Mental Health And Addictions -- Real Stories, Real People

Mental Health And Addictions — Real Stories, Real People

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Substance abuse is a serious mental health disorder and needs to be treated as a mental illness and not disregarded as a lack of self-control or other “lifestyle choice.” Many victims of substance abuse and addiction disorders experience other, co-occurring mental illnesses — such as depression and bipolar disorder — that result from traumatic experiences early in their lives. “Julie’s” story emphasizes this condition. Although her name has been changed to protect her identity, Julie’s story can still inspire hope for millions of people battling with addictions disorders.

Julie was born into a middle class family. She lived in a nice house with her parents and brother.

But what the world did not see was that her parents drank — sometimes a lot. Julie was a sad and isolated child; her mother was frequently at the local pub or out partying. When she was eight, her father began sexually abusing her. At 12, she was raped and became pregnant. She pleaded with Social Services to be placed in foster care along with her baby, but her parental rights were terminated by a court.

During her teen years, Julie began drinking and abusing other substances after the loss of her child. She also began hearing voices.

Eventually she married and had two sons. Unfortunately, she continued drinking and using drugs — now with her husband. She tried to stop, but she could not. She began to make “deals with God,” burning herself over the gas stove or cutting herself in exchange for God protecting her sons or providing food for them.

Then one day, her husband picked up the boys from school and vanished. Julie traveled everywhere she could think to find them, eventually ending up in New York where she prostituted herself to survive and to feed her growing drug habit.

Found on a street and hospitalized, Julie was returned to a community mental health center and hospital in Massachusetts for treatment. This was several years ago. Today, Julie continues to work on her recovery. She still hears voices, but is now receiving the care and treatment that she needs. Additionally, she has not burned or cut herself in several years. Julie now holds a part time job, volunteers at a local community mental health center and has recently been in contact with her children.

Linda Rosenberg is the president and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. TNC is the unifying voice of America’s community-based mental health organizations and behavioral health organizations, lobbying for funding to research treatment for mental illnesses, including substance abuse and addiction. Learn more at www.thenationalcouncil.org.