doing those things that they love after embarking on the process of recovery.

If you understand why assessing your mental health is so important during recovery, then you should make a special effort to take a look at your activities. Did you go back to doing the things that you love? Are you still spending time on your hobbies and favorite pastime activities? If you conclude that you haven’t taken that spin class you especially love for a long time, try to think about your reasons for not going. If you notice that there is a particular reason why you have been avoiding these activities, do your best to resolve it. In essence, you really want to spend some time on things that help you feel good while in recovery. Otherwise, you could find yourself dealing with depression and different mental health problems.

6. Am I experiencing memory problems?

Our bodies are nothing like perfect machines, and that’s normal. That’s why when we experience one problem, its effects are likely to be seen on some other part of our bodies, if only we were to pay enough attention to them. And if you understand why assessing your mental health is so important during recovery, then you also understand why you need to stop and listen. Particularly, you want to pay attention to your brain and how well it is functioning. 

Have you been having any memory problems lately? Do you oftentimes feel confused and experience brain fog? Are you sometimes unable to differentiate between what’s real and what isn’t? Have you been finding it hard to concentrate on even the simplest of tasks? Unfortunately, all of these point to some disturbances in one’s mental health.

But before you start panicking, you need to know that this doesn’t have to mean that anything serious is happening. All of these feelings and problems can be temporary, but they can also stick around for quite some time. Thus, it’s important to keep yourself on top of things and monitor your mental health. If you notice that these problems are persisting, then it’s the right time to seek some professional help. Regular therapy sessions that are held even after leaving rehab are just a part of aftercare treatment in Florida, which is crucial for preventing a relapse.

7. Did I have any self-harming thoughts?

Now, having thoughts about harming yourself is the most serious stadium of being mentally unwell. Make note that people who have these thoughts can simultaneously harbor the thoughts of hurting someone else. Either one of these calls for urgent professional intervention. Due to the gravity of the situation, a person shouldn’t wait to seek the necessary help. Many people will have very sporadic and fleeting thoughts about harming themselves. This might not always call for urgent care, but it’s best if a person plays it safe. The only time when you might brush it off as a weak moment is if you have no history of mental illness, have a great support system, and are experiencing these thoughts once in a blue moon.

The good news is that you can influence your chances of developing these thoughts and exhibiting the behavior that goes with them. For starters, you can be diligent when it comes to assessing your mental health during recovery, which will help you spot any problems early on. This is particularly important if you know that you have been having similar thoughts before or during your addiction. We are not saying that you won’t ever be able to fully heal from your past mental and emotional problems. However, it’s just like with your addiction – if they were there once, they can be there again. That’s why you shouldn’t leave anything up to chance and take matters into your own hands.

Assessing your mental health during recovery is never time wasted

We understand that taking a good long look at your mental health might not be your favorite activity. Hey, you’d much rather be spending that time reading, working out, or even gardening – insert your favorite pastime activity. However, this activity of taking a good look at your mental health is more than a necessary one.

For starters, it’s important to realize why assessing your mental health is so important during recovery. The answer? Because it helps you avoid bigger problems, such as thoughts about self-harm and relapse. Once you manage to handle that part, it’s going to be a lot easier to dedicate some time to your mental health. And remember – mental and physical health are closely connected, so you have no excuse to prioritize one over the other.

And when it comes to the exact way to assess your mental health during recovery, we have just given you a few questions that will help you do that. Our suggestion? Ask yourself these questions in this particular order. If you want to take it one step further and show that you have really understood the assignment, it would be good to write down your answers. There’s just something about writing down your feelings and putting them into words that is incredibly healing. Besides, with your feelings on paper, you will be much less likely to ignore or undermine them. Furthermore, you can take your answers with you the next time you go to therapy and show them to your healthcare professional. It never hurts to get an expert’s opinion when it comes to topics as serious as mental health.