What is the connection between mental health and addiction?

As with many chronic health conditions, there isn’t just one way that someone can end up with a co-occurring disorder. Some people have a mental health issue before their addiction, while others develop symptoms after they are addicted. Many different studies have been done on this topic, which has lead to three main reasons why mental health and addiction are linked: Both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders have similar risk factors. This can include genetics, high stress jobs, unstable personal lives, and a history of emotional or physical trauma. Mental disorders can make it more likely for you to use drugs, and develop a substance use disorder. Sometimes people with a mental health issue try to use drugs to treat their symptoms and make themselves feel better. Other mental disorders can cause changes in your brain that make it more likely for you to become addicted to drugs. Substance abuse and addiction can make it more likely for you to develop a mental health issue. This is because substance abuse and addiction can change the way that your brain works, which can lead to certain mental health issues. Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information .

What are the signs of a mental health disorder?

There are many different mental health disorders that affect people, and the signs and symptoms will depend on each person’s individual experiences and diagnosis. There are, however, some general signs that can point to a mental health disorder, including: Feeling worried or fearful for no reason Excessive sadness Confusion Problems concentrating or learning Extreme mood swings Inappropriate anger or irritability Avoiding friends or social gatherings Problems sleeping Chronic exhaustion Eating too much or too little Having distorted perceptions of reality Thoughts of self-harm or suicide A general feeling of poor health without obvious cause Problems carrying out normal activities, such as going to work or bathing Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.

What is outpatient psychiatric treatment?

Outpatient mental health treatment is a type of treatment that allows people to still live in their own homes during treatment. Your treatment will take place in a doctor’s office, hospital, or other clinical setting, but you are not required to stay overnight. Depending on what type of mental health issues you are having, what substance you have been abusing, and how severe your symptoms are, your provider will create the most appropriate treatment plan for you. The most common options include: Addiction Treatment Anxiety Disorder Treatment Behavioral Therapy Bipolar Disorder Treatment Depression Treatment Family Therapy Group Counseling Individual Counseling Medication Psychotherapy Stress Management Skills The amount of time that you will be required to spend at your outpatient mental health treatment program will depend on you and your needs. Most people begin with weekly visits for 30 to 60 minutes. As you successfully complete your treatment program, the amount of time you have to spend at the facility will decrease. Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.

What are the benefits of outpatient psychiatric treatment?

Outpatient mental health treatment isn’t for everyone. If, however, you have a strong support system at home and are able to hold yourself accountable for attending treatment, an outpatient program may work for you. Some of the main benefits of an outpatient mental health treatment program are: They allow people to maintain contact with their support network They provide people with an opportunity to learn coping skills for both their addiction and mental health symptoms, and how to integrate them into their daily lives They can help people transition from an inpatient treatment program back into their normal lives with more success Our licensed clinical staff will determine if you are appropriate for the outpatient level of care. You should discuss all of your symptoms and situation with one of our medical or behavioral healthcare specialists in order for us to make the best determination for your care plan. Our clinicians are experienced in evaluating and treating mental health conditions and can determine the most appropriate and most effective course of action for you. Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.

Does insurance cover psychiatric care?

While every insurance plan is different, your insurance company may offer coverage for psychiatric care. If you are considering psychiatric treatment, our caring staff will help you determine what your options are for insurance or other payment plans. Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.

Psychiatric Services

Addiction Psychiatrist in Chestnut Hill

Psychiatric Care for Substance Use Disorders

Whether you're struggling with substance use disorder or experiencing a mental health crisis, psychotherapy and psychiatric care can help to make your recovery easier, more manageable and longer lasting. At Wave Treatment Centers, we approach every patient's unique challenges with a unique plan that can include modern medications or cutting-edge therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), all supported by psychotherapy to address the underlying issues contributing to your struggles with addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders.

What makes psychotherapy such a critical part of your recovery plan is its ability to help you better understand the root causes and triggers of the behaviors that contribute to the issues you're struggling with. Especially for those struggling with addiction, learning to identify the reasons that you turn to alcohol or opioids can help you develop and maintain a recovery plan that helps you recognize and address stressors without turning to substance use.

What to ask when you're looking for an addiction psychiatrist

Do you offer specialized dual diagnosis programming?
If I need to complete detox, can I do that at your center?
What are the qualifications of the professionals who provide care at your facility?
How will you determine what services are best for me?
Do you offer medication management services or medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?
Can you effectively treat people who also have a history of trauma?
Can I tour your facility or see photos of your treatment environment?

Start your Healing Journey

A healthier, happier life starts here — talk to our caring staff today.

Website Form Submission

Learn more

This is a paragraph. Writing in paragraphs lets visitors find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

Learn more

This is a paragraph. Writing in paragraphs lets visitors find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

Learn more

Addiction Psychiatry

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the connection between mental health and addiction?
As with many chronic health conditions, there isn’t just one way that someone can end up with a co-occurring disorder. Some people have a mental health issue before their addiction, while others develop symptoms after they are addicted. Many different studies have been done on this topic, which has lead to three main reasons why mental health and addiction are linked:
- Both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders have similar risk factors. This can include genetics, high stress jobs, unstable personal lives, and a history of emotional or physical trauma.
- Mental disorders can make it more likely for you to use drugs, and develop a substance use disorder. Sometimes people with a mental health issue try to use drugs to treat their symptoms and make themselves feel better. Other mental disorders can cause changes in your brain that make it more likely for you to become addicted to drugs.
- Substance abuse and addiction can make it more likely for you to develop a mental health issue. This is because substance abuse and addiction can change the way that your brain works, which can lead to certain mental health issues.
Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.
What are the signs of a mental health disorder?
There are many different mental health disorders that affect people, and the signs and symptoms will depend on each person’s individual experiences and diagnosis. There are, however, some general signs that can point to a mental health disorder, including:
- Feeling worried or fearful for no reason
- Excessive sadness
- Confusion
- Problems concentrating or learning
- Extreme mood swings
- Inappropriate anger or irritability
- Avoiding friends or social gatherings
- Problems sleeping
- Chronic exhaustion
- Eating too much or too little
- Having distorted perceptions of reality
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- A general feeling of poor health without obvious cause
- Problems carrying out normal activities, such as going to work or bathing
Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.
What is outpatient psychiatric treatment?
Outpatient mental health treatment is a type of treatment that allows people to still live in their own homes during treatment. Your treatment will take place in a doctor’s office, hospital, or other clinical setting, but you are not required to stay overnight.

Depending on what type of mental health issues you are having, what substance you have been abusing, and how severe your symptoms are, your provider will create the most appropriate treatment plan for you. The most common options include:
- Addiction Treatment
- Anxiety Disorder Treatment
- Behavioral Therapy
- Bipolar Disorder Treatment
- Depression Treatment
- Family Therapy
- Group Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- Stress Management Skills
The amount of time that you will be required to spend at your outpatient mental health treatment program will depend on you and your needs. Most people begin with weekly visits for 30 to 60 minutes. As you successfully complete your treatment program, the amount of time you have to spend at the facility will decrease.

Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.
What are the benefits of outpatient psychiatric treatment?
Outpatient mental health treatment isn’t for everyone. If, however, you have a strong support system at home and are able to hold yourself accountable for attending treatment, an outpatient program may work for you. Some of the main benefits of an outpatient mental health treatment program are:
- They allow people to maintain contact with their support network
- They provide people with an opportunity to learn coping skills for both their addiction and mental health symptoms, and how to integrate them into their daily lives
- They can help people transition from an inpatient treatment program back into their normal lives with more success
Our licensed clinical staff will determine if you are appropriate for the outpatient level of care. You should discuss all of your symptoms and situation with one of our medical or behavioral healthcare specialists in order for us to make the best determination for your care plan. Our clinicians are experienced in evaluating and treating mental health conditions and can determine the most appropriate and most effective course of action for you.

Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.
Does insurance cover psychiatric care?

While every insurance plan is different, your insurance company may offer coverage for psychiatric care.

If you are considering psychiatric treatment, our caring staff will help you determine what your options are for insurance or other payment plans.

Contact Wave Treatment Centers for additional information.

I contribute my 4 years of recovery largely to Dr. Beatty. I didn’t think recovery was even possible for someone like me. With the guidance and support of Dr. Beatty, I have been able to pull my life together completely. My plan for treatment was unlike any I had before, and that was exactly what I needed in order to succeed. Thank you very for everything Dr. Beatty, I could not have done this without you.

Zack J.