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Addiction Prevention
Mental Hygiene
Why is it socially acceptable to practice dental hygiene but not mental hygiene? There are number benefits to mental hygiene, including; lower stress, better sleep, healthy relationships, making better choices, maintaining physical health and well-‐being, ease of handling the natural ups and downs of life and discovering and growing toward our potential. Mental hygiene will be unique to every individual; some of us must attend to our mental hygiene more carefully than others. Mental hygiene involves a variety of brain targeted activities and other indirect activities. A good mental hygiene program will generally consists of the following;
Annual Check Up with Qualified Mental Health Care Provider
Meditation
Sleep Hygiene
Regular Exercise
Nutrition
Journaling
Spiritual Practice
What Can I Do?
A genetic disposition is required for the manifestation of addiction and most other mental health conditions. Therefore prevention in the world of addiction and mental health is primarily about preventing;
Progression
Complications
Overt manifestations
Complications
Complications of addiction include: mental health problems, anxiety, depression, behaviour problems that may be labelled personality disorders, abusive relationships, physical health conditions, problematic drug and alcohol use.
Complications are like red herrings in the world of addiction and mental health. The tendency is to treat complications while ignoring the underlying cause. Treating the complication usually leads to alternate expressions of addiction leading to more mis-treatment (likely with pharmaceuticals) to treat more complications; meanwhile the disease of addiction continues to worsen and tighten its grip on the individual. The individual never finds relief from the treatment (usually psychiatric) nor the ease and comfort that a targeted addiction related recovery program offers.
Without conscious recovery related activities the disease of addiction will get worse. The symptoms will become more and more obvious, increasing the harm caused to oneself and others.
Bio Psycho Social Spiritual
The biological component of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model focuses on the physical aspects of health. It includes genetics, physiology, anatomy, and the impact of medical conditions and treatments on the body. This dimension acknowledges that biological factors such as genetics and physical health conditions can significantly influence a person's overall well-being and mental health.
Biological Health
The social component examines the influence of relationships, family dynamics, social support networks, and societal norms on an individual's health. It includes factors such as cultural background, socioeconomic status, education, and the impact of social environments on behavior and well-being. This dimension emphasizes the role of social connections and community support in shaping health outcomes.
Social Health
The psychological aspect encompasses mental processes, emotions, cognition, and behavior. It considers how thoughts, beliefs, and emotions impact an individual's mental health and overall functioning. This component highlights the importance of addressing psychological disorders, coping mechanisms, and the interplay between mental and physical health.
Psychological Health
The spiritual aspect relates to an individual's sense of meaning, purpose, values, beliefs, and connection to something greater than oneself. It encompasses religious beliefs, existential concerns, and the quest for personal fulfillment and transcendence. This dimension recognizes the role of spirituality in providing resilience, hope, and comfort, and its influence on mental and physical health.
Spiritual Health
Early Assessment
Early Assessment and good mental hygiene are the keys to prevention. A comprehensive assessment for addiction and mental health is essential to preventing and treating moderate and severe cases of addiction. The earlier in life the assessment is done, the better.
ADHD and Addiction
A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common early indication of addiction. The symptoms that are erroneously considered ADHD are actually early signs of addition. Other early signs of addiction in order of dysfunction include: oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder and anti-social personality disorder. These are not necessarily addiction, but can be addiction and point to the risk of addiction prior to the more commonly known symptoms of excessive behaviours and problematic, impulsive and/or compulsive consumption.
Comprehensive Assessment
A comprehensive assessment for addiction and mental health is a 3-4 part comprehensive evaluation used to identify the bio-psycho-social-emotional-spiritual dysfunction. This would included nursing, psychological, social and physician assessment that covers all domains. Current physical health conditions, family health history, significant interpersonal relationships, mental health symptoms (mood, depression, anxiety, substance use, social support, self-harm) and a connection to the transcendent or higher power are evaluated. At the end of the comprehensive evaluation a holistic (bio-psycho-social-emotional-spiritual) treatment and recovery program will be outlined, specific to the individual’s needs.
Treatment and long term Recovery
Mental Health Treatment
Treatment for mental health varies depending on the individual but, ideally, will involve a holistic approach involving biological (physical), psychological (emotional), social (relationships), and spiritual elements. Specifically, treatment may include:
Individual, couples, and/or family counseling
Techniques to explore and address thinking patterns (Cognitive- Behavioural therapy)
Exploration of internal dialogue, self-talk
Exploration of family of origin and relationships
Relaxation techniques (Hypnosis, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, deep breathing) -Specific approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address traumatic experiences
Encouragement of self-care (fun and relaxing activities)
Recommended homework and activities (e.g., yoga, meditation, structured hobbies)
Addiction Treatment
This initial intense phase typically take 1 to 3 months. The learnings and activities initiated during the intense first phase are periodically reinforced throughout the first 2 years of the program, helping individuals build a strong foundation. The next 3 years is the beginning of the Continuing Care environment. It is designed to help individuals fit life into recovery. Having direct guidance over the previous 2 years to build a solid foundation, individuals are now encouraged to figure out what recovery related activities they need to maintain and at what level of frequency and intensity to ensure sustained long term recovery where a person truly benefits from eliminated or reduced symptoms of Addiction.
Long Term Recovery
FAMH has taken the findings from leading edge scientific and clinical research to develop a treatment and long term recovery program. 15 recovery specific activities are presented in the matrix below. Depending on the severity of addiction and the results of the comprehensive assessment the required treatment program may require at least five (5) years disciplined daily, weekly and monthly activities. Moderate cases of addiction typically require three (3) years. With mild cases stabilized in recovery, a year maybe sufficient. The program begins with an intense education regarding the disease of Addiction and why specific recovery related activities (listed below) are required in complete combination to bring about the changes required for sustained long term recovery.