Is Alcoholism Considered a Mental Illness?

October 25, 2021

Harmony Place Team

Also known as alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction, alcoholism, like all other forms of addiction, is a disease. Like many other diseases, alcoholism does not discriminate based on age, gender, or ethnicity. Alcoholism does not care how much money you make or the type of house you live in or even how educated you are.

While alcoholism is a disease and can affect someone’s physical well-being, it can also affect them mentally. Alcoholism also coincides with many different types of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. It’s one of the many reasons people wonder, “Is alcoholism considered a mental illness?”

While the answer to this question can be a little tricky, it’s an important one to answer, especially for those who might be in a position where they need help for either alcoholism, mental health issues, or both. Let’s take a look at that question and talk about some of the ways you or someone you know can get help for alcoholism.

What Is a Mental Illness?

Before we address whether or not alcoholism is a mental illness, it’s important to understand what exactly a mental illness is. A mental illness is a condition that prevents someone from behaving in a “normal” manner both with themselves, with others, and within their environment. Some of the most common mental health issues are:

Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Personality disorder
Psychosis
Schizophrenia

Many of these conditions are associated with alcoholism, including anxiety and depression. Despite mental health conditions affecting millions of people on a daily basis, many people are embarrassed to admit they have a problem. Oftentimes, this results in the person turning to things like drugs and alcohol to suppress those feelings of embarrassment and trying to forget their problems. This is another way in which alcoholism and mental illness are connected.

Is Alcohol Addiction a Mental Illness?

While alcoholism might not be as easy to spot as other diseases or mental health conditions, it is still considered both a medical and mental condition. In addition, treatment for alcohol abuse involves both physical and psychological components. As a result, both the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders officially recognize alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and alcohol addiction as mental health conditions.

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, health insurance providers are legally required to cover treatment costs for alcoholism since it falls under the categories of both substance abuse and mental health disorders. So, is alcoholism considered a mental illness? The short answer is yes.

When Was Alcoholism Officially Recognized as a Mental Illness?

In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association formally recognized substance use disorder, such as alcoholism, as a mental health disorder. It had previously been categorized as a personality disorder but was identified as a mental health disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

How Do Alcohol and Alcoholism Affect the Brain?

According to a variety of studies over the years, alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction lead to significant changes in overall brain makeup and functionality. When someone suffers from alcoholism, they tend to go through three different stages:

Stage 1: Drinking to the point of intoxication or inebriation. After reaching that point, the effects of the alcohol begin to wear off, resulting in withdrawal symptoms kicking in both physically and mentally.
Stage 2: The person becomes obsessed with getting their next drink. Over time, this repeated pattern can result in significant changes in brain function.
Stage 3: It becomes nearly impossible for the person to stop drinking on their own because their brain is programmed to think that they must be drunk to function properly. When they aren’t, the brain thinks something is wrong.

When alcohol changes the overall makeup of the brain, it largely affects three areas:

The basal ganglia – Responsible for motor control
The prefrontal cortex – Supports cognitive function
The extended amygdala – Reward recognition

When these three parts of the brain are disrupted, it significantly increases the desire for the person to drink alcohol, increases their feelings of stress, and reduces impulse control.

What Are the Different Stages of Alcoholism?

The progression from casually drinking with friends or co-workers to alcohol abuse and then alcoholism can take a while and is often not very noticeable to outsiders. In fact, once it gets to a point where it is a real problem, many people have trouble pinpointing when exactly their drinking became an issue.

This is why it’s so important to know and understand the different stages of alcoholism, as well as be able to identify them.

Problematic Drinking

The first stage of alcoholism is called problematic drinking. During this stage, friends and family members of the person drinking may begin to notice that their drinking has started to become an issue. It’s also at this point that the drinker may begin to experience some of the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms associated with alcoholism, since the body and the brain have both become more and more accustomed to alcohol being in the system.

The drinker might also begin to experience health issues, performance issues at work or school, or even financial problems.

Severe Alcohol Abuse

The next stage is what’s known as severe alcohol abuse. At this point, the drinker has become ever more dependent on alcohol both physically and psychologically. This is also when mental health issues start to kick in, such as feelings of anxiety, depression, aggression, and irritability.

It is at this point that the drinker might also begin to start pulling away from friends and family members, as well as start to show some of the more common signs of addiction.

Obsessive Alcohol Abuse

The final stage is called obsessive alcohol abuse. At this point, the drinker will likely have alcohol in their system at all times when they are awake and immediately experience withdrawal symptoms when they don’t. From a psychological standpoint, the obsession with alcohol can be crippling as the drinker becomes obsessed with not only drinking but figuring out where their next drink will come from.

How Can I Get Help for Alcoholism?

Whether you are in the problematic drinking stage, the obsessive alcohol abuse stage, or somewhere in between, the good news is help is available.

The first step in the process of getting help for alcoholism is to enter into a medical detox program to rid your body of any alcohol in your system, as well as any other harmful substances that might be in your system, as well.

Due to the nature of detoxing and the side effects associated with it, it is important to detox under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals. This can be done at either a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment facility that also provides detox services, such as Harmony Place. Attempting to self-detox can be incredibly dangerous and even life-threatening.

Since alcoholism is both a physical and mental issue, treatment will focus on both the physical and mental aspects of addiction and recovery. At Harmony Place, we offer a wide variety of treatments for co-occurring disorders, such as:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Psychoeducational groups
Psychodrama psychotherapy
Relapse prevention education and practice

In addition, some suffering from alcoholism may benefit from medication-assisted treatment, or MAT. This is typically done in the early stages of treatment, often in conjunction with detox to help relieve some of the more severe withdrawal side effects.

Some of the medications offered include:

Suboxone
Methadone
Naltrexone

Does Alcoholism Fall Under Mental Illness?

Alcoholism is a serious condition that can be insidious in its onset, affecting both the body and mind. Those addicted to alcohol often face a range of health challenges that can be difficult to recognize until they become severe. This underscores the critical importance of seeking help as soon as possible. At Harmony Place, we are committed to helping individuals break free from the grip of alcoholism, providing the necessary support and resources to guide them towards recovery.

Our facility is dedicated to offering comprehensive treatment options for alcoholism and various substance abuse disorders. We understand that each individual’s journey is unique, which is why we partner with leading insurance providers such as Optum for alcohol addiction recovery and Anthem for addiction rehab. These partnerships ensure that the cost of treatment, including how much alcohol rehab might entail, is made more manageable through proper insurance coverage. Our goal is to alleviate the financial burden of rehab, allowing clients to focus on their path to sobriety.

Harmony Place also collaborates with Aetna for alcohol cover and BCBS for alcohol rehabilitation, ensuring extensive alcohol rehab insurance coverage. Understanding the financial considerations involved in paying for alcohol rehab is crucial, and we are here to navigate these complexities alongside you. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, do not hesitate to reach out. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping individuals achieve long-term recovery and embrace a healthier, more fulfilling life.

For more information on our treatment options, contact us today.

Resources:

Alcohol Addiction Related Guides

Chris P

I've been to 12 rehabs over the last 20 years and NO other place has touch like Harmony Place! From the owner right down to the cleaning lady, everyone here is kinda and warm. God has blessed this place and I feel privileged to have come through here. I recommend anyone who is going through their struggle with mental health or substance abuse to pick up the phone and come! You won't regret it!

Joseph S

This place is incredible, kind, loving, patient, rigorous, educative, caring and the best place for recovery. Ill be part of the alumni crew

Monica G

I had very good experience at Harmony Place From first day I came, staff was very kind and make me feel welcome and safe. Everyone was friendly and always try to help me. The therapists are very good and caring. They listen to me and help me understand my problems better. I learn many things from them and feel stronger because of their support. The nurses also very nice and professional. They always check on me and make sure I am okay. Food was good and facilities were clean and comfortable. It help me feel more relaxed and focus on my recovery. Management also doing very good job. Everything was organized and you can see they really care about patients. I am very thankful for this place and all the people who work here. I recommend this center to anyone who needs help.

Denton

Awesome place great people u want to check this place out most definitely 😜

Tyler

A treatment center where the owners truly care about your recovery and after care.. cannot recommend enough

Jodana S

If you want to detox painlessly this is the place! The staff is A1. They truly care about us. The groups are awesome . Residential is crazy awesome! You live in a mansion. With a private chef who makes the best food. Community meeting that gets results fast, they care about your opinions. Pool and Jacuzzi are beautiful. If your struggling with addiction this is the house you should come to. I LOVE HARMONY PLACE!!!!! Thank you to all the staff they go above and beyond to make this experience comfortable therapeutic. Don't spend another day in your addiction come to Harmony Place right now!

Cass

I’ve been to 4 treatment centers before Harmony Place, and I can tell you without a single doubt that this is the absolute best by FAR. The past ones were luxury Residential Treatment centers that just treated every single client the same not tailoring to each individual, and were basically just in it for the money, dropping the ball each time. I can also tell you that I’ve never met the CEOs, but here, David comes to the facility almost every single day, and makes sure he get to know every individual here. He is incredibly kind, and was even willing to transfer me to another facility with a higher level of trauma therapy due to me having a lifetime of trauma and PTSD that just is going to take a long time to tackle. He truly cares about all of the clients having all of the tools that we need before getting released to the real world. No more of other CEO would ever be willing to miss an opportunity at making more money and even paired with my IMPECCABLE case manager to find a different facility that was more trauma based. My case manager, Sam, goes absolutely above and beyond in every single aspect. She makes sure you have a smooth transition into aftercare, provides out of this world advice when it comes to sobriety, and takes the time out of her day to make sure that FMLA and short-term disability are completely taken care of during your stay. I’ve never met a case manager that could ever compare to Sam. Ever. I feel lucky to have met her, genuinely. Marissa, my therapist, is SO SWEET, actually listens to you, and provides advice and therapy tailored to each individual’s experience. She’s handled every mood I’ve been in, never judged me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to tell her things I’ve never told any person or therapist in my 29 years of life. I’ve been going to therapy for the past 15 years, and none of those therapists even come close to how amazing she is. I’ve been to 4 other treatment centers in my life and none even come close to Harmony Place. The facility is clean, organized, and high-end. I would recommend Harmony place to my family, friends, and anyone seeking treatment. I feel SO BLESSED to have landed in their hands. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE CLINICAL STAFF BEYOND WORDS. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. I feel more confident than ever in my Recovery.

Gabe H

Where to begin.. Harmony is a place that will forever be a part of my story as the first step in my recovery journey. I’m so grateful for this program. The staff is very friendly, and many of them understand what addiction is like, for they themselves have recovery stories of their own. They have an awesome team of therapists, group facilitators, nurses, RA technicians, medical and health professionals, a wonderful case manager for aftercare that cares deeply for your next steps; making sure you are set up for success. They have a wonderful admissions team (shoutout to Marielle who was so kind and understanding of my messed up situation). Everyone is very relatable and friendly. They invest heavily in the importance of diet and nutrition too - there’s a full time professional chef. I gained all the weight I lost and wanted back in the first two weeks lol. On top of the intensive programming they do throughout the day, they take us out to experience various kinds of outside groups to get a taste of the real world, and also take us on social outings during the weekend. If you’re serious about getting better this place will meet you where you’re at and prepare you to launch with a renewed mind and heart.

Monica P

I can't begin to explain just how amazing Harmony Place is. In fact, when we sit down with the owner, Jeff, and clinical director, David, on Monday mornings to have a house meeting, they ask us what they could be doing better. A bigger blender for smoothies is the ONLY thing we could come up with. Let me begin by addressing some negative reviews. If you notice many of them are from people, or are referring to people who have been asked to leave. It is because of harmony places protection of their clients that provide ideal conditions for healing and progress. There is a screening process that it is implemented where they make sure the clients they admit are ready to start a life of sobriety. Some people slip through the cracks. Some people find out a few days or weeks in that they've changed their minds. Some are inappropriate and break rules. It happens. When Harmony Place ask people to leave, It's because they are protecting the people who are here that want treatment. In effect, they're providing exactly what I needed for a genuine start to recovery. When I began my search for a treatment center, my requirements were that the facility's provide an environment in which its residents all want to be there and that it is ethically ran. I got that and so much more at Harmony Place. As well as a structured routine, they also provide a confidential and nurturing environment where one feels safe and where profound healing can begin. Their program offers a sound foundation where further progress in sober living is almost guaranteed. In group meetings, we enjoy getting to know ourselves again and with deeper understanding about why we are the way we are. We are provided with skills to handle real life. Its here that I've come to understand that its not addiction that has driven me to make a mess of my life. It is the trauma that I endured and not processing it correctly that lead to poor thinking patterns that opened the door to addiction resulting in poor life management. So we start at the bottom. Trauma. They help us understand that trauma has led to our own toxicity, what that trauma looks like and how to get out of our own way. Process groups help us learn how to take accountability and foster healthier relationships. I learned here that changing the way I think is absolutely possible and imperative to the healing process. Harmony Place offered me hope when I previously felt I was unfixable and a support team that truly loves me. Even after I leave here, I have contacts that almost demand I keep in touch and an alumni meeting where I can return to the facility on Thursday nights. I wasn't a 12 stepper when I came here but my first experience with it was not one where I was ready to stop using. I understand now that the steps will work for me. It's certainly is not the only modality that they teach. In one group, we are provided an opportunity to sit with a recently retired medical doctor to just ask questions. Another is with a nutritionist. There are a handful of people IN recovery that come to lead groups that are all accredited highly specialized where I felt understood and not judged. The knowledge I have gained here is life changing. It is also versatile and relatable for all types of people. my favorite group was dialectical behavioral therapy. There are breathing classes and sound bath groups and I started doing yoga in the morning. There's a dharma meeting they take you offsite that focuses on Buddhist values. A fantastic onsight chef provides three meals and you can have special requests. We facilitated our own Movie nights during free time. I cant forget to mention you get your own one on one meetings with your assigned primary therapist and there is comprehensive medical support complete with 24/7 nurses and a doctor that shows up throughout the week. If this is what you need to recover and you have mediCAL, cancel your mediCAL and get insurance Harmony Place accepts if you can. There are people to help you with that as well. Just call. Many, many thanks to the staff. ✔️Another life changed.🙏

Cody B

This is such an amazing place truly changed my life. I would recommend this place to anybody if they’re looking for a strong recovery house that truly cares about your recovery and not about just money So if you’re ready to change your life, don’t miss out on the greatness of harmony because this place is where it’s at

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