Des Moines Mom wants to create a safe space for ongoing conversations about mental health. That is why we created this series, Mental Health and Motherhood.
In this monthly series, we’re going to be talking about mental health for ourselves, for our kids, our spouses, and our families. We could talk about the importance of mental health for days. Some topics we want to dig into are anxiety and depression, bullying, postpartum depression, and therapy in general.
Here is a conversation about substance abuse with mental health therapist and certified alcohol and drug counselor Sheila Russel, LISW, CADC, with Front Line Therapy, LLC.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
What is substance abuse?
Substance use and addictive disorders include drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Additionally, people can have an unhealthy relationship with anything. There has been an evolution in the language that is used between addiction or disorder. It is referred to as a substance use disorder on a continuum of mild, moderate, and severe. Identifying the level of the disorder helps determine the best treatment.
If a person is using or recovering from or spending a long time to acquire assets or ability to be able to get drug or alcohol of choice or to gamble. As a certified alcohol and drug counselor, I am looking at time or effort seeking drug or alcohol or money for gambling, how long they are spending using, and how long they are spending withdrawing or recovering or the intoxication effects.
How has the pandemic impacted substance abuse?
What are signs that you may have a problem?
What should you do if you think you may need help or know someone who might?
If you or someone you love are struggling with a substance abuse disorder there are many resources available and many are online. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) isn’t just for alcoholics, it also has groups for family members. Treatment and mental health therapy are also options to consider.
